Ruto hits out at Kericho MCAs, asks them to prioritize developement

President William Ruto. [Source: WSR, Twitter]

President William Ruto has criticised elected leaders for fighting over leadership positions.

Speaking during a church service at Green Stadium in Bomet County, President Ruto called out Kericho County MCAs for squabbling over house leadership positions at the expense of the electorate.

Ruto, whose remarks came days after a video of chaos in the Kericho County Assembly went viral, urged the leaders to stop wasting time and prioritise delivering their campaign promises.

"Some leaders are still fighting for positions where one wants this and the other wants that. Kericho MCAs [wacheni upuzi]. At this point, we want leaders to plan for Kenyans, not themselves. Shame on you for wasting Assembly time, fighting. I urge all elected leaders from MCAs to Governors...to work for Kenyans to change their lives as we promised during our campaign," said Ruto.

Ruto also defended his two-day tour of the Nyanza region saying "the country can only be developed if the development is done uniformly".

He said the opposition is not reserved for the electorate but for leaders mandated by the Constitution to keep the government in check.

"I went to Nyanza the other day because I want it understood that Kenyans voted for us to lead, and for others to be in opposition. All that is for the betterment of the lives of Kenyans. There is no Kenyan in opposition, all are under one government," said Ruto.

"Only leaders are in opposition, a job which is in the constitution. We can't develop one region and leave the other. The ultimate development is where no region, citizen or community is left behind," he explained.

President Ruto arrived at the Lakeside City of Kisumu on Friday evening for a tour of three Nyanza counties.

He was received in Kisumu by Governor Anyang' Nyongo and County Commissioner Josephine Ouko. He also met the region's other leaders including Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wana and her Siaya counterpart James Orengo.

On Saturday, Ruto led senior Kenya Kwanza leaders in a thanksgiving ceremony organized by ICT CS Eliud Owalo in Rarieda.