We will beat you in 2017, DP William Ruto tells opposition

Deputy President William Ruto officially opens St Patrick’s Museum building during a thanksgiving ceremony at St Patrick’s National School in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County yesterday. Looking on is Bishop Cornelius Korir. [PHOTO: PETER OCHIENG/STANDARD]

Deputy President William Ruto has told the Opposition to give Kenyans a credible development agenda instead of hurling insults to the Jubilee administration at funerals.

Speaking at Butere Girls in Kakamega yesterday, Ruto said there is no place for politics of hatred, division and ethnicity in Kenya today.

He indicated that the government was willing and ready to work with CORD, adding that it is their sacred duty to reach out to all Kenyans irrespective of one’s political affiliation.

“Our competitors should stop abuses in funerals, whistle blowing, organising unwarranted demos and instead give people alternative agenda if they think what the government has done is not enough,” said Ruto.

He said the government had initiated multi-billion shilling projects such as the Standard Railway Gauge, access to education, connection of homes and schools to electricity and construction of roads.

The DP predicted a landslide victory for the Jubilee administration in the 2017 General Election and warned the Opposition to brace for a tough duel. “If the Opposition is not careful Jubilee is going to have a field day come 2017 by garnering over 70 per cent of the votes cast; leave alone the 50 plus one per cent stipulated in the law.”

He said nothing will stop him and President Uhuru Kenyatta from touring Western Kenya to initiate development projects. “I will make endless trips to Western and especially in Kakamega because there is no any other deputy president in the country other than me,” he said.

Ruto hinted that he will be accompanying Uhuru on a tour of the region next month to show the government’s commitment to development of the larger Western Kenya. He said both the Opposition and the government must look for ways of enhancing unity among Kenyans. “We must find proper ways to reconcile communities as elected leaders and construct bridges of peace and unity,” he said, adding that Kenya needs a serious and shrewd Opposition.”

Ruto reiterated the commitment to revive moribund factories in Western, particularly Webuye’s Pan Paper Mills and the Mumias Sugar Company.

So far the government has injected Sh2.6 billion for Mumias Sugar bailout and has identified an investor to take over Pan Paper and revamp it at a cost of Sh6 billion.

He also said the government has set aside Sh4.5 billion for completion of Kisumu–Kakamega Road whose works should be complete before end of this year.

Another Sh3 billion has been earmarked for construction of Kakamega–Webuye Road, whose works had stalled for more than three years. “A new contractor has been identified to take over and we expect the projects to take off soon,” he said.

Ruto said Sh90 million has been set aside to give the school a facelift and transform it into a modern national school. He directed the Public Works and Roads Department to embark on construction of a 2.2 kilometre stretch within the school to guarantee students and staff easy movement.

“Parents are forced to purchase gumboots for their girls to help them walk around muddy roads in the school, something we have decided to address with the urgency it deserves,” said Ruto.