By Rashid Lorogoi
Eldoret North MP William Ruto took his presidential campaigns to Turkana County with a pledge that his Government will deal with problems facing pastoralists.
Ruto said if elected president, he will decisively deal with insecurity and hunger, issues that stalk pastoralists.
“The Turkana should be treated like other Kenyans. In this day and age, we should not have people going to sleep on empty stomachs,” he said. Ruto faulted the Government, which he said had for a long time slept on its job of providing adequate security to communities.
“It has neglected its people as if they don’t belong to Kenya. This must stop. We should ensure security is provided to all,” he said.
Ruto expressed confidence that perennial hunger situation in Northern Kenya can be stopped.
“We do not need experts to show us how to do it. We are well-educated to know that food can be grown in Turkana to feed locals here and beyond,” he said.
secure border points
The former Minister for Agriculture said during his tenure, he had started turning around fortunes of people living in arid and semi-arid regions.
“These lands are arid but arable. That is the work I want to go and continue if you elect me president,” he told locals in Lodwar on Sunday.
Ruto further said his government would empower the country’s youth technically and economically to allow them be self-reliant.
“My government will ensure that loans are availed to youths and other enterprising Kenyans at no interest to allow them empower themselves,” he said. Ruto revisited Kazi Kwa Vijana initiative saying it was a big let down and a waste of public resources, whose impact cannot be felt.
“Those funds should have even have been used to educate youths instead of facilitating work in dirty trenches,” he said.
The MP, who has been on a three-day tour of Turkana County, expressed optimism that United Republic Party (URP) would form the next government.
Turkana Central MP Ekwee Ethuro hosted Ruto.
“The Government should do its duty and secure border points to allow Kenyans living there to go on with their lives in peace,” said Ethuro.
