KITUI, Kenya June 20 – Deputy President William Ruto has assured members of the Kamba community, that the Jubilee administration is not targeting them following the arraignment of suspended CS Charity Ngilu.
Ruto took time to explain to them that there are several other high profile individuals facing charges in court or suspended, other than Ngilu.
Citing the issue of Mumo Matemu who resigned from the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission, Ruto said he quit alongside Irene Keino who is not a Kamba.
He also reminded the Kambas, that Interior Principal Secretary Monica Juma was nominated by the President and rejected by MPs and should not be perceived as a war against Kambas in government.
Ruto was speaking at St Charles Lwanga Boys Secondary School in Kitui County, during its anniversary celebrations attended by several leaders including Governor Julius Malombe.
The Deputy President said the Jubilee administration was serving all Kenyans equally irrespective of their political affiliations, and will not target any specific community.
He said some of the developments in the political and public sphere were occasioned by independent institutions.
The Deputy President who spoke at St Charles Lwanga School in Kitui County on Saturday said “it was not right to blame the Government over the suspension of Cabinet Secretaries among them Charity Ngilu over allegations of corruption.”
He said the Deputy President said Cabinet Secretaries from other communities alongside Ngilu had stepped aside to pave way for investigations over alleged corruption.
“You rejected Ngilu during the last general election and we gave her a job as Cabinet Secretary. Who began by discriminating against her? posed the Deputy President, who also reminded the Kamba community that there are Kenyans accused of corruption as well.
“Are Davis Chirchir, Felix Kosgei, Kazungu Kambi and Michael Kamau from the Kamba community? Why are people claiming that Ngilu is being victimized? He posed.
The Deputy President added that Monica Juma whose nomination as Secretary to the Cabinet was rejected by MPs was in the first place appointed by Jubilee administration to serve as Principal Secretary.
“In fact we promoted Monica Juma from the position of an ambassador to that of Principal Secretary and we wonder when some people claim that we are marginalizing the Kamba community after MPs rejected her nomination. We should ask MPs these questions,” said Ruto.
He added, “The exercise of vetting must be on the basis of professionalism, competence and what somebody can do.”
The Deputy President said the notion that the Government was discriminating against some communities in the appointments should be done away with.
He said, “We will not discriminate against any community on the basis of religion, region, political or ethnic backgrounds. All Kenyans are equal and will be served by the Government equally,”
“Former EACC chairman Mumo Matemu and his deputy Esther Keino resigned. Is Keino also a Kamba? asked the Deputy President.
Ruto said the Government has rolled out development projects across the country aimed at uplifting the people’s living standards.
He cited the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), 10,000 kilometers of roads under the annuity programme, generation of electricity, improvement of health facilities and rural electrification among other projects.
The Deputy President said the Jubilee administration was firmly in charge of the country and was committed to implementing the pledges it made to Kenyans during the last general election.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta and I are in charge of the Government and that there is no other government,” he said.
He assured that the Government would serve all Kenyans irrespective of how they voted during the last general election.
“I want to make it clear that our mission is to unite and serve all Kenyans irrespective of how they voted during the last election,” he said.
The Deputy President said the Government has allocated Sh 18billion towards the construction of Thwake dam and another 20million to Masinga dam to provide water for domestic and irrigation purposes to Kitui and Mwingi areas respectively.
“It is through irrigation purposes that the problems facing this region will be solved once and for all,” he said.
He commended Kamba leaders for putting aside their political differences for the sake of development.
“We might have differences in opinion but I am happy that we can raise issues in a dignified manner and act responsibly in looking for solutions to issues affecting the people,” Ruto said.
SOURCE –capitalfm.co.ke
