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Deputy President William Ruto has said the campaign for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) is derailing the national development agenda.

Ruto said nearly all the government operations have come to a halt as the focus is now directed to the constitutional amendment debate.

Speaking in Gatanga, Murang’a on Sunday, the Deputy President said there is little time left for the government to deliver its promises to the people before the general election next year.

“BBI campaigns have halted nearly everything and this is affecting development in the country,” he said.

Ruto had visited his main critic’s and Jubilee party Chairman David Murathe backyard for a church fundraising at AIPCA Gatura.

“I hope we get done with this issue so that we get back to normal business of serving the people,” added Ruto.

The DP said nothing that was set by the government will go unaccomplished by the end of the Jubilee government’s term adding that he shall drive the agenda once he takes over as the next president.

He said having served as the deputy for two terms he is best suited to drive the vision of the government after the exit of President Uhuru Kenyatta from office.

Despite the glaring divisions between him and the President, Ruto said they have always worked together as a team to deliver the promises they made to the people during the 2013 and 2017 elections.

Ruto claimed there is a section of leaders bringing side shows, causing disruption in government operations saying this will not work for them.

“We are not going to be sidetracked by any diversional tactics from a few people who don’t want us to deliver,” he remarked.

The DP also said nothing will stop him from visiting the Mt Kenya region despite obvious resistance by a section of leaders from the area.

Ruto said being the Deputy President, he has the right to go to any part of the country and the region is no exception.
He claimed that for sometime now he was avoiding stepping his feet

“Those who have issues with me coming to this region should know that I am serving the people from all corners of the country” he said.

“We used to tour this region with the the president while hunting for votes and nothing has changed because I am his deputy” he said.

Ruto said he will tour the area as many times as he wishes until he accomplishes his mission to empower the people who are at the low level.

“I do not understand why some people are angry at me because of reaching out to the common person but I should tell them nothing will make me change my stand on dealing with hustlers” he said.

“This country belongs to all of us and we need to learn to accommodate each other regardless of their status” he added.

Several leaders are on record telling the Dp to keep of the region terming it as a show of disrespect to the president.

Leaders who had accompanied the DP were: senator Irungu Kang’ata, Isaac Mwaura, Kikuyu Mp Kimani Ichungw’a, Alice Wahome (Kandara), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiahru), Rigathi Gachagua, (Mathira), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Mohammed Ali (Nyali)among others urged Ruto to stay put and focus on securing the presidential ticket come next year.

MPs Ndindi, Kuria, Rigathi, Wahome and Kang’ata said the central region shall wholly support the DP as he is the people’s choice.

“The region shall support Ruto as he is the only one we know as our presidential candidate and we are all in agreement about this,” said Ndindi.

He also slammed the BBI debate terming it as a waste of time adding that there are better things to focus on.

“We don’t want to be pushed around because of this debate, we are not playing your game so leave us alone” he said.

Ndindi said the government scored its own goal by ‘bribing’ the MCAs to pass the bill as the county assemblies and thus there is nothing to celebrate.

Additional reporting by Njange Maina