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President William Ruto on Sunday, January 8, said he was among the newest grandfathers in town after his son, Nick, welcomed a child with his (Nick's) wife Evelyn Chemutai.
The president said Laikipia County, where Chemutai hails from, made him a grandfather for the second time.
The Head of State's other grandchild is by his daughter, June, and her husband Alexander Ezenagu, a Nigerian national.
Nick exchanged wedding vows with Chemutai in a traditional ceremony in January 2022 in Laikipia County.
Speaking at the Nanyuki Stadium on Sunday, January 8, 2023 during an interdenominational prayer service, Ruto said he'll frequently be visiting Laikipia County to monitor development projects and, at the same time, catch up with his in-laws.
"Last year in January, I paid dowry to you, the people of Laikipia County. It is through you that my son got a wife. I'm happy to announce that through the union of your daughter and my son, I'm now a grandfather," said the president.
"I hear that among members of the Laikipia community, dowry is never paid in a one-off arrangement. So, every other time I visit Laikipia, I must come armed with something for dowry. I'm fully aware of that obligation," he said.
In his speech, the president also promised to roll out several development projects in Laikipia County, including the construction of a connector road between Nanyuki and Rumuruti.
Ruto also said that construction of the Nanyuki Stadium was in the government's plan, and that he had tasked the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Sports Ababu Namwamba to ensure that the construction proceeds to completion.
Laikipia County has been making news headlines for banditry attacks and repeated cases of human-wildlife conflict.
To contain the situation, the Head of State said the government will deploy 360 more police reservists to Laikipia, and that all ranchers will be required to fence off their land.
Ruto said Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will, in March 2023, preside over the issuance of title deeds in Laikipia County after the respective titling processes are completed.
"We'll work with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to ensure that game parks in Laikipia County are fenced off to ward off wild animals from destroying the crops in your farms. I want to assure you that we'll meet our side of the bargain as leaders of government," said Ruto.
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