Ruto pledges Sh5bn fund for city traders, alleges imperial rule plot presidency
Deputy President William Ruto addresses a political rally in Kiboro Austin Grounds, Mathare, Nairobi on January 12, 2022.
What you need to know:
- Deputy President says some people out to create a presidency that also controls MPs and courts.
- Dr Ruto says his bottom-up economic model would establish a friendly legal and financial regime.
Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday took his campaigns to Nairobi, where he alleged a plot to create an imperial presidency with control over the three arms of government.
He addressed several stopover rallies in Mathare and Embakasi, where he said Kenyans need a president who will fight for their rights and end poverty.
“We are telling those who are looking for an opportunity to create an imperial president that Kenya is not ready for an imperial president with control over the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive,” Dr Ruto said in Kamukunji.
“We want an accountable president who works for the people of Kenya.”
He also promised to set up a Sh5 billion annual fund for small-scale businesses in the city. He said the fund would cushion small traders from predatory lenders.
Pro-investment laws
“We shall also build 20 modern markets in Nairobi to ensure hawkers get good spaces to sell their products and initiate pro-investment laws that will oil the growth of such enterprises.”
He said this would “advance our broad and inclusive plan of uplifting millions of Kenyans struggling to put food on the table”.
He said his bottom-up economic model would establish a friendly legal and financial regime to enable small markets, which support millions of livelihoods, to grow.
The DP promised that his administration, in continuation of the government’s Big Four agenda, would set aside Sh100 billion for housing, agro-processing, value addition and manufacturing to create jobs as a matter of priority.
On his cash donations, whose source ODM leader Raila Odinga has questioned, he said he has a good heart, hence share what he has with the poor.
Healthcare pledge
“The man of riddles has been questioning the Sh2 million contributions I make to the boda boda and mama mboga, but today I want to tell him that we shall set aside Sh50 billion this year to support such businesses,” he said.
The DP said his administration would put up low-cost houses in slums and supply water. “We shall ensure the housing project is successful so that those living in slums can have modern houses and titles for such parcels.”
He further promised health cover through the National Hospital Insurance Fund.
“Every Kenyan will go to hospital, get treatment and go home without paying a penny. I’m the Deputy President of Kenya, I’m not a mad man, I know what I’m saying.”
He urged his supporters not to allow themselves to be intimidated by those in authority, adding that it was just a matter of time before they form a government that looks into their issues.
The DP was accompanied by MPs Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), Aden Duale (Garissa Township), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira) and Millicent Omanga (nominated); Eala member Simon Mbugua; United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairman Johnson Muthama; and former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru.
