President Uhuru takes vote hunt to Governor Ruto door

President Uhuru Kenyatta took Jubilee's vote hunt to Bomet County where he asked residents to rally behind him and his deputy, William Ruto.

Uhuru, whose deputy was at the Coast, announced a Sh500million bailout for Stegro Tea factory, with a membership of 15,000 farmers, and gazettement of Bomet University.

The tea company that was managed by Stegro Sacco sank into a Sh800 million debt, leading to members not earning bonuses for three years.

BOMET UNIVERSITY

Uhuru further announced the gazettement of Bomet University, whose construction stalled over a controversy on its location between the Bomet County government and Moi University.

"Now that the cases which your governor took to court have been finalised, construction work that had stalled will soon resume," he said.

Uhuru further announced the release of Sh2 million he had promised to donate to Chemanir Primary and Secondary schools for expansion of learning facilities.

He also directed Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri to commence payment of hundreds of integrated Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) from the county.

"I direct the Devolution CS and his Energy counterpart Charles Keter to begin the process of compensating the integrated IDPs here at the stadium next week," he said.

Addressing residents who had turned up at Bomet Green Stadium for the launch of Jubilee governor candidate Joyce Laboso's manifesto, Uhuru led the crowd in denouncing Governor Isaac Ruto's move to support National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

"I have been hearing murmurs about my deputy and another Ruto who was installed here last week. And I want to ask you people of Bomet, which Ruto are you supporting?" he posed.

To which the crowd answered in unison: "William! William! William!" (Referring to the deputy president).

Uhuru urged the electorate to vote for Jubilee governor aspirants to end squabbles that retard development.

The President said the national and county governments were supposed to work together for the benefit of all Kenyans.

He said it had been impossible in the past four-and-a-half years because of Opposition governors who focused on fighting the national government at the expense of providing services to residents.

Uhuru slammed the Opposition for opposing government projects aimed at transforming the lives of Kenyans, citing the attempts by Governor Ruto to stop the construction of Bomet University and a dam in the county.

"We want to end the retrogressive competition between counties and the national government that has delayed important projects that directly lift the lives of Kenyans," Uhuru said.

He asked Bomet residents to make history by voting overwhelmingly for Dr Laboso in the August polls to make her the first female governor in the country.

Leader of Majority at the National Assembly Aden Duale also took a swipe at Governor Ruto.

He accused the governor of betraying his people by joining NASA as they had fixed Uhuru and his Deputy in The Hague.

"Governor Ruto is hanging out with those who fixed Uhuru and William at the ICC and they are ganging up with the hope that violence will erupt after the August 8 election so that they can share the next government with Jubilee," Mr Duale claimed.

LABOSO CANDIDATURE

Elgeyo Marakwet Kipchumba Murkomen said Laboso had signed a contract with the public on service delivery.

"While your governor is busy signing contracts with political brokers, Dr Laboso has signed a covenant with you people to ensure service delivery," he said.

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichug'uwa endorsed Laboso's governorship bid, saying she was fit to lead the county and would work closely with the Government.

Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat, outgoing senators Aaron Cheruiyot and Liz Chelule, Nairobi woman representative Rachel Shebesh, Governor Paul Chepkwony and Nandi governor candidate Stephen Sang were also present.