President William Ruto on Tuesday continued with his five-day tour of Nairobi launching projects and dolling out goodies as he moves to appeal to opposition leader Raila Odinga’s support bases.
President Ruto was in Mathare and Ruaraka where he was received by huge crowds in a series of stopovers.
The second day of the tour started in Mathare where he launched the construction of an 800-bed dormitory at St Teresa's Secondary School.
He also promised to donate Sh5 million which will be used to equip the dormitory and additional facilitation of ten new classes.
It was at the school where he promised to buy Nairobi county under Governor Johnson Sakaja a chapati-making machine that can cook a million pieces to boost the county boss’ ‘Dishi Na County” pet project.
He acknowledged the school feeding program that is being implemented by Nairobi County in partnership with Food 4 Education, observing that it has boosted enrolment in the city.
“I have heard about it, and I will buy it. Governor, find the machine that can produce chapatis in large numbers, and we will incorporate it into Dishi na County,” President Ruto said.
“I am sending you Sh5 million to make sure that the dormitory is equipped properly. We are going to build for you an extra 10 classrooms here and an extra 5 classrooms at the primary school so that we can give the children of Mathare the opportunity to learn.
We are expanding and modernising schools, especially in marginalised and densely populated regions, to accommodate more students and enhance equality across the country,” President Ruto said.
Governor Sakaja said the President’s promise will enhance the Dishi na County school feeding program, which currently serves over 316,000 learners across the city.
So far, over 316,000 learners from more than 230 schools across all 17 sub-counties are benefiting from the Dishi na County programme, which has already served its 30,000,000th meal.
"I am feeding 300,000 children in Nairobi, and now I will need to make one million chapatis. I will ask the president to help me with a chapati-making machine,” said Governor Sakaja
The President was accompanied by a section of leaders from both his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Mr Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), including Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi, who snubbed his day one tour.
Leaders present included Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki, Governor Sakaja, Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie, Dagoretti North’s Beatrice Elachi, Mathare’s Anthony Oluoch, Ruaraka’s Tom Kajwang, Makadara’s George Aladwa, Langata’s Phelix Odiwuor, Kasarani’s Ronald Karauri, Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, and nominated Senator Karen Nyamo among others.
In the stopovers, President Ruto and Prof Kindiki reiterated the need to promote unity among Kenyans, insisting that the country will not be divided into tribal lines.
The President also witnessed the construction of 12 classrooms at Mabatini Primary School in Mathare, and ground breaking for construction of TVET College in Mathare.
He also led a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of Mathare Affordable Housing Project, where he directed the Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome to ensure that the dilapidated houses of police officers in Mathare be flattened to have new ones constructed for the officers.
“Our police officers are living in houses which are not good. I have ordered CS Alice to construct new houses here so that our police officers could live in good houses.”
“We are building affordable houses in Nairobi to tackle the mushrooming of slums, address housing shortages, reduce homelessness, and enhance living conditions for vulnerable populations. The programme also stimulates economic growth by creating thousands of jobs,” said the President.
He also directed Governor Sakaja to improve the state of the Mathare playground and to ensure that the youth in the area are accessing the field without paying any fee.
Later in the day, the President proceeded to launch construction of classrooms at TJ Kajwang Mathare North Secondary School in Ruaraka Constituency, and commissioned the Deputy County Commissioner's Office.
The President made his way back to State House after Ruaraka, skipping his planned public rally at the Car Wash area along Thika Road, Roysambu Constituency.
Recently, chaos were witnessed at Roysambu when a group of youths staged a demonstration over President Ruto’s Sh20 million donation at the Jesus Winner Ministry.
