•On Tuesday, Ruto insisted that he is fully behind Devolution.
•In his tribute at Geingob's memorial service in Windhoek,Ruto emphasized that the most significant homage Africa could pay to the former president was to ensure the economic empowerment and political emancipation of the continent
Image: PCS
In a week packed with events, President William Ruto moved from chairing a three-day Cabinet retreat and attending two burials.
The President's week kicked off on Monday when he officially opened the National Executive retreat in Naivasha, Nakuru county, where he addressed pressing issues and delivered a stern warning to his Cabinet secretaries and legislators.
Three-day retreat
The three-day retreat, held significant importance as it laid the groundwork for the formulation of Ministerial Performance Contracts, which will guide the government's agenda and initiatives throughout the year.
During the retreat, President Ruto emphasized the need for urgency in fulfilling campaign promises and the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.
He told the legislators to be patient as it was a must for Kenya to change
"I know sometimes many get discouraged and anxious and some panic. Many people believe in Kenya we must not be the ones who will not believe in Kenya," Ruto said.
"You are the government. Don't point at other governments, you are the government."
The President told off Kenya Kwanza MPs critical of his policies, asking them to own up and defend their campaign manifesto to Kenyans.
He lashed out at the critics of government programmes, telling the MPs that they are the government in Parliament.
“There is no other government in Parliament, you are the government, so stop pointing at the government because you are the government,” Ruto said.
I fully support Devolution - Ruto
On Tuesday, Ruto insisted that he is fully behind Devolution.
He made it clear that with politics aside, all governors should know that he supports devolution.
"Let me repeat for the umpteenth time that at a personal level and this administration, we support devolution 100 per cent," he said
You should never have any doubt as to our support for devolution. You know there is pull and push, which politics is all about but my support for evolution remains intact," Ruto said.
Buck stops with CSs and PSs
On Wednesday, the President told members of his Cabinet that they are individually liable for all decisions made in their respective ministries and should guard against being persuaded to make wrong decisions.
Ruto said the buck stops with CSs and PSs regardless of who makes bad decisions in their ministries.
“It doesn’t matter whether somebody called you or somebody threatened you, don’t make the wrong decision,” he said.
The President said should anyone be threatened or coerced by individuals purporting to be his cronies or relatives, they should not hesitate to reach him via his mobile line.
“Every one of you has my telephone number and it’s only one, I don’t have two. And I believe every Principal Secretary and every Cabinet Secretary has my number,” he said.
Image: PCS
Hosting a delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Ruto on Thursday hosted the delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands at State House for the launch of Lipton Tea Innovation and Technology Academy.
The Head of State said the partnership is an exemplary initiative with highly transformative potential for Kenya, our region and the tea industry at large.
He also said it would increase the incomes of approximately five million people employed directly and indirectly in the tea value chain.
Kelvin Kiptum's burial
On Friday, the President attended the burial of World Marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum.
He eulogised Kiptum as an ambitious and resilient person, despite him coming from a humble background and never letting his guard down.
Speaking at Chepkorio grounds in Elgeyo Marakwet, Ruto said that through his hard work, Kiptum broke the World Record.
"Today's World Record has Kiptum's name and it is because he was selfless and had no reasons not to succeed than he had to succeed but he worked against the odds.
Another house for Kiptum's family
As a gift to the family, Ruto announced that the government would give Kiptum's family another house.
This, he said, is in addition to the newly built house on the four-acre land acquired by Kiptum at Naiberi in Uasin Gishu.
“Vile tulishakubaliana na vile tumeweka taratibu mpya, huyu kijana Kelvin tayari tumeshampatia shillingi million tano na serikali itampatia nyumba mzuri mbali na ile nyumba tumejenga hapa,” he said.
(In the same way, we have agreed and introduced a new reward scheme we have already given him Sh5 million and we are also going to give him a house beside the one that we have built for him).
Former Namibia President Geingob's funeral
On Saturday, the Head of State spent his day in Namibia where he joined World leaders at the Funeral Service of the late President Hage Geingob.
In his tribute at Geingob's memorial service in Windhoek, Ruto emphasized that the most significant homage Africa could pay to the former president was to ensure the economic empowerment and political emancipation of the continent
“Together as a continent, believing in what President Geingob believed in, we must reform our African Union (AU) so that it becomes Afte the epicentre of green growth,” he said on Saturday.
Sunday church service
After jetting back to the country at night, the President on Sunday attended a church service in Kasarani where he was joined by his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua and other leaders.
The APICA Church was celebrating 100 years since its inception at Kasarani Stadium