President William Ruto on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, raised concern over the recent form of opposition to government projects.
Speaking in Taita Taveta County during the groundbreaking ceremony of the DEVKI iron processing project in Manga, the Head of State lamented that the latest wave of opposition was crossing the line and turning into a negative force pushing back against the development agenda.
President Ruto insinuated that the recent cloud of opposition surrounding development projects in the country could be driven by some dark forces.
He highlighted that his government had encountered objections in the implementation of the Affordable Housing Project and the planned livestock vaccination programme scheduled to start in January 2025.
Ruto also raised an alarm over the antagonism of the new university funding model and the launch of the Social Health Authority (SHA) replacing the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The Head of State argued that resistance had grown to the extent that some people were opposed to giving offerings in church.
“Kuna pepo chafu ya upingamizi, kupinga kila kitu…affordable housing wanaipinga, chanjo ya ng’ombe kuondoa magonjwa, wanapinga, kubadilisha mfumo ndio tuweze kuokoa universities zetu, wanapinga. Mambo ya UHC, wanapinga. Hadi wanapinga matoleo kanisani (There is a devil of opposition, opposing everything… They have opposed the Affordable Housing programme, they have opposed livestock vaccination aimed at eradicating animal diseases, they are opposed to the new funding model which wants to save our universities from collapsing. Issues on Universal Health Coverage, they have opposed and now they are even opposing offerings to churches),” Ruto stated.
The Kenya Kwanza administration has been under immense pressure to drop SHA due to the challenges experienced by some beneficiaries. Also, a section of opposition leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka, have recently reprimanded the government claiming that Adani Group has some links to SHA.
They have consistently called on President Ruto to drop the programme.
On the church issue, the Catholic Church made headlines by rejecting Ruto’s handsome donation. The move sparked debate online with some users insisting that other religious institutions should follow suit.
The University Funding Model has also not been spared in criticism. A section of political leaders argued that the model was adopted to discriminate against students from poor backgrounds after it emerged that some had been placed in the wrong bands.
Slam opposers
Ruto slammed the opposers arguing that some of them prefer investing offshore while sabotaging government efforts in building the country.
While admonishing the opposers, Ruto appealed to Kenyans to remain patriotic and rally behind the government of the day to drive meaningful development in the country.
Ruto urged other leaders to embrace the investment spirit instead of joining the opposition bandwagon.
