The government is focusing on putting money into the pockets of Kenyans after navigating economic challenges, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said.
Speaking in Turkana county yesterday, he said the government has done a lot in two years to tame the high cost of living.
“Since the economy has stabilised, we now want to increase household income and have money in the pockets of our people,” Kindiki said.
He was addressing an interdenominational church service at Moi Gardens, Lodwar.
Kindiki said the government is keen on employment creation to ensure many Kenyans are gainfully engaged.
He said President William Ruto took over at a difficult time given the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We were locked up in our homes for two years. The consequences on economic activities made it difficult when Ruto was taking over. That is why the cost of living was high and the shilling was getting weaker by the day,” Kindiki said.
“The President has done everything possible and now the dollar is at Sh127, Sh128 1or Sh129. And the fuel prices have also gone down today, retailing from Sh220 to Sh160, and every month it keeps decreasing.
“Interests on loans is also on a downward trend, so are the prices of basic commodities.”
The DP urged Kenyans to be patient with the Ruto’s administration, saying the future looks promising.
“We should not be people who lose faith in our country. We must continue trusting God for a better future,” he said.
To check unemployment, Kindiki said the government has gone flat-out in creating employment opportunities locally and abroad to absorb thousands of unemployed Kenyans.
“In the last two years, we have employed 76,000 teachers, the highest by any government. Early in the [new] year, we will also employee 5,000 new police officers,” he said.
Kindiki was accompanied by EAC Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul and county leaders.
Turkana has long suffered marginalisation, leaving it with poor roads networks, lack of IDs and unemployment.
Turkana woman representative Cecilia Asinyen led calls to address this.
“We have requested for IDs for our people who have attained the age, registration here has been low,” she said.
Turkana South MP John Ariko demanded that the state consider someone from the region to head the Livestock Marketing Board.
The board is meant to promote livestock marketing nationally and internationally. “The President promised to constitute the board and the representation was to be from Pastoralists community,” Ariko said.
His counterpart Loima MP Protus Akujah concurred.
“We have the highest number of livestock in the country but we are not benefitting because we lose to drought,” he said.
“We want a factory here so we can sell our stock.”
The leaders also vowed to rally behind President William Ruto in the 2027 elections.
Turkana East MP Nicholas Ngikor, an Azimio MP having been elected on a Jubilee Party, volunteered to lead Ruto’s re-election campaigns in the region
