Ruto promises more money for counties

By Joseph Masha

URP presidential hopeful William Ruto has vowed to increase the allocation of development funds to the counties from 15 per cent to 30 per cent if he forms the next government.

Mr Ruto said the essence of creating devolved governments was to ensure the gap between the marginalised and the developed areas was eliminated, therefore the need to allocate enough funds to the counties.

The Eldoret North MP who is on his campaign trail at the Coast made the remarks at Kidutani Primary School in Chonyi, Kilifi County.

Environment minister Chirau Mwakwere, Assistant minister for Medical Services Kazungu Kambi and former Speaker Francis ole Kaparo, accompanied Ruto. He said the formation of tribal groups advocating for the rights of their people was due to poor distribution of national resources by past regimes.

Poll boycott

“Regional groups like Mungiki and MRC cropped up after people in those regions complained of oppression in one way or the other. More groups will be formed if the Government does not address the problems of historical injustices,” said Ruto.

He later made a stopover at Kololeni and addressed a rally on his way to Mariakani where he held a public baraza. He said poverty facing Kenyans was manmade and vowed to address it. He said Coast region had a high potential in agriculture but the same had not been tapped fully due to poor management.

“Poverty and hunger facing people mostly in Coast region has been brought by failure by Government to tap the potential in agriculture where soils are fertile enough to produce more food,” said Ruto.

He also cautioned Coast people against boycotting the General Election because they would then have lost their democratic rights.

“It is true the region has suffered historical injustices, but the option of people to boycott (taking part in) election is not the best,” said Ruto.