Ruto Warns Opposition Would Take Kenya Backwards
He challenged opposition leaders to present Kenyans with alternative policies instead of relying on criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
President William Ruto has launched a fresh attack on opposition leaders, accusing them of lacking a clear development agenda and warning that their return to power would reverse the progress made under his administration.
Ruto said opposition politicians had failed to demonstrate what they had achieved in the past, what they intended to do in the present and where they wanted to take the country in the future.
Speaking at Kapkatet grounds in Bureti Constituency, Kericho County, on Thursday, the President described the opposition as an “existential threat” to Kenya’s development if it succeeds in reversing programmes introduced by his administration.
He challenged opposition leaders to present Kenyans with alternative policies instead of relying on criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“The difference between those of us who want to make Kenya a first-world economy and those who want to take us back to the stone age is like day and night,” Ruto said.
The President also rejected claims that the Kenya Kwanza Alliance made promises it could not fulfil during the 2022 General Election campaign.
Ruto maintained that his administration had remained committed to its manifesto, pointing to road construction, affordable housing, healthcare reforms and youth employment initiatives as some of the areas where he said the government had made progress.
“We are building roads, what is the opposition plan? We have affordable housing, we have universal health coverage, and we are creating jobs for the youth. What is their plan?” he asked.
He further criticised opposition leaders for what he described as a lack of substantive issues around which to mobilise Kenyans.
“Their agenda is one-term and Kasongo, among other slogans. They should find an agenda. William Ruto cannot be their agenda,” the President said.
Ruto said his administration’s development programme was designed to reach all parts of the country, regardless of political affiliation.
He said Kenyans in every county deserved access to roads, electricity, water, healthcare, jobs and other public services.
“Every part of Kenya must get equal development. This is what my administration is doing despite opposition from people who don’t believe in equal distribution of national resources and development across the country,” he said.
The President made the remarks during the second day of his four-day working tour of Kericho and Bomet counties, where he inspected, launched and commissioned several development projects.
Earlier, he broke ground for the 53-kilometre Sabunit-Kapkondor-Furaha-Hill Tea Access Road in Londiani, Kipkelion East Constituency. The project is expected to cost Sh3 billion and improve connectivity in key tea and coffee-growing areas.
Ruto also said the government had paid Sh900 billion owed to contractors for stalled projects, allowing construction works to resume in different parts of the country.
“We have also launched new projects and, as a result, more than 6,000km of roads are currently under construction nationwide,” he said.
The President said the government was also investing heavily in Kericho’s urban development, including Sh5.6 billion for the first 2,200 affordable housing units out of a planned 5,000.
He announced plans to establish a Special Economic Zone in the area, saying it would help attract investment and create employment opportunities.
Healthcare was also part of the development agenda highlighted during the tour. Ruto said construction of the Kabianga Medical School in Kericho town would begin soon at an estimated cost of Sh1 billion.
He added that Londiani and Kericho referral hospitals were also being developed to strengthen healthcare services in the county.
In sports, the President said Sh1.1 billion was being invested in Kapkatet Stadium, while another Sh1 billion had been allocated for the development of Kericho Green Stadium.
Kapkatet Stadium is being upgraded to a 10,000-capacity facility with a six-lane athletics track, a standard football pitch and other sporting amenities.
The government has also allocated Sh1.6 billion for the Kapkatet and Litein water projects, alongside another Sh400 million for water and sanitation improvements in Kericho town.
On electricity access, Ruto said Sh1.6 billion had been allocated to the Last Mile Connectivity programme, targeting 16,000 households in Kericho County.
He also launched the construction of the 34-kilometre Panda Pilis-Kampala-Bokoiyot-Mabasi road in Bureti Constituency, saying the government was investing Sh22 billion to construct about 300 kilometres of roads across Kericho.
The President later handed over the Kapkatet Modern Market to small traders, saying the facility would provide space for more than 200 traders.
He said the market was among 12 modern markets being constructed across Kericho County as part of a wider national programme targeting more than 600 markets.
Ruto concluded the day’s engagements in Bomet County, where he commissioned the Chebole-Kiplokyi-Kapkoros road in Sotik Constituency and launched construction of the Kipsonoi-Kamureito-Kapkelei road.
The President was accompanied by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Kericho Governor Eric Mutai, Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok and several lawmakers.
His tour of Kericho and Bomet is scheduled to continue on Friday and Saturday, with additional public engagements and development activities expected in the two counties.
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