Deputy President William Ruto has accused Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga of shielding corrupt governors, claiming that the county chiefs who supported his bid had been “sanitized.”
During a political rally in Sololo town in Marsabit on Wednesday, Dr Ruto said Azimio had been turned into a “fumigation camp” for corrupt leaders and chastised Mr Odinga for his constant attacks on the Kenya Kwanza Alliance over graft.
“I want to tell Raila, you cannot be dining with corrupt governors, you cannot be dining with those who embezzled the Covid-19 billions and continue to lecture us on corruption. You have no business to give us lectures on corruption when those you are walking around with are corrupt,” Dr Ruto said.
He went on to say that those involved in stealing public funds meant to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic had sought refuge and protection from Mr Odinga in order to support his presidential bid, and that Azimio campaigns were being funded with Sh10 billion taken from government coffers.
The DP blamed government security agencies for the county’s rampant insecurity and accused some security chiefs of pretending to address the issue by visiting the county while failing to take measures to protect residents.
“The Cabinet Secretary (Dr Fred Matiangi) and Principal Secretary (Dr Karanja Kibicho) who should be concerned with the security of Kenyans are the ones who are busy campaigning for Raila Odinga while the Inspector General of police is incompetent,” the DP added.
He stated that when he takes over after the August 9 elections, no residents of Marsabit will vanish mysteriously in connection with terrorist activities.
He also assured residents that when the Kenya Kwanza government takes over, the endemic cattle rustling in Marsabit will end.
He also stated that extrajudicial killings would be prohibited, and that all terror suspects would be brought to court and charged in accordance with the law.
“If there somebody who is suspected of being involved in terror activities they should be taken to court not to disappear. You are entitled to security like any other Kenyans because security is your right and not a favour from the government,” he said.
DP Ruto blamed the insecurity in Marsabit on the handshake, claiming that it was addressed during the first term of the Jubilee government when he served as President Kenyatta’s deputy.
“The handshake partners don’t care about the security of the people in this region and it is a shame that people have lost their lives yet the police who are supposed to guard Kenyans are deployed to disrupt meetings,” he said.
“There are also local leaders who are being used to incite people. The Kenya Kwanza government will deal with this and ensure that the leaders are accountable for their actions,” he said.
Dr. Ruto noted that, despite holding a significant position in the agricultural sub-sector, the leather industry was still underutilized, particularly among pastoral communities in Northern Kenya.
His government promised to invest Sh200 billion in the textile, leather, and agribusiness industries.
He stated that the leather industry had a high potential for producing high-quality products such as shoes, which could help address socioeconomic issues and alleviate the county’s prevalent unemployment projects.
