Breaking News: Ruto orders postponement of school reopening
William Ruto takes charm offensive to Busia
Teso South MP Mary Emase welcomes Deputy President William Ruto on his arrival at Amase Primary School in Busia County on August 15, 2015, PHOTO | DPPS
What you need to know:
- High-powered team descends on Western Kenya to calm fears.
- DP tells area leaders not to politicise Uganda deal but work with Jubilee to develop the county.
Deputy President William Ruto on Saturday urged leaders from Busia County not to politicise the trade deal between Kenya and Uganda.
He said the agreement, which allows Uganda to export agricultural produce to Kenya, was aimed at protecting farmers from exploitation by cartels importing sugar illegally.
Mr Ruto told the leaders, who included Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, that it was not good for them to be outside government and appealed to them to work with the Jubilee administration.
Mr Ruto was accompanied by Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale, Kericho Senator Charles Keter, Leader of Majority in the Senate Kithure Kindiki and senators Amos Wako and Kipchumba Murkomen. URP leaders who accompanied the Deputy President asked the western Kenya political bigwigs to work with them in the 2017 General Election.
Mr Duale specifically told Governor Ojaamong and MPs Mary Emase (Teso South), Paul Otuoma (Funyula), Arthur Odera (Teso North), John Sakwa (Nambable) and Boniface Otsyula (Bumula) to work with the government for resources to trickle down to their people.
SNUBBED MEETING
The visit came after members of the western Kenya parliamentary caucus turned down an invitation to State House to discuss the sugar deal.
Teso, where the leaders had gathered for a fundraiser for the Teso South Women Sacco, is dominated by Jubilee owing to the election of Ms Emase and Mr Odera on a URP ticket.
Ms Emase asked the Deputy President, who contributed Sh1.5 million, to help them renovate schools and install power.
Mr Ruto said Jubilee was committed to promoting quality education by installing power in all the 55 schools in the area.
“In the next three years, we will support more children by increasing day secondary schools by 40 per cent,” Mr Ruto said.
Mr Ojaamong said he will work with the Jubilee government to develop the county, especially in health matters.
“We appreciate the support given to Busia Referral Hospital which was given Sh425 million to build a modern Intensive Care Unit,” said Mr Ojamoong.
He added that the additional sugar industries in the area will absorb many people who were jobless.
