Kindiki dismisses leaders questioning Jubilee's development score

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki and Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood dance during the commissioning of Ndurumo-Giaki;Kiburine-Miomponi road in Giaki on February 22, 2016. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Prof Kindiki’s sentiments come amid growing disquiet in the Jubilee coalition more evident in the Rift Valley, the backbone of Deputy President William Ruto in the run-up to the Kericho mini-poll.
  • Prof Kindiki, who is also the Tharaka-Nithi Senator, said those who are aware of the development projects undertaken by the President Uhuru Kenyatta led administration would not keep silent as the government’s image takes a beating.
  • The Jubilee administration has lately come under sharp criticism from some leaders from the Rift Valley and Mt Kenya East regions, signaling a possible change of heart among them towards the government agenda.

Majority Leader in the Senate Kindiki Kithure has lashed out at Jubilee leaders who are poking holes into the development record of the coalition, dismissing them in totality.

Prof Kindiki’s sentiments come amid growing disquiet in the Jubilee coalition more evident in the Rift Valley, the backbone of Deputy President William Ruto in the run-up to the Kericho mini-poll.

Prof Kindiki, who is also the Tharaka-Nithi Senator, said those who are aware of the development projects undertaken by the President Uhuru Kenyatta led administration would not keep silent as the government’s image takes a beating.

The Jubilee administration has lately come under sharp criticism from some leaders from the Rift Valley and Mt Kenya East regions, signaling a possible change of heart among them towards the government agenda.

But Prof Kindiki on Monday dismissed what some Jubilee MPs and Governors term as poor show of government saying Jubilee had outpaced what other post-independence regimes achieved.

“I am confident that the government has done its best and our problem is that we speak the truth,” he said.

On Sunday, the Council of Governors chairman who is also the Meru Governor Peter Munya asked the Jubilee administration to explain to the Ameru community why it has failed to honour campaign pledges.

Mr Munya, who spoke at Maili Tatu Stadium, singled out the tarmacking of roads and construction of water dams in Meru as some of the broken promises.

Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki also claimed President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto have failed Kenyans and will face difficulties in their re-election bid in next year’s polls.

Mr Mbiuki who was elected on The National Alliance’s (TNA) ticket, said the public has lost confidence with the Jubilee Government for showing no commitment to the promises it made during the 2013 election campaigns.

Recently, as the Deputy President was campaigning for Jubilee’s candidate, Aaron Cheruiyot, in the Kericho March 7 senatorial by-election, was given a bold and rare dressing down by people who voted for him and President Kenyatta overwhelmingly in 2013.

Leaders from Kericho questioned why promises about roads, a planned Sh200 million rehabilitation of Kapkatet Stadium, and the building of a referral hospital, among others, had taken too long to come true.

But Prof Kindiki who spoke after launching the tarmacking of the Ndurumo-Kibuline-Giaki-Miomponi road outlined Jubilee progress since taking over power.

“We have reduced power connection charges, scrapped fees for primary and secondary examination fees, equipped hospitals with modern machines and many more. Those who want to insult President Kenyatta should look for another reason,” he said.

North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood castigated his opponents who are against his perceived closeness with the government saying he was only interested in the betterment of his constituents.

The MP is at loggerheads with Mr Munya over his development record.