'Progress’ or ‘lies’? MPs divided on Ruto’s State of the Nation report

President William Ruto’s third State of the Nation address to the country on Thursday drew mixed reactions from MPs, with a section saying it was devoid of reality on the ground and challenges.

While a majority of the MPs who attended the joint address in Parliament were equivocal in their support of the President’s progress report, a few poked holes in the speech.

Addressing a largely converted bicameral Parliament, President Ruto maintained the country has made commendable progress over the past three years of his leadership, although he admitted Kenya is still performing below its true weight.

The Head of State argued that despite the difficulties his administration has faced in the last three years, the country had laid the foundations for economic recovery.

During the one hour 13 minutes speech, the President said Kenya was ranked the eighth-largest economy in Africa with a gross domestic product of $115 billion when he took office, but today, the country has moved up to sixth position with a GDP of $136 billion.

Even though he urged the country to abandon what he called a culture of “small thinking and ordinary expectations”, opinions are still divided over his tenure.

Also Read: Ruto address skips education sector

Wajir North MP Ibrahim Saney, elected on the President’s United Democratic Party ticket, said they had best hopes in the fifth president, but the hopes are all gone.

“Those singing 'two term' were excited about the dualing of roads, yet I don’t have roads. They are talking about roads, yet I don’t even have water for domestic and livestock use. Are we (from North Eastern) not Kenyans? Why are we being mistreated?” posed Mr Saney.

“I am a UDA MP and I elected him in 2022 but this time it must be qualified. I will not just elect, I will elect for a purpose and a reason,” he added.

But Njoro MP Charity Gathambi urged patience, saying Kenyans should appreciate the progress of the country from 2022 and judge the President based on the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.

“We must remember the Kenya Kwanza manifesto and the President has delivered a lot. I stood and said “tutam” because work is going on in my constituency courtesy of this government. I was celebrating the biggest road from Naivasha to Nakuru. We are saying in broad daylight that William Ruto will serve two terms,” said Ms Gathambi.

Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei said the excitement of the MPs was an expression of appreciation for what the President was enumerating.

“Many were saying tutam because they were invited to appreciate the president’s plan on how to achieve prosperity and take Kenya from a developing country to a developed one,” said Mr Sigei.

“The President gave insights into what is happening and what he wants to do. He is on the right path. He has acknowledged there are challenges but said the economy is growing,” he added.

Sirisia MP John Waluke added that the President has proved he has worked unlike the others before him in the three years he has been in office.

“This is the first president who has been keen to push funds to the grassroots. At least if you go to every constituency, there is a project going on. Kenyans should support the president,” said Mr Waluke.

Also Read: Ruto's roadmap to 'Singapore'

For his part, Seme MP James Nyikal said President Ruto’s speech was big on service delivery like health, education, food security and infrastructure but short on challenges.

He said the Head of State did not touch on Kenya’s international obligations and matters of security.

“I liked the infrastructure bit because he talked about how the projects will be funded. It is a good plan but he did not focus on the challenges we will face. I did not hear about integrity and corruption. If we don’t look at the two, then they can bring down all the good plans,” said Mr Nyikal.

“That was good thinking and talking but now we must wait for the implementation. If we can do what we are saying, then it is a good track to follow,” he added.

Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda said the President has been able to focus on specific areas that are going to take Kenya to a first-world country.

“He has focused on infrastructure, dams and the agriculture sector, which is the lifeline of the country. More projects are still coming up.”

Also Read: Ruto: I will dual these key 21 roads, extend SGR to Malaba and modernise JKIA

Saku MP Dido Raso added, “What we want the President to do going forward is to put resources in the ASAL. People talk of Singapore and Malaysia because they invested in the right areas.”

However, fierce critics of the government said they gave the event a wide berth because they “cannot be part of lies.”

“No, I can't afford two hours of lies,” said Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru.

Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo added: “I cannot waste time listening to Githinji lies.”

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Additional reporting by Samwel Owino.