Ruto moves to quell murmurs in Mt Kenya region over Finance Act

President William Ruto addressing wananchi at Karatina Town, Nyeri County. [PCS]

President William Ruto has moved to quell murmurs in the Mt Kenya region over the cost of living while defending the Finance Act.

The president, who seemed to respond to claims by Azimio that the Act is punitive, said the Act would pave way for a better future.

Azimio has been using the controversial Act to seek political support from the populous region by claiming Dr Ruto-led administration had hatched a plot to punish the locals known for their entrepreneurial acumen.

Speaking at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri on Sunday, the Head of State reiterated his administration's objective to stabilise the economy.

Ruto said it is through the Finance Act that the country's debts will be managed, employment opportunities for the youth will be created, and local manufacturing will be realized.

"For the first time in our budget, we have plans to educate our children and prepare for job employment opportunities when they finish their studies due to plans such as affordable housing and local manufacturing where cement, metal, and furniture will be made locally," the President said.

The president said he had borrowed his initiatives from former President Mwai Kibaki, who he said pushed Kenyans to pay taxes.

He thanked the MPs for supporting the law despite intimidation that people would reject them.

According to the Head of State, as a result of prudent management of public resources and better planning, the country will repay the Sh2 billion dollars debt earlier, which had been scheduled to mature by June next year.

He hailed Mt Kenya region for what he termed as breaking the pattern of ethnic-based politics by voting for a president who does not hail from the region.

"In the recent past, our system of politics has been held hostage by the yokes of tribalism but Mt Kenya region decided to take the centre stage in departing from the move. Many did not believe the region could vote for an outsider," he said.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua rallied the region to continue supporting the government, saying that based on the number of those appointed from the region, the president honoured an agreement he made before the elections.

"We made a conscious decision and a careful political choice by rallying our region behind the president, and despite some people claiming that we were following Ruto blindly, they did not know that it was by choice, design and strategy."