Nairobi News

President William Ruto on Sunday, March 17, explained that having the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga as the African Union chairman is part of the grand scheme to open up the continent as a free trade area.

With free trade policies, he explained, individual countries and their respective citizenry will begin to witness an improvement in their economies that are currently experiencing a beating.

He stated that Kenya has been in the frontline to champion a thriving East African Community (EAC) and Africa.

“With unity, there is blessing. For instance, we want one of us (Mr Odinga) to get the AUC position. Let us support that one Kenyan to get that position,” said President Ruto.

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The president who attended an interdenominational prayer service and thanksgiving ceremony for PS, Tourism, John Ololtua in Enoosaen in Trans Mara, Narok County, was speaking against the backdrop of sporadic border tussles pitting two clans in the area.

“Currently we are talking about EAC because we want to be united; already we have the Africa Intercontinental Free Trade Area. How then do you want to distract us from EAC and Africa to come and talk about clans? That is nonsense!” retorted Dr Ruto.

Dr Ruto maintained that opening up Kenya and nations in the continent for trade is the most progressive agenda and that those championing clannism and tribalism can only spark wars like has been witnessed in Trans Mara.

“Someone with the mindset of this and that tribe is a very dangerous person. Clan, tribe and regional matters cannot allow us to move forward as a nation. Let us live as one people,” he stressed.

President Ruto noted that opportunities within Kenya are never enough thus it is the other reason why his government is entering into bi-lateral labour agreements with other countries to export labour and solve the joblessness crisis.

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“Apart from the digital jobs, we are finalising bilateral labour agreements to employ 1 billion youth abroad. I made a commitment to creating job opportunities for those out of universities and, college and we have a plan,” Dr Ruto stated.

Last week, foreign affairs cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi explained that the gender hurdle that Mr Odinga was facing in his AUC ambition was lifted.

President Ruto has been at the forefront of wooing EAC Heads of State to support the candidacy of Mr Odinga, a long time political nemesis.

The president said that a lot of people had lost their lives in Trans Mara over the contested piece of land and that there should not be any further bloodshed.

“Thirty hectares of land should not make us grieve. I had initially ordered my cabinet secretary to put up a police station but the problem (of insecurity) is back again. I will send CS (Kithure) Kindiki again,” he promised.

He however warned that the government’s interventions can not provide a permanent solution to the conflict and urged the wrangling communities to embrace dialogue.

“The problem can be resolved by the elders. As a government, we will ensure that property and life are protected but there are issues that can only be fixed at the community level and the Ministry of Interior will work alongside you to ensure that peace is restored,” he said.

At the same time, the president underscored Narok County’s tourism potential, reiterating that it was part of the reason he used his tour of the region to ground break the construction of Utallii College, Iildolisho campus to help generate professionals for the industry.

Kenya received Sh 2.2 million in the past year, he said, explaining that his administration is keen on increasing the number to three million by the end of this year and to five million by the expiry of his first term in office.

“With many tourists, many opportunities for young people will be availed hence the growth of the economy. I have toured various places on earth to market our country and removed hindrances like Visa to make it easy for tourists to come,” he said.

The president promised various roads, electricity, water and market projects for the region.
In particular, he promised to tarmac the Mariwa-Keiyan-Anoosaen-Kilgoris-Gorgor road and rehabilitate the Murua Dikir road.

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He explained that Sh120 Billion is already being factored into the 2024/2025 budget to build roads across Kenya.

Building roads during his first year in office was not possible due to the huge foreign debt that was weighing his administration down, said Dr Ruto.

President Ruto indicated that water projects for Kilgoris and Lolgorin towns will be completed in 3 months.

Another company, he said, has been licensed to process sugarcane in Trans Mara, hence more opportunities for local sugarcane farmers, he stated.

Public sugar factories like SONY that were insolvent have since had their debts written off and dialogue on how to institute new management is on, he noted.

The president was flanked by CSs Soipan Tuya (Forests and Environment) and Alfred Mutua Tourism and Wildlife), Tourism PS John Olol Tuwa and hosted by Governor Ole Ntutu, Senator Ledama Ole Kina, area MP Sunkuli, among many other parliamentarians.

Ms Tuya urged Kenyans to plant and nurture trees to maturity to fight climate change.