President William Ruto has defended the inclusion of opposition members in his Cabinet, saying it is aimed at promoting peace and unity in the country.
The President made the remarks while launching several development projects in Tharaka Nithi County, where he also condemned ongoing anti-government protests that have led to unrest and economic losses.
Ruto argued that all Kenyans are equal and should work together to develop the country, regardless of their political affiliations. He emphasized that including opposition leaders in his government will help to bridge the rift among Kenyans and drive the economy forward.
“We are all equal, we are all taxed equally, and we all share in repaying the country’s debt equally,” Ruto said. “So, let us come together and form a government that will serve every Kenyan.”
The President also criticized the ongoing protests, saying they are leading to chaos and destruction, and implored citizens to protect the country from harm. He reiterated that Kenya is their home and there is no other country to go to if they destroy it.
“Kenya is our home, and this is the only country we have. If we destroy this nation, we don’t have any other to go to,” Ruto said.
The President was accompanied by four opposition members who have been nominated into his Cabinet: John Mbadi (Treasury), James Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), former Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), and former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs Development).
The launch of the Kakimiki Water Project, which will provide access to clean water for 30,000 residents in the region, was also attended by the President. The project was upgraded from an initial allocation of Ksh 100 million to Ksh 180 million.
