President William Ruto yesterday scolded Kenya Kwanza parliamentarians for feigning ignorance about the existence of foreign job opportunities which the government has already advertised.
This was during a joint parliamentary group and Executive meeting at Lake Naivasha Resort where the government officials took stock of what the administration had achieved.
In his address, Ruto revealed that less than a thousand people had applied for the 2,500 nursing jobs he had secured in a bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia.
“CS Bore, how far are we with that?…Now see. We have only gotten 500 people for these jobs,” said Ruto.
His speech was, however, disrupted by the murmuring among the Kenya Kwanza legislators, claiming that they were not aware of the jobs, revealing the discord between them and the Cabinet.
“I can hear some of you saying they are not aware of this programme. Kwani hamsomi gazeti? We advertised. I have also been talking about it in all our meetings,” said Ruto.
The President appeared furious with the MPs asking them how they expected him to make such announcements. “During our meetings in your constituencies, you come and hear the President announce the jobs.
Even now we still have a deficit of 2,000 nurses. An intelligent person will leave here and do what they must do. If you don’t, your constituents will take offence,” said Ruto.
Ruto went on to explain that his administration is inching closer to inking a deal with Germany which has offered to give Kenyans 250,000 jobs by June this year.
“We are spending nearly Sh630 billion on our education system every year. It will be irresponsible, if as a government we don’t look for opportunities for our youth once they leave school,” he said.
The President highlighted the successes of the Kenya Kwanza administration even as he urged Parliament to support the government agenda brought to the two houses for debate.
“We intentionally started the housing programme to create jobs for our young people. As we talk, over 130,000 people have jobs. By the end of the year we shall have over 300,000 of them working.”
Housing levy
With the housing levy bill tabled in Parliament last week, Ruto urged the MPs to pass it and ignore those opposed to the housing levy.
“The people who don’t want the jobs to be created are talking about the levy. This is what other progressive countries have done. Those who have a problem with it are so because it is us and not them who is implementing,” said Ruto.
Ruto added that despite the opposition, his administration will implement their agenda which received the backing of a majority of voters in the last general election.
“We campaigned on the same podium of providing affordable housing and universal health care. When it comes to implementing, some start doubting. We are staying the course,” said the President.
The President further revealed that the government would soon present a supplementary budget that will enable it channel resources to various agricultural sub sectors.
On his part, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua hit at some Kenya Kwanza administrators whom he accused of joining the opposition in castigating the government over delayed NG-CDF funds.
“We are always on the neck of CS Prof Njuguna Ndung’u to ensure the funds are released. You, as Kenya Kwanza members, are aware of the efforts being made and it is shocking when you team up with the opposition calling for impeachment of a CS due to the delays,” said Gachagua.
Gachagua reiterated that there was no time to waste for the leaders, noting that the next general elections would soon beckon and have them judged by the voters.
“We only have this year and 2025 to work. In 2026, what you do is likely to be perceived as a campaign plan. We must work together to deliver our promise to the electorate,” said Gachagua.
Cabinet secretaries
He called on the elected leaders to work closely with the cabinet secretaries and better understand the urgent and long term needs of the people.
“The CSs must consult and involve the elected leaders without delegating matters to their assistants. It is not only respectful but also a more effective style of leadership,” he said.
President Ruto urged Kenya Kwanza leaders not to allow political expediency to hinder the country’s development agenda.
The President asked the leaders to make bold decisions that will transform the country and uplift the lives of Kenyans.
He, however, noted that this cannot be achieved if leaders are more focused on popularity and political correctness at the expense of the country’s long-term plans.
“I know there is the temptation to do what politicians do: Focus on the next election. I urge you, let us do what leaders do. Let us focus on the transformation of our country. Let us focus on the contribution we can make to change the destiny of our country,” he said.
The President urged the legislators to use their majority numbers in Parliament to pass legislation that will accelerate the radical Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
“We have a historical opportunity to change our country. I want to urge you, let us not waste this moment,” he said.
The President asked the Legislature to work with the Executive to address unemployment in the country, noting that they were elected on a platform of creating jobs.
President Ruto also asked MPs to scale up investments in the development of ICT hubs in their constituencies to expand opportunities for the youth.
The President said government interventions in the agricultural sector have helped the country achieve food security, pledging to enhance the Subsidised Fertiliser Programme.
