Ruto: Govt is committed to delivering on pledges made

Deputy President William Ruto has said that the Government is committed to deliver on all pledges made to Kenyans.

The Deputy President said the Jubilee administration’s transformation agenda was unstoppable.

“Transformation is a major pillar of the Jubilee administration aimed at improving the lives of Kenyans and it’s unstoppable,” said the Deputy President.

The Deputy President was speaking on Saturday at Daystar University when he presided over the institution’s 37th graduation ceremony.

His daughter Charlene Chelagat was among graduands.

Ruto said the government was investing massively in the education sector to equip the youth with skills.

“The biggest investment required to realize our national vision other than the railway, good roads, the airport or cheap electricity is the minds of our young people,” stated Ruto.

The Deputy President emphasized that technical skills were needed to drive the economy.

“The Government is in the process of setting up a technical training and vocational institution in every constituency to take care of a huge chunk of our youths who do not get a chance into universities,” he said.

He said the Government has taken steps to ensure graduates have hands on experience through starting an internship programme that encourages the private sector to take in graduates from both middle level colleges and universities.

“We have gone further to give tax incentives to private companies that have embraced this internship programme,” he said.

He said research remains a challenge to Kenyan universities.

But to increase funding for research, the DP said a fund will be set up soon.

“The National Research Fund will soon be up and running, we are currently in the process of appointing trustees to the fund,’’ he said.

The Deputy President revealed the fund will initially get two percent of the GDP.

Ruto also told the graduands that the Government was embarking on major programmes to create employment opportunities for the youth.

He said major steps had been taken to ensure 40 percent of all government procurement are received from companies that employ local youth.

Ruto said 30 percent of all tenders in government institutions have been ring fenced for youth, women and persons with disabilities.

“The Youth Enterprise Fund remains at your disposal. The 30 per cent Government procurement rule reserved for youth, women and people with disability is also available,’’ he said.

“Government contracts worthy over Sh200 billion are reserved for young people so that they can participate in building our nation,” said the DP.

This year, Daystar University celebrated the graduation of 869 graduands who were cored with undergraduate degrees, masters, diplomas and PhD with students coming from15 African countries.

Machakos governor Dr. Alfred Mutua asked politicians to tone down political rhetoric and instead concentrate on developing the country.

“We cannot create the much-needed employment for those graduating today through empty rhetoric,” said Mutua.

He asked fellow politicians to heed the call that politics should take a back seat till 2017.

He said there was too much political noise which was stifling development.

” Let as put politics aside after elections,” he said.

He said political noise and grumbling from the political class was scaring investors.

“We need to get out of political rhetoric and bring in investors,” said the Machakos governor.