Jubilee leaders say Nasa chiefs are 'development failures’

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto have returned to the Coast with goodies as they woo locals to back their re-election in the August elections.

The Jubilee leaders hit at the opposition for being "failures in development" and having nothing to show for their years in government.

President Kenyatta said unlike him and Mr Ruto who had a total of seven years in government, Nasa principals Kalonzo Musyoka, Raila Odinga, Moses Wetang'ula and Musalia Mudavadi had been in government for many years.

A hard-hitting President Kenyatta said the Nasa bigwigs have nothing to show for their years in government apart from "noise making" and that Kenyans should shun them.

JUBILEE PROJECTS

The President cited the building of the standard gauge railway, roads, the Lamu port, equipment for hospitals and the issuance of title deeds as some of Jubilee’s achievements.

"The Jubilee government is ready to continue with its development agenda instead of mere stories. I urge you to avoid leaders out to use abusive language and divide you. They have eyes but they can't see. They have ears but can't hear," he said.

The President also vouched for peace ahead of the August elections.

He at the same time issued 2,441 title deeds for three settlement schemes in Lamu.

Addressing a rally Thursday at Witu in Lamu, President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto spelt out the Jubilee administration’s development in the county aimed at ending years of marginalisation.

LIVE IN PEACE

The President emphasised the need for locals to co-exist peacefully for development and job creation.

He announced removal of interest for rates on Lamu settlement scheme land.

He directed Devolution minister Mwangi Kiunjuri to ensure Lamu residents get relief food following ravaging drought in county.

A school feeding programme will also be launched in county.

He ordered headteachers in areas hit by drought not to send children home for school fees.

"Our children in Lamu or Mandera should not be sent home due to lack of fees," he directed.

The President said the SGR line will be inaugurated soon.

The line will also be connected to the Lamu port.

SUPPORT JUBILEE

Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, who was elected on a UDF ticket in 2013, announced that he will work with Jubilee and back President Kenyatta's re-election.

Lamu West MP Julius Ndegwa had challenged Mr Timamy to defect to Jubilee.

President Kenyatta and Ruto also urged Mr Timamy to move to Jubilee and support it to win a second term.

The President and Mr Ruto were in Witu, where they launched the tarmacking of the 135-kilometre Garsen-Witu-Lamu road.

TARMAC ROAD

Lamu has less than five kilometres of tarmac and the new Sh10 billion route to be completed in three years is expected to open up the county, a key tourist destination.

"This road has been on the cards for too long. It is a historic day following launch of its construction. It will make Lamu be like other parts of the country," President Kenyatta said.

He said the road will boost local economy and help improve security.

"For many, its building is like a dream," he said and vowed to monitor its progress on a weekly basis.

He said towns along the road like Witu will also benefit from tarmac roads. Three schools in Witu are to get Sh10 million each for development.