UhuRuto hunt for votes in Rift Valley counties, cite projects

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto address a rally in Kitale town, Trans-Nzoia County, on July 29, 2017. They also campaigned in Kericho and Narok counties. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • President Kenyatta ordered that more than 1,000 acres of land belonging to the local prison be given back to the county government in order to expand Kitale town.
  • President Kenyatta announced that the cost of fertiliser would be reduced from Sh2,000 to Sh1,200 beginning next year.
  • He said Jubilee government had equipped the Endebess Hospital and Kitale Referral Hospital at a cost of Sh8 million to enable patients to receive specialised treatment.
  • The President defended his development record while accusing Nasa presidential candidate of lacking an agenda for Kenyans.

President Uhuru Kenyatta traversed the vast Rift Valley region on Saturday in search of votes as the race to State House enters its final week.

President Kenyatta, accompanied by his Deputy William Ruto, addressed rallies in Kitale in Trans Nzoia County, Kapkatet in Kericho, before ending the day with a rally at Nairagie Enkare in Narok.

Addressing supporters in Kitale, President Kenyatta ordered that more than 1,000 acres of land belonging to the local prison be given back to the county government in order to expand Kitale town.

“Today I want to announce here that the prison land be given back to the government to give way for expansion of Kitale town,” he said.

FERTILIZER

He also announced that the cost of fertiliser would be reduced from Sh2,000 to Sh1,200 beginning next year.

He said his government had equipped the Endebess Hospital and Kitale Referral Hospital at a cost of Sh8 million to enable patients to receive specialised treatment.

The President defended his development record while accusing Nasa presidential candidate of lacking an agenda for Kenyans.

“In four-and-a-half years, Kenyans have been connected to electricity, better roads, good health and we have made sure that all the huge debts owed by milk farmers are settled.

We have ensured that there has been peace and coexistence in the region,” he told the huge crowd at Kitale Stadium.

Mr Ruto said the Jubilee Government had connected more than 65,000 people to electricity, up from 35,000.

ROAD PROJECTS

The government had also commissioned several road projects in the area, he added.

“The manifesto they have was written by thugs who were involved in Anglo Leasing and my friend Raila, who claims that he is Joshua, will never take Kenyans to Canaan,” he said.

From Kitale, the President and Mr Ruto flew to the historic Kapkatet.

“This is a historic ground. Our stepping here today has a great significance and we will make a major declaration today,” said Mr Ruto.

The elders who had planned to crown President Kenyatta as a Kipsigis elder were, however, forced to call off the event due to rains.

TRANSFORMATIVE AGENDA

President Kenyatta affirmed his administration’s commitment to foster unity among all Kenyans, and expand its transformative agenda and economy of the nation.

“What we have done in four years cannot be compared to what the other regimes have done in many decades,” he said.

While responding to a plea by Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony, the President promised to subsidise farm inputs, especially fertilisers, to ensure tea, sugarcane, coffee and maize farmers reap more benefits and the cost of living comes down.

The two Jubilee leaders cited electricity connections, free maternity programme and hundreds of kilometres of roads as visible projects by the government.

“Over 300 kilometres new roads are being tarmacked in Bomet and Kericho. Also, about Sh1.5 billion has been used in the power connection programme,” said Mr Ruto.

SECURITY AGENCIES

They also defended the security agencies against accusations by Nasa that they were being prepared to rig the polls in favour of Jubilee Party.

President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto said the claims were part of the many falsehoods and fabrications by the opposition in an attempt to ensure that the General Election does not take place on August 8.

“Let the officers do their duty of protecting lives and businesses to ensure that Kenyans are well. We will defend our forces to the last minute,” said President Kenyatta.

“They wasted a lot of time roaming aimlessly and looking for a scapegoat to share power through the backdoor until they were caught by time. “Now they are using propaganda and blaming the police, KDF, ballot papers and ministers for their problem. Do the police vote?” Mr Ruto asked.

At Nairagie Enkare, the pair sought to consolidate the Maasai vote by enumerating the various projects they had initiated in the region.

They listed their administration’s achievements in infrastructure, health, education, power supply, the issuance of title deeds, the standard gauge railway and the Sh1.5 billion waiver given to Narok farmers.

Additional reporting by George Sayagie