DP William Ruto: Let’s create jobs, not seats

Deputy President William Ruto chats with retired Kakamega Catholic Bishop Philip Sulumeti (left) and Kakamega Diocese Catholic Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe yesterday. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto has reiterated his opposition to constitutional amendment to create positions in Government for individuals.

Speaking in Kakamega town yesterday during a funds drive at Christ is the King Catholic Church, the DP said politicking ended in 2017 after the elections and all energy should now be directed towards creating jobs for the youth and implementing the Big Four Agenda and not how to create slots to accommodate people.

In a veiled attack against ODM leader Raila Odinga and those calling for a referendum, Dr Ruto said the President Uhuru Kenyatta-led government has no time to talk about creating positions.

“Kenyans don’t want to be told about positions. They are more concerned with being told how we are going to create jobs for our young people and implementing projects that will help us achieve Jubilee’s Big Four Agenda,” he said. 

He called on all elected leaders regardless of their political parties to work together.

“We have a shortage of jobs for the youths who are the largest of our population. We need to engage in talks on how we shall equip them with skills so that they can secure jobs,” said Ruto.

Ruto who avoided talking about 2022 succession politics that was the hallmark of speeches by other leaders present, insisted that his main focus and that of Jubilee government is to ensure the Big Four Agenda is realised.

He promised residents of Kakamega that the Government will release funds for cane farmers in two weeks, as he advised them to diversify into dairy and avocado farming.

This is not the first time such a promise is being made to sugarcane farmers.

Last year during Mashujaa Day celebrations that were marked in the county, President Uhuru Kenyatta promised cane farmers who are owed more than Sh2 billion that they would be paid before the year ended. This is yet to happen.

Similar promises have been made since then with the latest being from Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya who had hinted that the farmers were to be paid before the end of January.

Ruto gave a personal donation of Sh2 million and Sh1 million promise from President Kenyatta.