NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul, 27 – The Presidential Debate 2022 saw Deputy President and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate William Ruto take a swipe at his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta, and Azimio La Umoja Presidential candidate Raila Odinga over the inadequacies saying that he was the best bet for Kenya ahead of the August, 9 polls.
Ruto while addressing the security challenges in the North Rift region made shocking statemsnts that the insecurity in the area deteriorated after the handshake and that the withdrawal of police reservists was to blame.
“The situation was under control, but when we came into the handshake arrangement a false narrative, the very unfortunate false narrative was rolled out that all these police reservists in the counties of Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, and West Pokot were actually a militia that William Ruto would use at some point and they were all withdrawn,” he said.
He said that there was relative peace in the counties of Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Pokot, and Samburu during the first term of the Jubilee government when he was still in good graces with President Kenyatta.
He termed the withdrawal of police reservists as reckless and one that resulted in the death of scores of innocent Kenyans.
“The withdrawal of the national police reserve was really an unfortunate act, but because it was intended to punish William Ruto never mind that many people lost their lives, is a real tragedy but that is the nature of our politics in Kenya,” he added.
If elected into office, Ruto says that he will restore security, peace, and order in order for the region to thrive once again.
He has even mooted deploying the military to work alongside other security agencies.
Several communities have been engaged in a scramble for resources in the region resulting in the death of several people and the theft of thousands of livestock.
“We had a plan, unfortunately, that plan was frustrated,” he said.
The DP also tackled the matter of stalled projects such as the Arror and Kimwarere dam which he says could have transformed the region.
“The Kimwarer and Arror dams were cancelled intentionally to punish my supporters,” he said.
He said the contractor had gone to court in London demanding the payment of Sh12 billion from the project and that the Kenyan government had refused to make public its submissions.
He further alleged that the contractors were denied the land where the dam was to be constructed.
“I do not believe money was lost, and even if money was lost people should be taken to court,” said Ruto.
Sh7 billion is said to have been lost as a result of the failed project though Ruto claimed despite the purported loss the government was insured but shockingly refused to claim the money.
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