President William Ruto on Sunday attended Mass at the Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi where he outlined his government’s vision following a series of robust changes he’s made in his administration in recent days.
The President appreciated the
divine purpose that had brought him to Soweto and expressed gratitude for the
opportunity to be in the area, emphasising that there was work God intended for
him to do in that community.
A
significant portion of President Ruto’s speech was dedicated to addressing education,
healthcare, agriculture and affordable housing issues which he said his
government is dedicated to deliver.
Speaking
fondly about the importance of children, he described them as “a blessing to
the nation” and revealed that his government has allocated substantial
funds to improve the education sector.
“I
have released Sh1 billion for education in Nairobi with Sh18 million allocated
to each Member of Parliament to help build 30 new classrooms across the
country,” he said.
The
President further explained that his government has hired new teachers and
built additional classrooms to accommodate Grade 9 learners in January.
Ruto
took pride in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), noting that his own child
is enrolled under the system, which he believes is better suited to equip
students with skills for the future.
“My
own child is also in CBC they go through the system like the other Kenyans because
I believe in the system.”
President
ruto also shared plans for the construction of new schools in Jacaranda, where
he envisioned the development of a nursery school, secondary school and
potentially a TVET institution if suitable land could will be secured.
“I
have heard Governor Sakaja and I will make sure that a nursery school, primary
and secondary school are built on that government land if there is more land
there we will build a TVET,” he said.
The President’s
vision for Jacaranda also includes a plan for affordable housing and a stadium.
He
stressed that efforts would be focused on productive initiatives for the Soweto
community, such as education and sports, so the resident youth can shun habits
such as drug abuse.
He
mandated Housing and Urban Development PS Charles Hinga to oversee the
important project and ensure the vision is realized.
Another theme of the
President's address was infrastructure development, particularly road repairs
in Nairobi.
Ruto made a lighthearted
remark about the condition of some of the capital city’s road network,
humorously likening them to roads in heaven.
“I
have seen your roads are rough like ones on the road to heaven and I will work
on them,” he said.
He
assured the public that his government was committed to improving the roads,
especially in areas like Eastlands, which he said would be prioritised under
the Bottom-up economic transformation agenda.
The President directed a
senior official at the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), to begin the repairs
and promised that work would be completed before Christmas.
“I
have directed Isanda here and he will make sure the roads are fixed before
Christmas.”
The President
also touched on how his government was working to address water challenges in
Nairobi.
He stated that the Ndakaini
Dam, a critical source of water for the capital, would be better utilised to
ensure consistent water supply to the city.
Ruto
said Nairobi is the face of water in Kenya and emphasised the importance of
ensuring that the city’s water systems are functional and sustainable.
The
President also shared ambitious plans to create 50,000 jobs through housing
projects by the end of the year.
Additionally,
he praised efforts by Governor Johnson Sakaja’s Dishi na County programme,
which he said was making significant progress in supporting local farmers through
food supply to schools.
Ruto
explained that the government will support this initiative by helping establish
cold storage facilities for farmers to enable them store excess produce for
longer periods and reduce post-harvest losses.
Ruto also
took the opportunity to defend the new controversial healthcare scheme.
“SHA
is not just for rich people but for all Kenyans and I urge Kenyans to be
patient,”
He
added that the government will cater for hospital bills and that Kenyans should
have faith in the Social Health Authority to deliver the Social Health
Insurance Fund seamlessly.
On
his part, Governor Sakaja asked Kenyans to give President Ruto time to
implement his pledges.
“He has only been president for two years. I was in Murang'a recently and people were complaining about the Mau Mau roads. However, four presidents have come and gone without constructing the roads and all the blame is now on Ruto after just two years, Is that really fair?” he posed.
