NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 14 – President William Ruto has credited the broad-based Government for the most consequential legislation in Kenya’s development history.
The President said the establishment of the National Infrastructure Fund and the enactment of the enabling law in Parliament would not have been possible without the Broadbased Government.
The alliance between the ruling Kenya Kwanza and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) made it possible for Kenya to undertake several projects that have been in the plans for long, but could not be implemented due to lack of political goodwill and decisive leadership.
“For those of you who may not have the responsibility of leading from a national standpoint, you don’t understand what unity can do,” he said on Friday when he hosted Iftar dinner for members of the Muslim faith at State House, Mombasa.
Present were ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Cabinet Secretaries Salim Mvurya (Sports) and Aden Duale (Health), among others.
President Ruto similarly credited the Broadbased Government for the successful roll-out of the Kenya Pipeline Company Initial Public Offering at the Nairobi Securities Exchange recently.
He disclosed that the Cabinet memo for the Kenya Pipeline Company privatisation was first drafted during President Mwai Kibaki’s leadeship (2002-2013), but stalled due to lack of political goodwill.
“That shows you the power of unity. As a leader, I don’t take it for granted when leaders and citizens come together,” he said.
He added: “We thank God for leadership that has the courage to make tough decisions that help change the destiny of our nation and the unity of purpose in the Broadbased Government to execute it.”
Dr Oginga said the National Infrastructure Fund would correct the historical marginalisation that the people of northern Kenya have suffered since independence.
“The Independence Government wrote a paper called Sessional Paper Number 10 of 1965, which excluded arid and semi-arid areas from national development. The National Infrastructure Fund must be used to correct that,” he said.
President Ruto said 12 dams to be funded by the National Infrastructure Fund have been identified, 60 per cent of which will be in northern Kenya.
“That is the future of agricultural and food security interventions in Kenya,” he said.
The President pointed out that the government will continue issuing national identity cards and passports to residents of northern Kenya, rights they have been denied for long.
“We are correcting injustices of the past, righting the wrongs meted out against fellow citizens because of prejudice,” he said.
He told Kenyan Muslims to feel part of the Kenyan society, reiterating that they have equal rights as all other Kenyans.
“As Muslims, the positions you hold in government today are not favours; they are rights you are entitled to as all other citizens of Kenya,” he said.
At the same time, the President called on Muslim religious leaders to partner with the government in the fight against alcohol and drug abuse.
He said the vices are damaging the most critical section of the nation’s population – the youth – hence the need for concerted efforts to combat it.
“I ask religious leaders and parents to pray and protect our children, and to also take the necessary steps so that we don’t lose the future of our nation,” he said.
Other leaders at the Iftar dinner were Muslim religious leaders led by Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Chairman Hassan ole Naado, MPs, MCAs and other guests.
