The government will continue to implement its development agenda for Kenyans despite unfair criticism by the opposition, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.
Uhuru said politics of division and confusion being spearheaded by the opposition will not distract Jubilee from serving Kenyans across the country.
“Let them (Opposition) know that no amount of intimidation or rhetoric will stop us from providing Kenyans the services they require from us,” said President Kenyatta.
The Head of State particularly took issue with former Prime Minister and Cord leader Raila Odinga whom he accused of criticising every development project initiated by the government with the aim of transforming the lives of the people.
He said the opposition leader was not new in his style of divisive politics to seek cheap publicity and urged Kenyans not to be misled to elect leaders who had no development agenda.
President Kenyatta made the remarks at the Nanyuki Safari park grounds after launching the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral hospital equipment in Laikipia County on Monday during the start of his two-day tour of Nyeri, Laikipia, Muranga and Kirinyaga counties.
Earlier, Uhuru launched the construction works on the Naromoru-Ngaringiru road.
The Naromoru-Ngaringiru road to be constructed at a cost of Sh720 million will ease transportation problems and link Laikipia with the neighbouring Nyeri County.
“You should all know that opposition leaders have lost focus and that they are driving on divisive and tribal politics to attain their selfish ends,” he said.
He went on: “The opposition should be told that Kenyans are more enlightened and they cannot be dubbed to vote for individuals who engage in rhetoric at the expense of service delivery.”
Uhuru who was accompanied by his deputy William Ruto said Kenya’s economic growth had reached 8.5 per cent under the leadership of former President Mwai Kibaki in 2007.
“But soon after the formation of the then Grand Coalition government, the rate of the country’s economy dropped from 8.5 percent to 0.5 percent because of bad politics of Raila,” the President said.
In this connection, he said the same opposition is criticising Jubilee administration’s efforts to improve the country’s economic situation.
“Even as we work hard to improve the country’s economy through initiations of development projects in the fields of infrastructure, energy, heath, lands, water, agriculture, irrigation, education among other sectors, the same opposition leaders are criticizing these projects.,” said President Kenyatta.
The President said the same leaders claimed that there was misuse of Eurobond funds urging donors to stop giving Kenya aid with the aim of undermining the Government’s development projects.
“The problem is that some leaders are not satisfied with the good we are doing for this country because they do not have any agenda for this nation. This is why we should ignore such individuals come the next election,” said Uhuru.
The President said plans were underway to build Naromoru Dam at a cost of Sh9 billion to provide water for irrigation and domestic purposes.
“It is these kinds of projects that can help residents engage in farming, which in turn provide employment opportunities for the youths and thus reduce poverty levels,” said the President.
And while issuing title deeds to residents of Naromoru, Uhuru said the government was committed to ensuring all Kenyans own their lands.
“We want Kenyans to have ownership of their lands through issuance of title deeds. This will help them access to loan facilities to engage in development activities,” said Mr Kenyatta.
He said Sh80 million has been set-aside for X-ray among other key equipment’s required at the facility.
The Deputy President dismissed Opposition saying it had nothing new to offer to Kenyans.
“The difference between the Oposition Cord and Jubilee is like day and night, its like team and group, propaganda and performance and development and demonstrations,” said Mr Ruto.
Mr Ruto said Kenyans would judge the Jubilee Administration by its manifesto and performance.
“The Opposition has no agenda for Kenyans because it is yet to name who its flag bearer will be in 2017. They are just confused,” he said.
He described claims by Odinga that the IEBC sneaked 2 million votes to deny him victory during the 2013 general election as baseless.
“How can Kenyans trust someone who engages in lies from morning to evening. When he sleeps he dreams of lies and falsehoods. Kenya cannot be build by lies and falsehoods,” said Ruto.
The Deputy President also dismissed reports appearing in a section of the media claiming that President Kenyatta was touring Central Kenya because of fears of voter apathy in the region ahead of the next General Election.
He said the region had benefitted from development projects by the government just like the rest of the region.
The DP termed the reports as inaccurate and misleading.
Ruto said the government has increased the number of households connected to electricity from 22,000 in 2013 to 55,000 households this year.
“This county had only 22,000 households connected to electricity in the last 50 years. But we have increased the number to 55,000 households in less than four years in office,” said Ruto.
Present were Cabinet Secretaries Jacob Kaimenyi (Lands), James Macharia (Transport and Infrastructure), Mwangi Kiunjuri (Devolution) and MPs Muutahi Kagwe (Nyeri), Mutahi Kimaru (Laikipia East), Wachira Kimani (Laikipia West), Kanini Kega (Kieni), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) and Governor Joshua Irungu) among others.
---DPPS