William Ruto faces tough questions from journalists in second interview
National
By
George Maringa
| May 15, 2023
President William Ruto on Sunday engaged in a one-on-one interview with journalists from several media houses.
In the interview that happened at State House Nairobi, the Head of State faced tough questions from the journalists.
For starters, Dr. Ruto apologized to Kenyans for the deaths recorded at Shakahola.
"There has been laxity from government organs and it is important that I ask for forgiveness because, 210 Kenyans have been dug out of graves. We have the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the National Police Service, Assistant Chiefs, Nyumba Kumi initiative and others," said Ruto.
The president promised that all those found culpable will face the law.
"I am not taking it lightly. I am taking responsibility that as president, this should not have happened and certainly some people who are responsible for this failure on the part of government will have to give an account," said Ruto.
The president was also put to task over the increase in fuel prices, contrary to what he had promised during the campaigns.
According to the Head of State, the increase by 8 per cent is to seal loopholes and provide more revenue for roads.
"Having differential rates poses an integrity problem. People use it as a loophole to manipulate numbers. This 8 per cent that we are adding is going to give us about Sh50 billion. It will begin to deal with the problem of roads across the country," said Ruto.
The questions did not stop there. He was also questioned over the 3 per cent housing levy that is included in the Finance Bill 2023.
There have been concerns that the levy is being forced to Kenyans.
"It's not only houses that we are looking for to solve the issue of over 6 million homeless Kenyans. However, the most important is that for every house being built, five youth are being employed," said Ruto.
President William Ruto equally defended the appointment of 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS).
"The issue of CASs is my plan of government. It is my decision that there is need for CASs because of the agenda I have for this country. My deputy nearly sleeps in his office. Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi has almost lost weight due to spending too much time in the office. I need more workers because of the agenda I have for Kenya. I need more hands, I need more minds," said the president.
The commander-in-chief also divulged the circumstances under which he appointed the new Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Francis Ogolla.
"What exercised my mind is, yes, this gentleman may have made a mistake. Maybe because the commander-in-chief that time told him what to do. And when I talked to him he told me 'I have no defence, you do with me whatever you want. What I did was wrong'. I am also cautious that since independence, there is nobody from Nyanza who has ever been CDF. It also played on my mind that I don't want a situation where a whole community think they cannot occupy such an office. Many things that are part of my system overweighed the mistake he had done." Said Ruto.