Ruto visits Nyeri again and donates millions to groups

Deputy President William Ruto addresses Karatina residents, Nyeri. [Kibata Kihu, Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto and his brigade crisscrossed Nyeri County yesterday with huge donations.

Ruto's visit came just a few days after that of ODM leader Raila Odinga in what is seen as an attempt by the DP to "erase" the ODM leader's footprints in the region.

Ruto visited Karatina town where he donated Sh3 million to women and mitumba traders. He then moved to Konyu Ward in Mathira where he donated Sh1 million to Konyu women group.

He donated Sh500,000 each to boda boda riders group and former Jubilee women dancers who announced their move to join United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

At Mukurwe-ini, Ruto donated Sh2 million for boda boda riders and small and medium enterprises.

The host MP Rigathi Gachagua topped the amount with Sh2 million in Karatina and Konyu Ward while Woman Rep Rahab Mukami added Sh40,000. 

"By next year, if we form government, we shall not be using money from our pockets but from government coffers to support SMEs through the bottom up economic model," Ruto said. 

Ruto who followed Mukurwe-ini Othaya and Nyeri towns, the same routes followed by Raila last week, pleaded with the electorate to remember the role he played in 2013 by supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta in his hour of need and urged them to vote for him in next year's polls. 

He said while Mt Kenya region’s son (Kenyatta) faced international criminal charges, Raila was not there for him and that it is him who stood with him through thick and thin. 

"We were a team in 2013 and 2017 when we voted for Uhuru and I urge you to reject being divided and vote for me as a bloc next year," Ruto said.

He accused Raila of destroying their Jubilee party, a move he said informed him to join UDA. 

"Do you want "mtu wa kitendawili" or a hustler? He has a record of destroying political parties, and disrupting government programmes such as the Big Four agenda," Ruto said.

He said the country does not need constitutional amendments but an economic recovery plan, adding that he was offering himself to Kenyans since he has a plan.