Deputy President William Ruto at a past event. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]

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Leaders from Western Kenya have told Deputy President William Ruto to stop visiting the region. 

They said Ruto’s attempts to persuade Western residents to vote for President Uhuru Kenyatta in August will not bear fruit.

Led by Vihiga Senator George Khaniri and MPs Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga) and Alfred Agoi (Sabatia) the leaders said poor governance had taken a toll on Kenyans and would be difficult to tame.

“When our people are suffering because of the rise in the cost of living due to glaring corruption in the government, Ruto comes around telling us they are trying to make the lives of Kenyans better. It beats logic,” Khaniri said at a rally in Chavavo.

Ruto last week toured Western region and accused opposition politicians led by National Super Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga of being joyous when Kenyans are suffering because of the current high cost of living.

But Khaniri fired back saying everyone in the country including Jubilee supporters were suffering because of high food prices which he blamed on poor leadership.

“The Jubilee government has had scandal after scandal. Now they are denying that Kenyans are suffering. Most of those who are not experiencing the suffering of Kenyans have billions of shillings stashed away, and it is why they do not feel the pinch of the high cost of living,” said Khaniri.

The opposition blames the current high cost of living on cartels within government hoarding specific products and causing a shortage in the market.

Government blames the rising food cost on drought that hit the country late 2016 and early 2017 which affected crop yields especially in Rift Valley and Western regions.

“It has been a tough four years for the people of Kenya at the hands of the Jubilee administration. No one wants them to return to power because that would be even more disastrous,” said Agoi.

Chanzu said the maize being imported by the government would flood the market and lower local maize prices to the disadvantage of farmers.