President Uhuru's Advisor Joshua Kutuny denies rift with DP William Ruto

Kutuny: I have no differences with Kenya’s DP William Ruto

By K Seroney in London.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s political affairs advisor Joshua Kutuny has denied he has any differences with Deputy President William Ruto over Rift Valley leadership.

Kutuny speaking in a Kass Radio programme from London as he fielded questions from diaspora residents denied driving a wedge between some Rift Valley leaders and the Deputy President.

“It is against ethics of civil service to talk about the Deputy President, who is my boss and I can only say that there are no differences between us,” he said at the weekend during Kass London Saturday diaspora radio programme.

 Kutuny’s response was prompted by a question from a senior member of the Panel ‘Bishop’  Silas Tochim who wanted him  to clarify media reports that the DP had pointed finger at him as  one of behind his woes.

“We work together in the government. We work to deliver the Jubilee agenda according to our campaign pledges.  You know that prior to the campaign our community had many difficulties,” he said.

This was the first time a senior Jubilee official was addressing the diaspora community as a way of engaging with the leaders back home from London.

The former Member of Parliament for Cherang’any constituency said that he was happy to be in the government   and   to do a good job for the community. He singled out the state of infrastructure in the region before the current government took over.

“The roads in our region were less tarmacked as compared to other parts of the country. Today, we can see work going on in our region. That was what we said in our campaigns where we were with the deputy president and other Jubilee officials, “ Kutuny told the radio panel who engaged him in a programme.

The Kass London panel is composed of members from the UK, Germany, The Middle East, India, China, Australia and Venezuela in Central America. They are a mixture of professionals, students, academics and entrepreneurs connected online to engage on issues touching on the community and Kenya’s interests.

He said that health services were overstretched and cited Moi Referral hospital in Eldoret as one needing expansion just like many hospital across the country

On the county government, diaspora residents wanted full devolution from central control in Nairobi to facilitate services to the communities.

On Agriculture he said: “I want to stress more  on this  as it is good to say what has been achieved as well as challenges. Agriculture is our backbone. It’s our main source of wealth. Unfortunately up to now the government has not succeeded in streamlining it.”

“The cost of fertilizer and maize price is still pending and perhaps far from being settled. We are currently fighting to sort out the selling price of maize. It is important for the farmers to work knowing what to expect after harvest.”

 He called for revival of the farmers’ cooperatives to solve the problems of having to wait for long to sell their produce or receive fertilizers in good time.

The Jubilee government is working with tea growers to sort out their marketing challenges, he added. They are looking at creating a fund to support marketing strategies. Land is the pride of the Rift-Valley. It’s a major factor of production yet there are systemic failures.  Kutuny admitted that there wasn’t enough Nitrate fertilizer even though it was recently delivered.

He also touched on wide range of government programmes.  The government was looking at ways of providing free secondary education. The Jubilee government was also working to reduce electricity tarrifs so power could be made accessible to all people.

Asked whether he had seen differences among Rift Valley leaders,  Kutuny replied;  “I have seen differing views of the Bomet Governor, the Baringo Senator and the DP. I want to assure the panel and the listeners that my worry is lack of common agenda among these leaders. We formed a government that was void of wrangles and personal differences. In  the past before going  to hunt, the dogs were first allowed a bonding fight. In this case some dogs have fought to the death.”

“As the presidential advisor, it is I request for leaders to unite. We must not allow our differences to continue. We will look like the hunters who fight over the knife after a successful kill.” He said.

‘I said this before and I think it is where the difficulty lies with some leaders; we cannot have the deputy president  at odds with the Bomet governor and the Baringo senator or allow other leaders to differ with them. Where  is the Kalenjin council of elders?  It is important to keep  unity. If we continue this way we shall have problems in the next elections. We won elections because our leaders were united and spoke the same language. I am on record telling the leaders during the election that we should go together and when we form the government we share peacefully.

I want to appeal to the elected leaders not to apportion blame on each other. Those from Nandi and those from Kericho must not trade accusations with each other.

The advisor said that   it was of paramount importance to bring leader together with the  elders, religious leaders, professionals, academics, entrepreneurs and opinion leaders.

Q and A Session:

Sammy Muten; Perth Australia: Uasin Gishu governor recently was on a Chinese tour with the president to negotiate on fertilizer factory for Kenya. Where is the factory located?

Kutuny:  It is true that the farmers have a problem of fertlizers. The feasibility study was completed in two areas. Now the location will be at Kamagut, Eldoret. It will serve sugarcane, Maize and tea growers.

Arap Melly:  (Venezuela): transport in Aldai is poor. How are roads in Aldai? 

Kutuny: “When we got into government we inherited the ongoing projects. There were many roads like the Kabiyet one that was stalled due to lack of funds. We recognized that feeder roads were important for farmers and merchants. So we developed annual programme. There are roads in Uasin Gishu, Marakwet or Keiyo which were not completed. In every constituency there should be three tarmac roads under  this programme. There are currently  lots 1&2. [?]

Joshua Ng’etuny (Bradford,UK): Baringo-Pokot border conflict has been going on for a long time. A lot of efforts and talk has been said but not much has happen. What is the government doing to end this? 

Kutuny: The question of security is a hard one for all of us. Shortly after Jubilee government was formed the country faced insecurity challenge. We have bought more vehicles for police patrols but there is still some difficulty. In Baringo, the conflict could be an inside job. One wonders  how 400 herd of cattle can  disappear  unnoticed. Leaders must sit and iron out the problem. Education in these areas is important. A massive project to impact the region will definitely change the  Samburus Turkanas, Marakwets and Tukens and Pokots.

Martin Kiptengerer: ( India): Why do we still have perpetual hunger yet there is huge potential in the region? Why party conflicts?

Kutuny: We are working hard to make sure the price of fertilizer is accessible and affordable, and to improve irrigation like we do  in Bura region. We now have enough food and we want to relocate last year’s storage in Kitale, Mosoriot and Eldoret. Diversification for short crop [clarify?]

Dr Moses Lang’at,(Surrey, UK) On South Rift. Why was there a Caveat in  an area like Olenguruoni. People are yet to get the title deeds. 

Kutuny: During campaigns we had asked that people be settled. Lands and Mau meeting by the end  of the year. Chief justice (Willy Mutunga) and  chair of National Lands Commission chair Muhammad Swazuri to deal with all outstanding cases. Similarly in Mochongoi, Transzoia, and  Kaamagut etc ?

Florence Bore: ( Germany): Transparency in the counties?

Kutuny’: There was a lot of confusion on tender. Today we have  E-procurement  available to public for transparency . Lobbyists or agents are now encouraged  too, so long as they  pay  their taxes to the government.

Halima Tabusombu( London): What happened to the president’s pledge to help the elderly? On your part what is your role in disability group? Importance of polytechnics in every county? What measures  do you have to make sure there is peaceful co-existence?

Kutuny’: Governrnment set aside Sh2bn to help  the vulnerable people. This was an increase from Sh300m.The way of distribution was the challenge. Registration data base etc. Safaricom to get the phone for people who will get Sh 5000 per month for  food and personal effects. Every constituency every three years will have two polytechnics offering courses in carpentry, plumbing, sewerage system.