Kenya Kwanza ended their week-long Nyanza and Western tours on Sunday drumming up support for Deputy President William Ruto while promising goodies.
The interactive economic forums-cum-political forays which started in Kisii, Nyamira, Busia, Bungoma and later in Trans Nzoia, were aimed at consolidating votes and wresting power from regions perceived to be ODM Raila Odinga’s strongholds.
Ruto also used the opportunity to drum up support for aspirants vying for seats in the coalition.
He was accompanied by ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetangula and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and his Senate counterpart, Ken Lusaka, among other leaders.
The discussions and agreements, they said, will culminate in the signing of charters with residents so that “we can have a roadmap of how we intend to implement after August.”
“We committed to change the conversation in Kenya. We agree that the conversation will not be about politics, leaders and positions, but issues affecting the common man and how they want it addressed” Ruto said.
Among the promises Ruto made to the residents include cancelling debts in all companies that are partly owned by the state in the first 100 days and construction of new markets for business traders.
“We will bring back the balance sheet for Mumias and Nzoia sugar factories to zero as a priority,” he said.
He also said his administration will change policies so that salaries of civil servants, including that of the President is delayed while stipends for older persons and other vulnerable groups is paid on a priority basis.
The Kenya kwanza government, he said, will establish a kitty for micro and small enterprises and a seed capital of Sh50 billion, while at the same time, introduce another Sh100 billion for creation of jobs for the four million jobless youth in the country.
He further said he will establish 5,000 housing units in every shopping centre, where 40, 000 youth will be contracted in the construction works.
Ruto also said he will eliminate cartels in the agriculture sector who, he said, do business at the expense of farmers.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
