Ruto Questions Past Presidents on Skewed Development

By PCS 

Speaking at Machinery town in Kibwezi East Constituency, Makueni County, on Monday, on his third day development tour of Ukambani, the President said the withdrawal of the case will pave way for the payment of KSh3 billion awarded to the victims by the High Court.

He said the Government will directly compensate families, who were affected by the oil tanker spill into River Thange in Makueni County in 2015.

He told off individuals who were collecting signatures from the affected people in the pretext that the money would be paid through their law firms so that they can deduct 30 per cent of the compensation. 

"I understand some brokers and conmen are collecting signatures from the affected families, claiming that the money will be paid through their law firms. They won't get a cent because the Government will pay the money directly to the affected families," he said.

On May 12, 2015, the petroleum pipeline ruptured along Thange village in Kibwezi East Constituency, spilling fuel into the River Thange basin and contaminating land and water. 

More than 3,000 residents suffered severe health complications, including liver and kidney issues, and lost livestock, crops and livelihoods.

At the same time,  President Ruto urged the residents of Makueni, Machakos and Kitui to urge Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka to reciprocate the political support he had extended to him in 1992 as the President seeks to consolidate support in the region ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The President recalled his long political relationship with Mr Kalonzo, citing his campaign for Mr Musyoka in Mwingi in the 1992 General Election.

Speaking at Tseikuru grounds near Mr Musyoka's rural home, the President said time had come for the Wiper leader to return the favour by supporting his re-election bid in 2027.

"I campaigned for Kalonzo Musyoka in 1992 when I was in Youth for Kanu (YK92). It's now time for him to reciprocate and support me in 2027," the President pointed out.

Mr Musyoka was elected Mwingi North MP for a second time in 1992 on a KANU ticket, a parliamentary career that would later see him serve as Vice-President under President Mwai Kibaki between 2008 and 2013.

The President also explained that Mr Musyoka disclosed that Deputy President Kithure Kindiki previously worked with the Wiper leader during his 2007 presidential contest.

He warned that the  Wiper leader risks being used by those he is working with, and they could eventually abandon him. "I understand he has been summoned today somewhere to go and explain what he meant when he said God is using Ruto to tarmac roads in Ukambani," he said. 

Additionally, President Ruto told opposition leaders to present their alternative agenda to Kenyans instead of engaging in propaganda and falsehoods. 

The President pointed out that the opposition focuses heavily on criticising his administration and pushing a "one-term" slogan rather than presenting actionable solutions for the economy, healthcare,  water and infrastructure.

Leaders from the region, who accompanied the President, urged Mr Musyoka to work with President Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The leaders included Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, MPs Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi West), Vincent Musyoka (Mwala), Caleb Mule (Machakos Town), Rachel Nyamai (Kitui South), Charles Nguna (Mwingi West), Joshua Mwalyo (Masinga) and Beth Syengo (Nominated).

Mr Mutuse noted that if Mr Musyoka joined President Ruto, the region would increase its bargaining power for development and national resources. "We have lagged behind in development because we have been in the opposition for a long time. We, therefore, ask our brother Kalonzo Musyoka to work with the President," Mr Mutuse said in Tseikuru. 

The leaders said projects in roads, water and employment opportunities for young people should be central to the region's political decisions.

Mr Mutua said: "Because President Ruto has ensured equal distribution of resources across the country, some people now claim that it is the right for all Kenyans to be served. This is not the first administration in this country. What happened to the development of roads and health, among others, during the previous governments? "he asked. 

Earlier, President Ruto flagged off a KSh75 million Last Mile Electricity Connectivity Project connecting 530 households at Kathekani in Kibwezi East Constituency, Makueni County. "We are implementing projects worth KSh560 million to connect 4,250 households in the constituency," he said. 

He explained that the Government is investing KSh2.3 billion to light up 22,000 homes in  Makueni County.

The President also commissioned Kathekani Senior School in Kibwezi East Constituency. 

He said the modern boarding school has eight classrooms, four laboratories, an administration block and two dormitory blocks, among other amenities.

The school was built under the Kenya Railways Relocation Action Plan for the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase I.

The construction of the SGR affected 25 public institutions, including 12 primary and eight secondary schools, which have now been rebuilt.