President William Ruto on Sunday, June 2, encouraged MPs to traverse the country in conducting their constitutional mandate.
Speaking at Amutala Stadium in Kimilili, Bungoma County, during a church service, Dr Ruto told the lawmakers they would be failing in their duty if they only concentrated their work in their constituencies.
“As an MP, you are charged with three constitutional roles. Don’t be cheated into concentrating on representing your electorate only in Parliament. You must traverse all regions for oversight and legislation roles that are not limited to your constituencies,” he told the MPs.
The President seemed to contradict his deputy, Mr Rigathi Gachagua , who recently told Rift Valley UDA lawmakers to stick to their constituencies, as the battle for control of the vote-rich Mount Kenya region escalates.
Dr Ruto asked the MPs to execute their constitutional mandates, which he categorised into three — oversight, representation and legislation.
He said he has been in the game of politics longer and understands the country’s political landscape better.
The President noted that if MPs shun their roles, the country risked being plunged into underdevelopment.
“Representation in Parliament is about your constituency, but the other two jobs of legislation and oversight are about the nation. Parliament is not a village assembly,” he added.
The Head of State emphasised that as MPs represent their constituencies, they must also move around Kenya so that they can understand the scope of their responsibilities.
He noted: “That way, you will do better and equally that is how we will build a strong and prosperous nation.”
About a week ago in his visit to President Ruto’s Uasin Gishu backyard, Mr Gachagua cautioned leaders from the Rift Valley to keep off the “complex” politics of the mountain.
He accused a section of leaders close to the President of scheming to determine who the next Mount Kenya leaders would be, saying their bid was an exercise in futility as the region’s politics is complicated.
The DP asked leaders from Rift Valley to focus on helping the President to deliver on his campaign promises, warning that their continued politicking would turn Dr Ruto into a failure.
“Choosing a leader is one thing, but succeeding is the difficult part,” Mr Gachagua told them.
Meanwhile, President Ruto reiterated his commitment to unite all Kenyans and cautioned political leaders against promoting divisive politics.
He said Kenya has attained great honour regionally and globally that could be jeopardised through hateful remarks and tribal politics.
He urged leaders to shun using divisive politics in their attempts to woo the masses, warning that encouraging tribal divisions would negate the government’s gains over the last one-and-half years.
“Kenya has made a tremendous stride and attained honour in Africa and globally and that is why our economy is rising. I am confident about the future of this nation, but we must have unity for the country to prosper,” he said.
The President assured Kenyans of his commitment to ensure that every region in Kenya receives an equal share of the country’s national cake in terms of development.
This came in the backdrop of a remark by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, who blamed National Assembly speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi for the failure of Kakamega International Airport to pick up.
“Kakamega is the commercial and political capital of the 10 million strong Luhya nation. For the past two years, we have been fighting for the Kakamega International Airport. All along, Weta and Mudavadi have remained mute. Today, Bungoma leaders have asked the President to build the facility in Bungoma instead,” posted Dr Khalwale on his social media pages.
He continued to ask Mr Wetang’ula to be inspired by Masinde Muliro, who agreed with the colonialists to establish Kakamega as the capital of Western region, and learn from Kijana Wamalwa, who never attempted to reverse this vision.
“President William Ruto, don’t accept to underwrite this,” he posted.
But in reiteration of his Madaraka Day speech, Dr Ruto stated that he will remain committed to fostering development across all 47 counties.
“Leaders must understand that under my leadership, every part, every region of Kenya must be part of my development plan. Let us focus our attention on the transformation of Kenya and not the division of Kenya,” he said.
He outlined his commitment to revive the two sugar millers in Western — Mumias and Nzoia — noting that Sh150 million has been slotted in the supplementary budget to clear the arrears owed to workers by Nzoia Sugar Company.
He said he had signed binding agreements with the management of Mumias Sugar Company on how the miller would be run.
“We are sorting out issues about the Co-Generation plant at the factory so that we have a comprehensive plan to turn around the troubled firm. Once we are done with this, farmers will start earning their bonuses in the next one year,” he noted.
He said Mining Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya will be in Kakamega County to install a contractor who will put up a Sh5.3 billion refinery plant in Ikolomani. “All counties in Western region have a special benefit from my administration. Vihiga has a Sh2.5 billion granite plant, while Busia has the Sh2.5 billion Special Economic Zone,” explained the Head of State.
The President said he is headed to South Korea for a second time to finalise previous agreements made with President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The President’s departure comes a week after he jetted back from a four-day State visit to the US, a trip overshadowed by Dr Ruto’s decision to charter a private jet .
Dr Ruto sought permission from the residents of Bungoma, saying he had intended to stay in the county longer due to the hospitality of the people, who he praised for treating him well for the four days he had stayed in the county.
“I would have loved to stay for more days with you but I will be leaving this evening to Korea to bring development to Kenya,” he said, explaining that his trip was not for recreation.
He said some of the projects he signed to undertake with the Korean government when he visited the Asian nation two months after his inauguration, include a $1 billion dollar data centre in Naivasha, a microchip plant — the first in Africa, and seeking employment opportunities for Kenyan youth.
“I am going to sign a pact that will see thousands of Kenyan youth move to work in Korea so that they can bring dollars to build our economy. I have to explain this to you so that you don’t think that I am roaming around for recreation,” he explained.
The President has been touring Bungoma County for the last four days, launching projects. He led the country in celebrating Madaraka Day at Masinde Muliro Stadium on Saturday and wrapped up his visit by attending the thanksgiving prayer service yesterday in Kimilili.
He was accompanied by Mr Mudavadi, Mr Wetang’ula, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure, all governors from Western region and a host of MPs.
Mr Mudavadi said President Ruto has elevated Kenya’s status internationally since he took office and earned the country a lot of respect. “He has been given a mandate by the World Bank to lobby for $130 billion to improve the economies of struggling nations. The African Development Bank has also nominated him to lead the call for $25 billion to improve the economies of poor states. He is the ambassador of the Africa fertiliser and soil health summit,” said Mr Mudavadi.
