President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing residents of Bomet during the Launch of Jubilee gubernatorial aspirant Hon. Joyce Laboso’s manifesto in Bomet Town, Bomet County/PSCU
BOMET, Kenya, Jul 6 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged Kenyans to vote for Jubilee gubernatorial aspirants in the August polls to end squabbles that retard development.
He said the national and county governments are supposed to work in unison for the benefit of all Kenyans but that goal has been elusive in the last four and a half years because of opposition governors who have focused on fighting the national Government at the expense of providing services to residents.
“Counties and the National Government are supposed to work together to improve the lives of Kenyans but in the last five years, opposition governors have been behaving as if the two levels of government are in competition, denying residents services that would transform their lives,” President Kenyatta said.
President Kenyatta spoke on Thursday in Bomet town where he witnessed the launch of the manifesto by Joyce Laboso, the Jubilee gubernatorial candidate for Bomet in the August polls.
President Kenyatta slammed Opposition governors for opposing national Government projects aimed at transforming the lives of Kenyans, citing the attempts by Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto to stop the construction of a university and a dam in the county.
“We want to end the retrogressive competition between counties and the national government that has delayed important projects that directly lift the lives of Kenyans,” the President said.
He asked Bomet residents to make history by voting overwhelming for Laboso in the August polls to make her the first female governor in the country.
“I have interrupted my campaigns to come here because I want to urge you to make history by electing the first female governor in the country,” he said.
President Kenyatta called on Kenyans to reject divisive politics and incitement of the opposition by voting for the Jubilee team that has proved its ability to deliver on its pledges in the last four years.
The President pointed out that his administration has been able to achieve a lot in terms of development because it is united and working in harmony for the welfare of all Kenyans.
President Kenyatta also spoke on integrated Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bomet County and assured them that they will be compensated like it has happened in other counties.
“Next week, Cabinet Secretaries Mwangi Kiunjuri (Devolution) and Charles Keter (Energy) will be here to pay the integrated IDPs,” President Kenyatta announced.
The President said the Government will also invest Sh500 million for the development of a factory that will enable tea farmers to do value-addition and improve their income.
President Uhuru Kenyatta during the Launch of Bomet Jubilee gubernatorial aspirant Hon. Joyce Laboso’s manifesto in Bomet Town, Bomet County/PSCU
In her manifesto, Laboso pledged to transform Bomet County into an economic powerhouse in the South Rift region and beyond.
She said if elected her county government will work closely with the national Government and adopt sound economic policies, which will ensure transparency and accountability in the utilization of public resources.
“With 80 per cent of the county being arable and suitable for crop and livestock production, we intend to utilize the natural resources available to create opportunities for employment and wealth creation,” the Jubilee gubernatorial candidate for Bomet said.
Laboso’s manifesto cites agriculture as a key sector that will be improved to fight poverty in the county.
She says she will work with all key stakeholders in the agricultural sector to reduce costs of productivity by increasing power connections, improve roads for better access and delivery of farm produce to the market.
Laboso also pledged to improve education by putting up Early Childhood Development centres in every public primary school in the county in addition to creating a fund to cater for unprivileged students in secondary schools, middle level colleges and universities.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale said Kenyans will not agree to fight each other because of politics.
“I want to tell the opposition leaders that we will never again allow you to incite Kenyans to fight each other because of politics, we know you. What you did in 2007 cannot happen again,” said the majority leader.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen castigated Bomet Governor Ruto, saying he is only interested in his personal gain rather than championing the greater good for the residents.
All speakers including Laboso’s running mate, Hillary Barchok, and Jubilee aspirants for various seats thanked President Kenyatta for his efforts to transform the nation and pledged to work with him to continue with the transformational agenda.
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