President William Ruto yesterday challenged all elected leaders from the two Gusii counties of Kisii and Nyamira to stop their petty political differences and work together to develop the region.

He said that despite the leaders belonging to different political parties, they should not allow such affiliations to divide them.
Ruto said that as the Head of State, he had decided to work with all leaders in the country irrespective of their party beliefs and affiliation so as to unite the country and spur development.

He said that time has come for leaders to shelve their political interests and ambitions in a bid to serve their people.
The President appealed to leaders who do not support the broad-based government to do so in the spirit of patriotism.

He said the unity and transformation of the country are more important than the selfish, personal and political interests of leaders.
“I want to tell fellow leaders that this is not the time for us to be disunited, to think about selfish interests or our political formations. This is the time to think about Kenya,” he said.

Overcome poverty

“Let us all work together towards transformation, progress and unity so that we can overcome poverty,” he added.
Speaking during his second day of a three-day development tour of Kisii and Nyamira counties, President Ruto said tribal and sectoral politics was outdated.

ODM and UDA legislators who were led by governors Simba Arati (Kisii) and Amos Nyaribo (Nyaribo) said they were ready to work with President Ruto and his government so as to enhance service delivery in the Gusii region .

“We have been opposing your leadership but now that you have accepted to work with us, we are ready to support your government,” said Clive Gisairo, the Kitutu Masaba MP. Arati on his part said that ODM was ready to work with Ruto because he had demonstrated commitment towards serving all Kenyans.

In Nyaribari Chache constituency, President Ruto broke ground for the construction of the Sh3 billion Kisii County Cancer Treatment Centre that will serve the region.

The 76-bed facility will help in cancer awareness, prevention, screening, early detection and diagnosis and provide the latest treatment options, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. The President said the government is keen on ensuring that serious ailments like cancer do not impoverish Kenyans.

“Under our Universal Health Coverage programme, the government has established the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund that will cater for the treatment of illnesses like cancer,” he said.

Commissioned

The President also commissioned the Outpatient, Surgical and Mother and Child units at Keroka Level IV Hospital in Nyamira county.

He also launched Nyaribari Masaba Affordable Housing Project at Ekerubo, Kisii county. On the Last Mile Electricity Connectivity Programme, the President said Sh650 million will be used to connect 10,000 households in Nyamira county.

At Ekerubo, Nyaribari Masaba constituency, President Ruto launched the construction of 350 units under the Affordable Housing Programme.

This is part of 10,000 units to be built in Kisii County. He said the Affordable Housing Programme is the most ideal for Gusii region since it would help stem severe land fragmentation that has seen agricultural land sub-divided into tiny unproductive pieces. Further, President Ruto said the government has set aside Sh2 billion to connect power to 30,000 households in the county. Later, the President launched the tarmacking of Metembe-Ngenyi/Bobaracho-Ititi/Rioma-Nyaore/Marani-Nyakoe roads at Marani, Kisii County.

Build roads

President Ruto said the government will spend Sh4.5 billion to build roads in the county to improve the region’s transport infrastructure and spur economic growth.

Gachagua said he fully supported the recently appointed Cabinet Secretaries, including those from ODM.

“Kenya belongs to all of us. We will therefore support the President in his quest to unite the country,” he said.

Arati commended President Ruto for bringing Kenyans together, noting that had the country disintegrated during the recent chaos, ordinary Kenyans would suffer the most, while leaders had the means to migrate elsewhere. Ruto at the same time said that the national government is set to start more cancer centres of excellence across the country and offer free cancer treatment to improve the lives of Kenyans.

He noted the government has launched Critical illness Fund under the Universal Health Care (UHC) programme to treat the disease. He spoke after he commissioned construction of a Sh3 billion Cancer Centre supported by Arab Bank for Economic development (BADEA) and Saudi Arabia government and the national and the county governments.

“ We have cancer centres in Nairobi and Eldoret. We need more in Kisii and Mombasa,” Ruto said during the groundbreaking ceremony at the Community area in the outskirts of Kisii town. The Head of State noted the government was setting up infrastructure for cancer treatment and ensuring it is affordable for residents to seek treatment locally instead of going to foreign countries.