Give us time to fulfil pledges: Uhuru

President Uhuru Kenyatta has appealed to Kenyans to remain patient as the government works to fulfil election pledges.

President Kenyatta said it was too early to expect instant results, saying three months were not sufficient for the Jubilee government to fully implement its manifesto.

Speaking during a fundraiser in aid of construction of Bethsaida hospital at St Paul’s ACK Cathedral in Embu on Sunday, Mr Kenyatta urged Jubilee and Cord leaders to stop fighting and focus on service delivery.

“Even when someone marries, you don’t expect to see a child delivered after only three months. It takes time. We are also asking Kenyans to be tolerant and give us time to deliver on our pledges,” he said.

President Kenyatta urged the youth to take advantage of opportunities created through government interventions to help them achieve their dreams.

He urged governors to give jobs and tenders to the youth instead of insisting on experience.

At the same time, Parliamentary Budget Committee chairman Mutava Musyimi, Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki and his Mbeere North counterpart Charles Njagagua said the VAT Bill was important to the government due to the overwhelming wage demands.

Mr Musyimi said there was an urgent need to raise taxes on ostentatious commodities to raise money to ensure devolution becomes a reality.

“Let us raise revenue by supporting the VAT Bill. We need to pay taxes to grow this economy,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Mr Musyimi called on Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo to fast-track the Bill seeking to streamline the police service to end the tug of war between Inspector General David Kimaiyo and National Police Service Commission chairman Johnstone Kavuludi.

“We cannot have two centres of power. I urge Mr Iringo to bring the Bill to Parliament to end the tug of war between Kimaiyo and Kavuludi,” he said.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, who hails from the county, used the occasion to serve as his homecoming.

He said the House would overcome the apparent split between Cord and Jubilee to make strides in legislation.