DP William Ruto asks Coast to ignore referendum calls

Deputy President William Ruto greets residents of Garsen after laying a foundation stone for construction of Garsen Technical Training Insitute yesterday. [PHOTO: DPPS]

TANA RIVER COUNTY: Jubilee leaders led by Deputy President William Ruto traversed the country with the message that a costly referendum would divert funds budgeted for development to counter the twin referendum bids by the Opposition and governors.

As he concluded his tour of Coast Sunday, Ruto attacked CORD leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka's performance record during their time in government and urged residents of Tana River to ignore the Opposition's call for a referendum.

Ruto's message at the Coast was in step with President Uhuru Kenyatta's who on Saturday told the region's residents that the referendum debate would expose politicians who only thrive on empty rhetoric.

From the Coast, President Uhuru went to Kitui County where he implored politicians to stop bickering and serve Kenyans.

And as the Deputy President toured Coast, Jubilee-allied Senators were in Western Kenya - a region considered an opposition area where they criticised the referendum campaigns, arguing they would disrupt development programmes as the Government had not budgeted for the national vote.

Senate Majority leader Kindiki Kithure, Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Charles Keter Kericho) spoke at St. Thomas ACK Church in Amagoro, Busia County.

At the Coast, Ruto and National Assembly Majority leader Aden Barre Duale said there is no need to spend money on a referendum on the 2010 Constitution and blamed Siaya Senator James Orengo for the land problems in Lamu County where President Uhuru Kenyatta recently ordered the cancellation of 22 land titles.

They spoke at Haroresa, some 20km outside Hola town, at a public meeting convened to discuss irrigation and farming in Tana River County. Tana River governor Hussein Dado attended the rally but avoided discussions on the referendum and land matters only announcing that he had secured an investor from the Middle East to harvest the destructive 'mathenge' shrub to convert it into fuel.

Garsen MP Ibrahim Sane also accompanied the DP.

Ruto attacked CORD and Raila, saying the Opposition was leading the country into an expensive multi-billion shillings referendum.

"Do not listen to this man who comes here with vitendawili (parables) taking about the referendum," he said.

Ruto claimed that Kenyans should not listen to Raila and the former Vice-President Kalonzo because “this is not the time for parables and the referendum, they require development."

The DP claimed that CORD cannot claim to be concerned about Coast's land problem and alleged that the crisis in Lamu happened when Senator Orengo of CORD was Lands minister under the grand coalition government.

"CORD leaders are responsible for what happened in Lamu and we are saying all those who stole land should surrender it and be prosecuted," Ruto said.

Ruto, who later witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a technical institute in Hola said Kenyans should not be subjected to a vote less than two years after the 2013 general elections.

He said that the government will allocate Sh200 million for Hola and Bura Irrigation schemes this financial year to boost food production.

"We must change the narrative of Tana River so that all corners of Kenya are developed through the produce of Tana," he said.

Meanwhile, Ruto announced the Government will waive the examination fees for both secondary and primary school candidates from next year.

He assured Kenyans that all candidates sitting for exams for both secondary and primary will no pay a penny to sit for national examinations.

He also said the Government has increased school funding from Sh18 billion shillings to Sh27 billion in the past two financial years to support pupils who were still out of school over lack of fees.

He further said the Government is planning to construct technical colleges in every constituency to impart skills in youth.