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Deputy President William Ruto yesterday said every arm of government will be mobilised to ensure the August 9 General Election is conducted in a peaceful, credible, free and fair manner.

Speaking when he campaigned in Kiambu county, the UDA presidential candidate challenged Kenyans to play their role in a peaceful election.

Speaking at ACK Muongoiya in Muchatha, Kiambaa, after a church service, Ruto said UDA was committed to ensuring the election would be incident-free.

“We as UDA, want to commit that the elections will be peaceful and the peace will enable Kenyans to choose leaders who will take the country to the next level,” he said, adding that his competitors should also publicly make similar commitments.

After the church service, he addressed crowds at Banana town, Kiawaroga, Misri junction and Thigio in Limuru where he commissioned a Sacco before proceeding to Ruthigiti and Gikambura in Kikuyu.

During the stopovers, he promised to revamp the country’s economy through job creation and ensure a business-friendly environment if he is elected president.

“My government plans to allocate Sh100 billion towards housing, manufacturing, value addition and agro-processing, all geared towards job creation,” he said.

He said that the Jubilee administration had laid down a firm foundation for an economic revolution in its big four agenda and accused ODM leader Raila Odinga of sabotaging the agenda after his Handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He was accompanied by Kiambu senator Kimani Wamatangi and MPs Rahab Mukami (Nyeri Woman Rep), Wainaina wa Jungle (Thika town), Njuguna Wanjiku (Kiambaa) Githua Wamacukuru (Kabete), Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), George Koimburi (Juja), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), David Sankok (Nominated) and Isaack Mwaura (Nominated). Also accompanying him were several aspirants.

Free services

Ruto said he was confident of overwhelmingly winning the presidential race.

He pledged to create jobs and offer interest-free loans to small enterprises.

“Creating employment for our youth will be our number one priority. We will also take loan facilities to the ward levels so that everyone will have access to them,” he said.

On health, the Deputy President said his government would ensure every Kenyan has their health insurance catered for through the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

“Those of you who will not be able to pay for the insurance will enjoy free services by the government because we will be committed to ensuring that Universal Health Care becomes a reality,” he said.

He called upon Kenyans to shun leaders who want to divide them along tribal lines.

Ruto said his forming of a coalition of parties with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, Ford-K’s Moses Wetang’ula and Democratic Party’s Justin Muturi presented Kenyans with a winning formula.

He also termed the recently read Budget as unfriendly to the common man, saying that it is likely to be rejected by MPs.

“The budget is unrealistic and seeks to cunningly increase the prices of all hustlers’ products such as water, bread and boda bodas. If approved by Parliament, we will change it immediately we ascend to power and make it a common man’s budget,” he said.

Wamatangi, who is eyeing the Kiambu governor seat, described Ruto’s leadership as inclusive, transformative and strategic.

“Ruto’s bottom-up economic model speaks of his belief in prioritising and empowering majority Kenyans suffering economic marginalisation as a result of top-down policies that have had a little or negative impact on their economic and social well-being,” he said.