President William Ruto yesterday said his administration’s transformation journey is now steadily on course days after his new Deputy President took office.
Addressing faithful at African Divine Church in Dagoretti North, he rallied Kenyans to move on from the politics of impeachment.
“The other issue (impeachment) is now behind us. Let us unite and take the country forward,” he said.
“I am focused, I will not be distracted. I am a man on a mission and my mission is to transform this country. I know it will not be easy but it is doable, and we are going to do it together.”
The indigenous African church was celebrating 72 years of existence.
This is the second time the President is expressing confidence that his administration will deliver to Kenyans following the exit of Gachagua.
On Friday, the head of state said his former deputy failed to lend a helping hand to his administration for two years.
The President hoped his new deputy Kithure Kindiki would be different.
“I have almost become a lonely voice in the Executive, especially within the Presidency, speaking about our programmes and elaborating on our work,” Ruto said.
Ruto’s administration has been implementing key projects, including affordable housing, universal health care, new university funding model as well as the subsidised fertiliser programme to boost food security.
All these, Ruto said, had been left to him to tell the public.
“I need your voice. I need your intellect to help me and members of our Cabinet to profile and articulate the things we are doing,” he said.
“Our manifesto is detailed and transformative, and we are implementing it page by page. We are committed to transforming this great nation. Failure is not an option.”
Part of the transformation, Ruto said, will be realised next month, when 1,000 slum dwellers will move to the modern housing units under affordable housing.
The exercise targets households in informal settlements, and will see the tenants pay the same rent they are currently paying.
“A Kenyan in the lowest cadre will be able to live in a modern house at the Sh3,000 that he or she is currently paying in a mabati house,” Ruto said.
He condemned rampant cases of killings in the country mostly targeting women, saying his administration will do everything to contain the situation.
The President said recent cases have both criminal and moral elements that must be addressed.
“How can it be that our girls, the women of Kenya who expect us to love them, are now dying in the hands of men?” Ruto asked.
“We will go out of our way to provide resources to the police to deal with it. As parents, we must also deal with the moral issue.”
Ruto also drummed up support for his new health cover, saying it is the only way to ensure all Kenyans are covered.
Despite the teething problems, the President called on Kenyans to be patient as the system is being rolled out.
“All Kenyans will be able to get medical cover. No Kenyan will be turned away because he or she does not have money,” he said.
The President was accompanied by Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi and governors Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi) and Susan Kihika (Nakuru).
Other leaders included National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah and his Senate counterpart Aaron Cheruiyot.
Also present were MPs George Aladwa (Makadara), Lilian Gogo (Rangwe), Beatrice Elachi (Dagoretti North) and Esther Passaris (Nairobi).
