DP says BBI should not split nation

Deputy President William Ruto joins artistes at Ilmootiok in Narok West constituency. [Robert Kiplagat, Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto has insisted that he will not lead the No campaign against the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

Speaking in Narok County yesterday where he held meetings with local leaders, the DP said the push to amend the Constitution should not divide Kenyans along “us versus them”.

"I know there are people who are itching for this alliance versus this in the push for the constitutional change. I want to tell them that I will not be part of division of Kenyans. Let them sell the BBI and Kenyans will decide for themselves," he said.

Ruto faulted BBI proponents for allegedly fronting tribal kings, saying amending the Constitution would not solve the economic problems bedeviling the country. He said leaders should focus on creating jobs for the millions of jobless youth.

“There is shortage of leadership in this country. They can change the Constitution, which we have no problem with. However, that is not the solution to the problem, but joblessness of millions of Kenyans and lack of opportunities for small scale traders,” he said.

Ruto said wananchi were struggling economically and the situation had been worsened by Covid-19. He expressed optimism that coronavirus vaccines that arrived in the country will enable the public to get back to their normal lives.

The DP decried high borrowing, saying the country was now paying more than Sh1 trillion in foreign loans, an issue he said will be solved through empowering small economies.

Elgeyo/Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said the focus of the “Hustler Movement” was not BBI, but empowerment of mwananchi.

“When Kenyans elected us they did not send us to change the law but their lives through policies,” said Murkomen.

Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng'eno urged Ruto to address the plight of more than 35,000 residents evicted from Maasai Mau forest in 2019.

The DP toured Ilmootiok in Narok West constituency where he led a funds drive for boda boda sacco and donated a school bus to Ilmootiok Secondary School.