President Uhuru Kenyatta at a rally in Kitengela on Wednesday. [Photo/ PSCU]
By PSCU
President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday said investing in basic services and shunning ethnic divisions were key to combating poverty across the country.
In a campaign tour of Kajiado County, President Kenyatta said investment in better healthcare, energy, schools, roads and better farming were driving Government initiatives to end poverty.
He spoke in Maili 46 and other towns in Kajiado County, home to the Maasai as well as immigrant communities from other parts of Kenya.
It was at Maili 46 that a leading opposition figure urged the Maasai to literally force non-locals to "return to their homes".
President Kenyatta queried where that home might be if not anywhere they wished to settle in the republic.
"It is this stupidity of war mongering that we must guard against," the President said. "It is this rhetoric that led to the 2007 violence. Do not allow that madness to take root."
In Kajiado, President Kenyatta launched a 70-km road, and waived hundreds of millions of shillings of loans owed to the Agricultural Finance Corporation, to allow livestock farmers a fresh start.
"I tell the Maa community, let us keep united. Don't buy into the violent agenda of our competitors. It will retard development. It will erase gains we have made," he said.
The President said Jubilee is an inclusive party that represents the interests of all Kenyans unlike the opposition which is pushing divisive and partisan goals.
He said for the last four years the party has worked hard to create a better Kenya for the prosperity of all Kenyans regardless of political, ethnic or religious affiliation.
The President said his Administration has remained focused on promoting the unity of Kenyans unlike the opposition which seems to think dividing Kenyans will make them stronger.
"Kenya has achieved a lot in the last four years and that is as a result of the unity that has existed," said the President.
President Kenyatta pointed out that the Government has been able to double the number of homes connected to electricity in the last four years and has also upgraded the Kajiado Level 5 Hospital at a cost of Sh430 million.
The county received medical equipment worth Kshs. 810 Million through the Managed Equipment Services (MES) project.
The Kajiado Level 5 Hospital received theatre, sterilization and surgical sets, 5 dialysis machines and digital imaging and radiology equipment worth Kshs 430 million.
In addition, Loitokitok level 4 Hospital received sterilization and surgical sets, and digital imaging and radiation equipment worth Kshs 380 million.
He said after the completion of the road from Mashuru to Kajiado, the Government will start another phase to extend it to Suswa and Loitokitok to ensure the whole county is interconnected.
The President also drummed up support for Jubilee candidates including the Governor candidate Joseph ole Lenku and other candidates for the position of MP and MCA.
He was accompanied by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale among other leaders.
Kajiado leaders criticized the opposition leader for engaging in incitement targeting particular communities.
"We totally reject the politics of division and those who want to set communities against each other," said Joseph Ole Lenku, the Jubilee nominee for Kajiado gubernatorial position.
Kajiado West Jubilee nominee George Sunkuyia also challenged the opposition leader to tell Kenyans how he wants the Maasai to treat his own daughter who bought land in Kajiado just like other Kenyans.
"One of the daughters of the opposition leader who is inciting the Maa community has bought land in Kajiado West. What does he want to happen to his daughter," said Mr Sunkuyia.
Mr Duale said the opposition leader has got away with other instances where he incited Kenyans against each other.
"You incited Kenyans to fight each other and in 2007 it led to bloodshed. We will not allow you to shed the blood of our people again," said Mr Duale.
Kajiado East MP Peris Tobiko said the residents of her cosmopolitan constituency love each other and reject attempts by outsiders to create conflicts.
President Kenyatta wrapped-up his meet-the-people tour of the vast Kajiado County by addressing a huge excited rally at Kitengela town where he assured that he will deliver on the transformative agenda outlined in the Jubilee manifesto for the benefit of Kenyans like he has done in the last four years.
“For instance, we said we have a solution to the land problem and we delivered 3.5 million titles deeds in just four years,” President Kenyatta said.
He urged the residents to reject the opposition who want to take the country back to the destructive politics of tribalism and hatred.