President William Ruto has assured Kenyans that his government will operate within the law and that protests were not enough to deter his development agenda.
Defending the appointment of the IEBC selection panel while attending an interdenominational service at Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka Nithi County, Ruto noted that the law was followed in selection of the panel.
“All those selected in the IEBC panel have been selected according to law and the constitution of Kenya. Those asking me to stop following the law and the constitution and follow their opinion instead should know it is selfish and unconstitutional”, he said.
The president outlined four key issues that were pertinent in the promises he made during the campaign season, highlighting the endemic nature of borrowing loans, extrajudicial killings and embezzlement of public funds that were rampant in the previous regime.
According to Ruto, borrowing in the previous regime had been done recklessly, putting the country in danger and the economy in shaky ground.
Ruto accused the previous government of embezzling billions of shillings from the public coffers through Article 223, which was used as a guise to subsidize commodities. Article 223 allows the national government to utilize funds that haven't been appropriated by Parliament in case of a shortfall or an emergency.
Ruto referred to a recent report by the Auditor General, which disclosed that KShs 34 billion was lost due to fuel subsidies and KShs 8 billion to the maize subsidy.
Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wa affirmed that all economic indicators under William Ruto were indicating a stabilized economy with an upward trajectory, accusing those that destroyed the economy in the previous regime of trying to intimidate the president and his government using protests.
“We know what they are looking for. We know you are looking for chaos. We know you want to disrupt our cities and we shall not give you that. As the President and his deputy are rebuilding the economy you destroyed, please stop sabotaging that work”, he said.
Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua remaied firm in his position and asserted that Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila odinga should not anticipate any share in the Kenya Kwanza government saying they were trying to intimidate the President into a handshake.
Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi whose NOPEU party was affiliated to the Azimio la Umoja coalition in the August 2022 polls said that he was pleased to work with the ruling government and focus on development, announcing his party’s decision to join the Kenya Kwanza camp as he hit out on Raila for staging demos.
“If we failed to defeat Ruto back then when he had the government against him then we can’t defeat his now when he is in full control of the government”, he said.
Former Meru governor and Development Empowerment Party (DEP) leader Kiraitu Murungi also joined in commiting support and backing to President William Ruto and urged his party members and supporters to do the same.
“I am 100 per cent behind President Ruto. Being the driver of the Bus party, we have asked all our members to join Kenya Kwanza, so President you can count on us”, he said.
The former governor while criticizing protests by the Azimio camp said fuel prices were not determined in the country, adding that he was pleased that the president has sent representatives to fuel producing countries to help lower the prices.
“There is no way you can bring down the prices of fuel by going to the streets. This is just politics. The prices are not determined in Kenya”, he said.
Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki acknowledged efforts by President Ruto to restructure the economy saying all indicators were showing the country was headed to the right direction.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki who also attended the event joined the President in confirming that everyone has to follow the law and the constitution adding that the government was going to be firm to make sure the country was governed by the rule of law.
Azimio La Umoja leaders while in speaking in Mombasa called on their supporters not to be intimidated by any prior pronouncements by the interior ministry insisting their call to action will be peaceful and that their march to Statehouse to protest the high cost of living on 20th March was still on.
The leaders accused Ruto of alleged corrupt dealings in awarding subsidy product tenders.
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