DP Ruto lauds Bashir for freeing political prisoners

Deputy President William Ruto has lauded the move by Sudan leader Omar al Bashir to allow citizens free speech on political matters.

This comes a day after President Bashir ordered that all political prisoners be released.

“We welcome Khartoum’s move to broaden the democratic space by giving citizens space to voice political expression,” Mr. Ruto said on his official Facebook page.

The DP who is on a three-day visit to Sudan, held talks with President Bashir at State House in a bid to enhance trade and agriculture relations between the two countries.

Mr. Ruto’s visit involves talks with First Vice President and Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Saleh, officials from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and a tour of Kenana Sugar Company.

He revealed that BADEA’s acting Director Tigan Najeh had agreed to lead construction of a Ksh.1.6 billion burns unit for the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.

The bank is also expected to fund a burns unit with 200-bed capacity, a paediatric and cancer centre in Kisii as well as a trauma unit at Salgaa that will help deal with the high number of accidents in the area.

The previous day, Mr. Ruto met with Kenyan students living in Sudan and urged them to take advantage of the one-year paid internship back home.

“Kenyans living and studying abroad are our brand ambassadors. We value your contribution to market the country as an investment and tourist destination; to economic growth through remittances back home and talent development,” he said.