President Ruto warns leaders against divisive politics

President William Ruto has warned leaders against promoting divisive politics, while reiterating his commitment to unite Kenyans and implement reforms that will transform the country’s economy.

The head of state said on Sunday that the country will not achieve meaningful development if some leaders engage in divisive politics.

“As leaders, we have a responsibility to unite all Kenyans and support programs that will transform our nation rather than engaging in divisive politics that will roll back the gains made in development,” he said. Dr Ruto when he attended a church service at Our Lady. from Fatima Catholic Church in Moiben, Uasin Gishu Province.

Although he didn’t mention any names, his comments come a week later Rigathi Gachagua was removed as vice president by both the National Assembly and the Senate on eleven grounds, including accusations of advancing the regional and tribal agenda at the expense of national unity.

Dr. Ruto defended the ongoing reforms in the agriculture sector, including the provision of subsidized fertilizer to farmers, noting that this has increased crop productivity.

“The timely distribution of subsidized fertilizer coupled with favorable climatic conditions has increased maize yield from 40 million bags to 67 million bags, helping the country achieve food security,” Dr Ruto said.

“The inflation rate has also declined from 9.6 percent in 2022 to the current 3.6 percent, reducing prices of most commodities and improving living standards for most Kenyans.”

He said his government was committed to implementing reforms that would boost crop production while protecting farmers from exploitation by cartels.

“We will protect farmers from any form of exploitation by ensuring that they sell their produce at a reasonable price so that agriculture becomes a profitable investment,” Dr Ruto said.

He, however, ignored calls from local leaders to allow the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to purchase the produce at Sh4,000 per 90kg to protect farmers from exploitation by middlemen offering Sh2,000.

President Ruto instead said his government has procured enough subsidized fertilizer for the next planting season as he urged maize and wheat farmers in the region to diversify into other lucrative crops such as coffee, avocado and macadamia.

He urged Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya to expedite reforms in the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (New KCC) so that dairy farmers could benefit from the investment.

“It is unrealistic for processors to give farmers Sh50. per litre, while they sell the products for Sh100. per liter to consumers. We must cross the line to ensure that both the producer and the consumer are not exploited,” Dr Ruto said.

On education, he announced that 11,000 additional classrooms are needed to facilitate education transition to grade nine and challenged MPs to help set up the facilities.

“We have already absorbed 46,000 trainees on permanent and retirement basis and 20,000 more will be recruited. However, 11,000 classrooms are needed for the transition to Grade 9 and MPs are tasked with setting up 6,000 classrooms,” President Ruto said while asking MPs to build ICT hubs in every ward to help digital jobs for the youth create and thus alleviate the problems. high unemployment.

He defended the new financing model for universities noting that it gives all students, regardless of their social background, access to further education.

“The funding model ensures fairness for all students joining university and tertiary institutions by ensuring they are treated fairly,” President Ruto said.

He admitted that the shift to the Social Health Authority (SHA) faced manageable challenges and urged Kenyans to register with the system so that they can access quality healthcare services.

“The transition to the new healthcare system comes with its own challenges, but we are committed to overcoming them and mobilizing additional resources to ensure it succeeds,” Dr Ruto said.

“We have collected sufficient data to help equip our health facilities in terms of the availability of medicines, equipment and human resources to improve the delivery of health services,” the head of state added.

ODM lawmakers Peter Kaluma (MP for Homa Bay) and Eddy Oketch (Senator for Migori) defended the broad-based government and expressed their commitment to supporting President Ruto in uniting Kenyans.

“ODM is in the broader government to stay and we are ready to help unite Kenyans for the sake of peace,” Mr Kaluma said.

These sentiments were echoed by Senator Oketch, who noted that national unity will propel the country to better heights of development.

Lawmakers from the region led by Uasin Gishu, Senator Jackson Mandago, urged President Ruto to fix maize prices above Sh4,000 per 90kg bag and facilitate prompt payment for the produce.