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Deputy President William Ruto yesterday held a political rally at the Bukhungu stadium in Kakamega town and declared the era of politicians lording over the people was over.

Ruto told a massive crowd that greeted his arrival in the company of Kenya Kwanza team that he will ensure that all Kenyans are treated with respect if he is elected president on August 9.

The Deputy President publicly declared for the first time that ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi was his Prime Cabinet Secretary-designate while Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang’la would be the Speaker of the National Assembly.

He said that Western Kenya region would benefit from a 30 per cent stake in his administration if he becomes president. 

The Deputy President said his administration would focus on the revival of the collapsed sugar factories, complete the construction of stalled roads and roll out a Sh100 billion comprehensive youth employment programme.

Road projects

Ruto said he was happy with the political transition of the Luhya community and though the local leadership was targeting to deliver 95 per cent of the region’s vote to Kenya Kwanza, he would be happy with just 70 per cent.

“Thank you for this rousing welcome. I want to tell you that when we get that chance, we shall treat your support with respect,” he said.

He said his administration would focus on completion of roads projects that are underway in addition to 1,000 kilometres of new tarmac in the region in five years. 

Increasing household electricity connectivity in the region was also top on his priority list, he added.

The Kenya Kwanza was in Western Kenya’s heartland of Kakamega to make a statement of intend to fight for the region’s 2.2 million votes. 

Ruto was accompanied by Mudavadi, Wetang’ula, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, Garissa Township MP Aden Duale, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and his Senate counterpart Kenneth Lusaka.

Mudavadi said the Luhya community was better off in Kenya Kwanza, saying the 30 per cent stake they had been promised in government would reignite development in the region.  He challenged those criticising the agreement to make public a better alternative by the Azimio coalition.

Azimio, he said, had run short of ideas and had resorted to becoming copy cats. 

“Let them show us a single agreement they signed with the Luhya leadership. They are simply copy cats and conmen out to duplicate our ideas. Ask them to show you the document if it exits,” he said.

Opinion polls

Musalia said President Uhuru Kenyatta was on his final stretch in power and warned civil servants against giving blind support to Azimio candidate.

“You are safe with Kenya Kwanza

Fear not. Uhuru is two months away from the end of his term,” he said.

He accused the media of perpetuating Azimio’s propaganda by publishing what, he said, were fake opinion polls.  He claimed Kenya Kwanza was way ahead in the opinion polls.

Wetangula said the turnout at the Bukhungu Stadium rally was a firm statement from the Mulembe Nation’s resolve to unite around their leaders for common cause. 

“We are not the feelers or surrogates of somebody,” he said. 

He said Ruto was the region’s preferred presidential candidate.

“Weta and Mudavadi’s interests are not personal. We are concerned about how many of our people can benefit,” said the Bungoma Senator.

He said the August 9 election is a social revolution sweeping across the country. 

“It will be about a just society where you are respected because of the content of your head not your ethnicity or creed,” he said.