William Ruto: We’ll win war against graft

Deputy President William Ruto has hit back at Opposition leader Raila Odinga for saying that the government was losing the war against corruption and insecurity.

At the same time, the DP urged Kenyans to let independent institutions such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission do their work.

“If you have evidence that any person has been involved in corruption, expose them so that our independent institutions can handle them. Be in a position to take the country forward,” Mr Ruto said on Sunday in Nyeri Town during a funds drive in aid of St Peter’s ACK Church.

Mr Ruto said the Jubilee administration was committed to fighting corruption.

DISCREDIT GOVERNMENT

“It seems our friends in the Opposition are conspiring to discredit the Jubilee government. Corruption and insecurity are matters we are dealing with firmly,” he said.

He added that it was not the work of the administration to determine who was guilty of corruption.

“That is the responsibility of independent institutions,” he said.

The DP said the transformation of the country was not going to be stopped by “those who see nothing good in their motherland”.

He said the country would win the war against terrorism, extremism, radicalisation and crime in general because security organs were being modernised.

Mr Ruto said young people were the catalyst in the transformation of the country.

“The government has directed most of its projects to youth empowerment. We have allocated a huge budget to National Youth Service. More than 10,000 young people last year benefited from this programme. Another 10,000 will be recruited by September,” added Mr Ruto.

'CREATING SCANDALS'

He also said the government would get 40 per cent of its needs from local industries, which will create employment.

Mr Ruto said the Opposition had realised that the government was targeting the society’s core — the young people — using them as catalysts of development and that is why it was “creating scandals out of the many youth programmes initiated”.

Nominated Senator Beatrice Elachi asked the government to ensure that devolution worked, insecurity was dealt with decisively and the war against corruption won.

“When you touch NYS, you touch the youths of this country. You also touch the core of Jubilee government. The government must deal with cartels. I also want to remind our competitors that it would be good if they respected the work we have done and not use propaganda to mislead the masses,” said the Senate Chief Whip.

Mr Ruto said the government was committed to devolution.

Deputy Senate Speaker Kembi Gitura said there was no rivalry between the National Assembly and the Senate.

He added that the Senate was not interested in politics that was going to destroy the country.

“Devolution is the future of Kenya. It will distribute wealth equitably. What we can’t afford is to make corruption a devolved function,” said the Murang’a senator.

He said senators had a mandate to protect counties and devolution.