H.E President Ruto has dismissed claims that the Kenyan economy is in trouble, saying that the country is on the right track.
Speaking during a media engagement on Sunday, President William Ruto said that the government is committed to creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
“The IMF does not run the government of Kenya, I do. The IMF does not make decisions for Kenya. We make the decisions ourselves,” Ruto said.
He added that the government is borrowing money to invest in productive sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and manufacturing.
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“The money we borrow is not going to the recurrent budget or into paying debts. It has to go into production like the provision of fertilizer for our people, increasing manufacturing, and other projects that have impact on the lives of Kenyans,” Ruto said.
He also said that the government is committed to using the money collected from taxes in a transparent and accountable manner.
“As Kenyans pay taxes, the money has to be put into proper use, not like in the BBI. Money must be invested in tangible programs,” Ruto said.
President Ruto on Housing Plan
On the issue of affordable housing, Ruto said that the government is working on a plan to build houses for low-income earners.
“In the Affordable Housing Plan we are not just looking at urban places, we are also implementing the Social Housing program in our slums. In this program, we want to build houses for those who live in Kibera, Mathare, Kondele, Kakamega, Kiambu and other locations, who are currently paying rent in houses that have no power, water or a washroom. We want to give them decent living conditions by building them houses that have all these things,”President Ruto said.
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He added that the government is committed to implementing the Affordable Housing Plan in order to create employment opportunities for Kenyans.
“The Affordable Housing Program is not something that I started when I got into office, it was already in my plan, and I talked about it everywhere in my campaign. I promised the people of Kenya that I will implement it in order to create employment opportunities for our people, and that is what I am doing,” President Ruto said.
President Ruto on Shakahola Deaths
Ruto also spoke about the Shakahola incident, in which a group of people were Killed in Kilifi.
“I am asking for forgiveness from the people of Kenya following the Shakahola incident. It is evident that there was laxity in our Government that unfortunately resulted in the death of many Kenyans. I am not taking it lightly, and I am taking responsibility as the President. This should not have happened, yet we have all our agencies in place in the entire ecosystem. I promise that we will get to the bottom of this matter. Criminals and crooks should not take advantage of religion to cause harm to Kenyans,” President Ruto said.
He added that the government is committed to ensuring that justice is served in the Shakahola case.
Ruto also spoke about the Handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“I am running a government that is accountable to Kenyans; my Cabinet Secretaries are accountable. I want an opposition that will hold the government accountable. That’s why I am against the Handshake,”President Ruto said.
He added that the Handshake has not delivered on its promises and that it has only served to divide Kenyans.
On the issue of the cost of living, Ruto said that the only sure way to reduce it is to increase food production.
“The only sure way to reduce the cost of living is to increase food production. We need to invest in agriculture and make sure that our farmers have access to the inputs they need,” President Ruto said.
He added that the government is committed to supporting farmers and that it is working on a plan to increase food production.
President Ruto’s remarks come at a time when the Kenyan economy is facing a number of challenges, including rising inflation and unemployment.
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