Uhuru, Ruto woo Ukambani voters, promise more goodies

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto on Saturday moved to woo voters by calling on residents of Ukambani to support them during the forthcoming General Election.

The Jubilee leaders pitched camp in Mwingi North region, a region considered as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s stronghold, launching several projects and drumming up support for Jubilee party.

Speaking during the inspectoral tour of Nuu Technical and Vocational College, President Kenyatta said that it was his responsibility to serve all Kenyans regardless of their political affiliation.

He called on politicians to unite and work to better the lives of Kenyans through supporting development projects and promoting unity in the country.

“We should work on improving the lives of Kenyans instead of focusing all our energy on politics. There is time for politics and there is time for development – now is time for development,” he said.

“As the President, I will not only serve those who elected me but also those who did not, because that is what leadership is.”

The President said that it was not possible for residents to live off politics further noting that tribal divisions cannot help the country prosper.

In his address after the commissioning of Mwingi Level Four Hospital and Kenya Institute of Medical Teaching College (KIMTC), Deputy President William Ruto said that though the region did not vote for Jubilee in the last elections, the government will carry on with launching development projects in the region.

“We know you snubbed us for CORD in the last elections but we are hopeful that in 2017 you will change the trend and vote for Jubilee,” said Ruto.

The constituency’s MP Joe Mutambu called on the resident to rally behind Jubilee saying this was the only way they would realise development in the region.

Mutambu said: “We need a government that cares for the well-being of its citizens, and Jubilee is that government.”

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua also insisted on the need to focus on development projects instead of politics saying despite the county being a Wiper region, there is need to support Jubilee for the betterment of the region.

In Mwingi Central where the Jubilee leaders visited on Saturday, Uhuru got 4,316 votes in the 2013 General Election against CORD leader Raila Odinga’s 29,834. Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi got 610 votes.

In the larger Kitui County, Uhuru got 40,752 against Raila’s 219,588 while Mudavadi got 4,234 votes.

President Kenyatta had planned a four-day tour of Ukambani before reducing it to three days, cancelling his visit to Makueni to attend to another duty.

Kalonzo had promised to be present during President Kenyatta’s visit before cancelling it the last minute over claims that he was not invited.

The President and his deputy were accompanied by Kitui Governor Julius Malombe, Mbeere South MP Mutava Musyimi, Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko, and Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria among others.

@benjaminwafula