DP William Ruto goes to Taita Taveta in Coast tour

DP William Ruto (right) and Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya during the launch of building of Jomvu-Rabai road in Mombasa on March 16, 2018.

Mr Ruto takes his visit of the Coast to Taita Taveta this Sunday. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • ODM MPs have been turning up in large numbers since Friday, giving Mr Ruto an open arm welcome.
  • Mr Ruto said the move by President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga to bury their differences should pave way for leaders to unite.
  • He thanked Kwale residents for voting for Jubilee leaders including Governor Mvurya.

Deputy President William Ruto takes his visit of the Coast to Taita Taveta Sunday as he reaps big from a unity deal between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Nasa leader Raila Odinga.

Mr Ruto, who started his visit of the opposition bastion in Mombasa on Friday, will attend an interdenominational prayer service at Voi Stadium.

The DP was in Kwale Saturday.

Unlike his previous visits to the Coast where the mainly ODM MPs gave his meetings and those of President Kenyatta a wide berth, the lawmakers have been turning up in large numbers since Friday, giving him an open arm welcome.

UHURU-RAILA DEAL

The MPs praised the Uhuru-Raila political union saying it will pave way for development, unite the country and boost peace and reconciliation.

At times, the MPs allied to coast political kingpins Hassan Joho and Amason Kingi who always poured vitriol on the Jubilee leadership, hailed Mr Ruto as a "God-given leader” who is development-conscious.

The legislators welcomed Mr Ruto to their constituencies to initiate development projects but said the 2022 presidential candidature should take a back seat for now.

But on Saturday, Kwale governor Salim Mvurya who was elected on a Jubilee ticket said it was a foregone conclusion that Mr Ruto will fly the Jubilee flag in 2022.

UNITY CALL

Speaking in Msambweni Constituency on Saturday, Mr Ruto said the move by President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga to bury their differences should pave way for leaders to unite and work for faster development of the country.

"We are prepared to work with all of you to drive the development agenda for our nation," Mr Ruto said at Jomo Kenyatta Primary School in Kwale.

The DP said time for politics is over and that leaders should now serve Kenyans.

He said there is only one government led by President Kenyatta with him as his deputy but they will work with all elected leaders irrespective of political affiliation.

JUBILEE

He thanked Kwale residents for voting for Jubilee leaders including Governor Mvurya.

He said all elected leaders will now unite to serve Kenyans.

He launched the building of a road from Milalani to Kilulu which is to be complete in a year.

The building of Funzi causeway is also on, he said.

He said a dual carriageway will be done from Likoni in Mombasa to Ukunda in Kwale.

DONGO KUNDU BRIDGE

A bridge is to be built from Dongo Kundu to Mwache at a cost of Sh30 billion to ease congestion at the Likoni ferry crossing and offer alternative route from Mombasa to Kwale.

"This will ensure Kwale no longer remains behind in development," he said.

The deputy president said all people aged above 70 years should be registered to benefit from the elderly people’s pay by the government.

He said the government is keen to address the squatter problem and called for the cooperation of all leaders irrespective of party affiliations.

Ministry of Land Chief Administrative Secretary Gideon Mung’aro said he will work with the National Land Commission to resolve land problems at the coast.

Governor Mvurya hailed President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga's political deal adding that it is now time for development.