By Paul Gitau
United Republican Party (URP) presidential aspirant William Ruto embarked on a tour of Coast Province with a fresh bashing of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Even though he did not mention Raila the International Criminal Court suspect referred to leaders who have been “pretending to be holy, but are now being exposed”.
Addressing a rally at Marereni Trading Centre in Magarini District in Kilifi County before flying to Garsen in Tana River on Friday, Ruto claimed some leaders are now being exposed for the “scams and scandals they are engaged in,” apparent reference to the PM and a book written by the latter’s former aide Miguna Miguna.
Like Raila’s opponents Miguna in Peeling Back the Mask has tried to question the Premier’s reform credentials and anti-corruption record. Miguna wrote after he was ejected from the PM’s office.
Empty promises
“Yale mambo mengi ambayo yalikuwa yakisemwa, maneno ambayo watu walikuwa wakiekelewa, wengine walikuwawakijifanya ni wakuhani wakuu wa mambo mazuri sasa mambo yao na kashfa zotewalizotekeleza zimewekwa wazi wazi. (A lot of things had been said, some were meant to frame and taint others while they were pretending to be angels now their evils and scandals have been exposed),” Ruto noted.
Ruto cautioned residents of Coast Province to be wary of leaders they elect. He asked voters to vet all the presidential aspirants and select visionary leaders and not politicians who were fond of empty promises. The URP leader said his government would focus on youth empowerment.
Ruto said his Government will set a special funds for youths and women where they will obtain interest free loans to embark on various business activities.
Meanwhile, a URP meeting slated for Monday has been moved to Wednesday. URP leader Eldoret North MP William Ruto said the meeting venue has also changed from the Bomas of Kenya to the Nyayo Stadium Gymnasium.
The move was necessitated by logistical considerations but Ruto gave no other reason for the abrupt change of date and venue.
