Amid murmurs and cheers, Ruto taken to task over jubilee achievements

Deputy President William Ruto speaks during his national address on the 'State of the Nation' at the Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi on Tuesday evening. [Photo: Elvis Ogina/Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto was asked why there was no high-profile conviction over corruption and to comment on the concern that top appointments were only benefiting two communities.

The following is an excerpt of the Town Hall Version engagement on Tuesday evening at the Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi on the Jubilee government’s three years in power.

Moderator: Kenya has been named the third most corrupt in the country and even President Uhuru Kenyatta has decried the level of the vice in the country. People close to you have been named in scandals and yet you keep quiet. Kenyans want to know what the Government is doing to arrest the situation.

DP Ruto: Jubilee believes that public resources must be used for the purposes they were budgeted for. Anyone doing the opposite must be held accountable. We have 360 cases of corruption in court and 560 others are being investigated. These cases involve Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries and managing directors, among others.

Moderator: Taking people to court isn’t enough. What tangible actions can you mention?

DP Ruto: I repeat that we are not talking much but we have taken concrete steps to fight corruption. We have formed a multi-agency body to deal with the problem. Yes, there is corruption but the Government doesn’t jail offenders. Kenyans should ask the Judiciary how long the cases will take. We want to see offenders convicted. We have facilitated the Judiciary and met with them not to influence them but to request them to fast-track the cases. We do not want to see many court injunctions in matters of  corruption. Those who steal and claim to be close to the powers must carry their own crosses. Let the Judiciary convict those who steal.

Moderator: But Cabinet secretaries are expressing concerns that they recommend to the Government to disband corrupt boards as in the case of the Youth Fund board but nothing happens.

DP Ruto: The power to disband boards rests with Cabinet secretaries. If they don’t do it, let them not blame us.

Geoffrey Njau, student at University of Nairobi: Hon DP, what other measures are there in fighting corruption? For example, when can we see the stolen money or assets recovered?

DP Ruto: Jubilee has recovered stolen money and other property.

Michelle Auma, student at University of Nairobi: Jubilee came to power on the digital platform. But all its deeds show that they have neglected the youth and favour the old like in the appointments to boards. Why is this?

 

DP Ruto: Yes, we are a digital government. You can file tax returns, apply for visa or driving licence or reservation for company registration online. By December this year, the laptops project will be complete. We are working with local universities and this has created jobs. In fact, in the past year, Jubilee has created 800,000 jobs for youths. We have only appointed a few senior citizens to board jobs where they meet four times a year. For example, Henry Kosgey was Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chairman. Is it now wrong when we give him a job?

Moderator: Kenyans are concerned that the Constitution stipulates that jobs must be given to all Kenyans. But there are concerns that Jubilee is favouring Central and Rift Valley regions when it comes to employment. Even the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has a report on the imbalance on jobs.

DP Ruto: The NCIC report captures all in the civil service. We will act on its recommendations.

Ken Omondi, Law student at Egerton University: Education is the only gate where a child from a poor background can realise his or her dreams. You rose from being a hustler to DP. What is Jubilee doing to make sure that all children of this country get an education? How are you addressing the examination leak scandal.

DP Ruto: Tomorrow (Wednesday), I will launch our curriculum review. We want to tie our education system to Vision 2030. We want to adopt  continuous assessment tests (CATs) so that the pressure on final examination reduces. We have also instructed the Education ministry to once and for all deal with exam cheating. Government has increased capitation for public school students and waived exam fees.

Jack Ligami, student at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology: What is the Government doing to help university students get internships with leading companies to grow their skills. The youth are also having problems getting identity cards (IDs).

DP Ruto: A motion has been passed by the National Assembly that makes it easy for the Government to liaise with the private sector to help us in this matter. We are talking with companies so that they take in students on internship using their profits and we will give them tax rebates. We have also given enough resources to the registrar of persons to issue IDs to all Kenyans. The CS for Interior is here and he is under instruction to ensure that all Kenyans get IDs wherever they are. We don’t want to hear of cases of people asking for baptismal cards, death certificates or people being told to go to their original counties.

Moderator: You talk of giving enough resources to the registrar of persons. But the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has said the Government has denied it enough money to carry out its operations. Both the Opposition and the ruling coalition members are calling for IEBC’s disbandment. What do you say?

DP Ruto: Resources are shared and the budgets for various Government institutions is approved by Parliament. We gave IEBC money to do its crash programme on voter registration. We will give it more money to register more people before 2017. Those calling for the disbandment of IEBC are not sincere. We can’t call for that at public rallies or press conferences. The law is clear. Let those who want to dissolve IEBC petition Parliament. If the petition is accepted, the President will form a tribunal and if it is found IEBC should be dissolved, it will go. But let us not call for its disbandment because it is not favouring us. We disbanded it in 2007 and we can’t be doing this every election year.

Jared Akama, student at University of Nairobi: What is Kenya doing to address the issue of Migingo Island and any other matter that touches on our territorial boundaries?

DP Ruto: Uganda is a friendly nation and we are using the diplomatic way to settle the matter. We are working on that.

Moderator: A recent poll shows that you are trailing President Uhuru, Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Peter Kenneth in popularity. Does this worry you?

DP Ruto: No, I am not worried. All those, except me, are running for the presidency. I haven’t declared to run for presidency. That means that I will be a serious contender when I declare.

DP Ruto parting shot: We want a peaceful General Election next year. Let Kenyans register as voters in big numbers and elect leaders of their choice.