Deputy President Kithure Kindiki with President William Ruto in Kakamega/DPCS
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki had a busy week as he joined his boss William Ruto for a development tour of Western Kenya, pledging loyalty.
This was Kindiki’s first tour of the region with Ruto since his inauguration last October as Kenya’s second in command.
During the week, Kindiki also attended a Cabinet meeting at Kakamega State Lodge as Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi gave the session a wide berth.
Kindiki accompanied the president as he commissioned several development projects in the region, urging Kenyans to embrace national unity.
On Wednesday, Kindiki attended the launch of the extension of the Secondary Dyke for the River Nzoia Flood Control Project in Budalangi Constituency, Busia County.
After the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Kindiki joined Ruto in the commissioning of the Lukhumbi Village Electrification project in Shinyalu Constituency, Kakamega County.
On Monday, Kindiki attended the inspection of the ongoing works at the 21km Mumias-Musanda Road, Kakamega County, and later addressed residents at Musanda Market.
Speaking in Kakamega during the launch of the bonus payment to sugar farmers, Kindiki said that he also supports Ruto's decision to work with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the formation of a broad-based government.
He went on to say that with a united country, achieving the much-needed development will be easier.
“The last thing Your Excellency is to thank you for your efforts to unite the country. We support your unity with Raila Odinga and the broad-based government. Our colleagues Mutahi Kagwe have come on board, and this unity will ease the development of our country,” Kindiki said.
Kindiki also emphasised that his role is to ensure that his boss, President Ruto, succeeds.
“My work is to ensure that President William Ruto succeeds in his job as our head of state and government. I will go far and wide to ensure that the Kenya Kwanza Administration's transformative agenda is successful,” he said.
Kindiki
urged Kenyans to rally behind the President as he delivers on his campaign
promises.
He noted
that being united and championing the same makes it easier to develop the
country.
“We must
all support President William Ruto in his desire to unite all Kenyans. We must
walk together as a nation. That is the most effective way of bringing
development to our people," Kindiki said.
“When we
are united and pulling in the same direction, we will bring electricity to the
people of Kenya; our hospitals will be better equipped and have medicines, our
roads will be tarmacked; that way we will grow the economy,” Kindiki said.
According
to the DP, more than 700,000 households have been connected to electricity across
the country in the last two years, with an additional one million expected in
the next two years.
The connections are part of a broader electrification effort for the entire Western region, which has already seen thousands of homes connected to the national grid in Bungoma, Busia, and Vihiga counties.
On Wednesday,
Kindiki assured President Ruto of his support and that of other leaders in
developing the nation.
Kindiki said that Ruto's government is development-oriented, serving all Kenyans.
Speaking in Luanda, Vihiga county, the DP added the state is an all-encompassing government-only focused on service delivery.
"For those keen on dividing Kenyans, we are telling them we are not interested in tribal and divisive engagements. The President is focused on enhancing Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing, Mining and all sectors including boosting the economy to ensure our youths are employed," Kindiki said.
"Together with fellow leaders Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and others, we are solidly behind the President as he leads in developing every part of our country."
Kindiki on Thursday met the technical team that is working to address bottlenecks hindering the operationalisation of the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mombasa County.
During the meeting, Kindiki was briefed on the progress made so far after their initial meeting last week.
They also reviewed the national policy for expediting SEZs and export promotion.
Some of the key issues identified include taxation, which according to the team has already been addressed by the National Treasury.
The process of compensating PAPs was also said to be slow as well as getting investors on board was also noted to be a big challenge.
