President Uhuru Kenyatta has told off Opposition leaders for misleading the public on the Galana Kulalu irrigation project in Tana River County for political mileage.
The President dismissed claims by the Opposition leaders that the irrigation project was a white elephant saying they were now thriving on propaganda and falsehoods with the intention of getting support from Kenyans ahead of the August General Election.
Speaking in Hola town, Tana River County on Wednesday, Uhuru, who was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, told Nasa to look for something else to woo support from Kenyans instead of criticizing projects initiated by the Government.
“Opposition leaders should stop misleading Kenyans on the Galana water project that is aimed at addressing food shortage and high cost of essential commodities like unga,” said the President.
Present were National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretaries Eugene Wamalwa (Water and Irrigation), Dan Kazungu (Mining) and Najib Balala (Tourism), Governor Hussein Dado (Tana River), MPs Hassan Dukicha (Galole), Ali Wario (Bura), Ibrahim Sane (Garsen), Halima Ware (Women Rep, Tana River), Ali Abdi Bule (Tana River), Juma Wario (nominated) and former CIC chairman Charles Nyachae.
Uhuru said the Government would expand the irrigation project by 250,000 acres to benefit the surrounding pastoral communities as well as another 100,000 acres for youths so as to engage in farming activities to benefit themselves.
The Head of State wondered why the Opposition leaders were criticizing the Jubilee projects and yet they have nothing to show Kenyans in terms of development when they served in senior positions in the previous governments.
“Those in the Opposition are criticizing our development projects while when they served as Prime Minister, Vice President, Ministers among other positions in previous government they did not initiate any project that Kenyans can be proud of,” he said.
He told residents of Tana River to reject the Opposition leaders at the ballot come August General Election because they have nothing to offer since they failed in the previous governments in terms of development.
The President, enumerated the achievements of his Government, four years in office citing the connections of millions of Kenyans to electricity, increase in capitation fee for primary and secondary schools, relieving parents the burden of paying examination fee for form four and standard eight candidates.
He added that the Jubilee Administration has transformed the health sector citing the free maternity programme for mothers, expansion and equipping of two hospitals to status of referrals in every county.
The Jubilee Party leader said the Government’s agenda on promoting development in all parts of the country was on course.
Photo/PSCU