Ruto hits out at Raila over BBI drive

Deputy President William Ruto has once again accused Azimio-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga of derailing the Jubilee government’s Big Four agenda to pursue the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) campaign.

Ruto told a Kenya Kwanza Alliance rally in Kajiado town the Handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila is the cause of the ills bedevilling the country, including the high cost of living.

 He termed Raila as a confused fellow who is taking Kenyans for a ride and has no capacity to lead.

Ruto, who was flanked by several Kenya Kwanza bigwigs led by Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi said Kenyans were today suffering because the Jubilee government’s Big Four agenda was hijacked by proponents of the Handshake for their own selfish interests.

“The Big Four agenda was meant to transform our country’s economy as well as create employment. It is unfortunate that the good intentions have not been realised  because of the Handshake. Our educated youths are still jobless. I was able to achieve transformative development projects when I was peacefully working with Uhuru Kenyatta until Raila came in,” he said. 

Referring to Raila as  ‘Yule Jamaa wa Kitendawili (the man of riddles)’, Ruto said that the former premier was more focused on reviving the BBI campaign to change the constitution and expand the executive instead of focusing on addressing the problems facing Kenyans at the moment.

Ruto also took a swipe at Raila for hinting that he would ban the importation of second hand clothes popularly known as mitumba to protect the local textile industry, saying the move stemmed from his (Raila’s) contempt for small scale traders.

“I grew up wearing Mitumba and today I am the Deputy President of Kenya. The Mitumba industry has employed over two million Kenyans. It is a pity that Jamaa wa Kitendawili is looking for power to deny millions of Kenyans their source of livelihoods,” said Ruto. 

  Ruto said his leadership will invest in creating an industrial and manufacturing revolution to create employment as well as empower women and youth.

 He said that he will ensure there is food security in the country by empowering farmers through subsidized farm inputs and fertilizer. 

 He said that he had used his position as a DP to lobby for increased resources in Kajiado county to spur economic activities including 350km of tarmac roads, electricity connection to 156,000 homes and building of four technical colleges. 

 Mudavadi claimed that Raila’s leadership was a continuation of the Uhuru presidency that will only worsen the current high cost of living.  

“Uhuru is micro-managing Raila and intends to remain in power by hanging on his coat. Raila will only sink this country in debts, poverty and double the cost of living,” said Mudavadi. 

 Machakos governor Alfred Mutua said the high cost of living has been occasioned by poor leadership that can only be transformed by Ruto. 

 Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa urged president Kenyatta to retire peacefully and stop meddling in succession politics. 

 Ruto took the opportunity to rally support for UDA Kajiado candidates including Katoo ole Metito, who is vying for the governor position, Samuel Seki (Senator) and Leah Sankaire (Woman Rep).