Ruto Backs Boss On Graft Directive

Ruto said any leader or institution involved in graft must be held accountable regardless of their status in the society and vowed that government will not take graft issues lightly henceforth.

Speaking at the Shanzu Teachers Training College in Mombasa County, the Deputy President has also warned that anybody maliciously linking other persons to corruption scandals should also be prosecuted.

At the same time, the President has urged Kenyans to back his government in fight against corruption and repeated calls for those mentioned in graft scandals to step aside to pave way for investigations.

Speaking in Juja in Kiambu County, Kenyatta vowed not to tolerate graft in public service and asked county governments to also account for all devolved funds.

President Kenyatta urged Parliament to come up with laws that will promote local innovations to accelerate the country’s industrialization process.

He said supporting local technologies will spur economic and boost the entrepreneurial capacity of talented youth who will in turn create employment for their compatriots.

“That is what we want to do as a country if we are truly to become an industrialised nation,” he said.

The President added: “But we will not industrialise if we continue importing second hand vehicles and other goods. Let us make these things ourselves. We have the capacity to do so.”

President Kenyatta was speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Juja when he presided over the university’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

He said the inception of JKUAT and other institutions at tertiary level was in recognition of the Government’s national development aspirations to alleviate poverty and food insecurity through the adoption of appropriate technology. 

“My Government takes great pride in the monumental growth of JKUAT as an institution specializing in agriculture and technology,” he said. 

The President congratulated JKUAT for the introduction of new courses in fields of maritime and mining technology in response to the demands of present-day society.

As a step towards entrenching the empowerment of youth, women and people with disability, President Kenyatta said the allocation of 30% of Government procurement to them must be observed.

MIDDLE INCOME CLASS

The Head of State cautioned Government institutions against giving tenders to companies abroad so as to get a kick-back, saying no one caught in the vice will be spared.

He said the Government was committed to promoting youth innovations, saying the country has the capacity to attain high middle-income status faster if it used its human capital properly.

“From the innovations of our young people, I am convinced that we have the technological capacity to drive our development agenda,” he said.

The President also called on county governments to partner with universities to make devolution successful. 

Speaking during the occasion, National Assembly Majority Leader Adan Duale supported President Kenyatta’s stand against corruption, hinting that the list of those named by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in the list present to Parliament yesterday will be made public on Tuesday.

Governor William Kabogo said Kiambu county supported the President’s resolve to tackle corruption and will follow closely in his footsteps in the war against graft.  

Other speakers were Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Tatshushi Terada, JKUAT Chancellor Prof. Geoffrey Maloiy, the university’s Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mabel Imbuga and Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belion Kipsang.

By Maureen Murimi