Ruto’s Madaraka Speech Reaffirmed His Commitment To Turn Around The Economy

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• The previous government had developed insatiable appetite for borrowing. I said I will do things differently.
• In Embu, the President fell short of telling Kenyans to tighten their belt but this will not take long.
• In the next few months, you will start to reap the fruits; put money in your pockets and smile all the way to bank.
• On Affordable Housing Plan, he rightly stated. Majority of the ‘hustlers’ were jobless and living in abject poverty.
• The project will create 1 million jobs for them every year. Besides when the construction of these houses is completed, the government will give priority to ‘Hustlers’ to buy at affordable cost and own them.

Embu County played host to President William Ruto as he led the nation in cerebrating 60th Madaraka Day. Having been at the helm of power for eight months, this is the first Madaraka he addressed as the President.

I had an opportunity to listen to his speech. One thing was clear. He knew what Kenyans wanted to hear from him.

Topping the list was the measures that his government had put in place to address the high cost of living.

Besides this, the proposal to deduct 3 per cent from salaried employees in civil service and private sector to support his flagship project, the Affordable Housing Plan.

The president defended his decisions, stating. We inherited an economy that was in bad shade. I’m committed to rebuild and return our economy back on track.

He enumerated the bold moves he has taken in these endeavors.

This success of this revival plan is hinged in using our own resources.

Previously, the president reiterated.  A time has come to live within our means. If we opt to borrow foreign loans, we shall hurt our economy even more.

The previous government had developed insatiable appetite for borrowing. I said I will do things differently.

In Embu, the President fell short of telling Kenyans to tighten their belt but this will not take long.

In the next few months, you will start to reap the fruits; put money in your pockets and smile all the way to bank.

On Affordable Housing Plan, he rightly stated. Majority of the ‘hustlers’ were jobless and living in abject poverty.

In the slums where they lived, the conditions were deplorable; no water, no toilets, no roads.

These informal settlements were also filthy and prone to communicable diseases. The rate of crime was also high.

During the campaigns, he promised millions of hustlers that I will address these challenges.

Dr Ruto said the housing plan is one of the strategies that I have crafted.

The project will create 1 million jobs for them every year. Besides when the construction of these houses is completed, the government will give priority to ‘Hustlers’ to buy at affordable cost and own them.

This will elevate them to the new status. They will live in decent houses just like those who hail from rich and wealthier families.

If my salary is deducted, how am I going to benefit? This is how President Ruto responded.

If those who fought for our independence would have asked the same question, we could not be where we are today. We are celebrating the 60th anniversary of Madaraka Day.

This is when Kenya attained self-internal rule. This was a culmination of a fierce bloody war that the Mau Mau freedom fighters had waged against British colonial government.

Patriotism and love for their country is what drove the fighters to go to the forest to fight for land and freedom.

So, they were not doing this to achieve selfish and personal interests. They looked forward to liberate the country for the betterment of all Kenyans. That is why they succeeded.

This is the point that President William Ruto put across.  When you contribute to the housing plan, I call upon you to stop asking this question. How will I benefit? Some of you are already homeowners and so you may not need these houses.

However, I urge you to contribute in good faith. Here, we shall be helping millions of jobless youths who are living in deplorable conditions. Remember these are our children. So, this is a noble course.

It is worth to note this. This government is partnering with real estate developers to build these houses. 250,000 housing units will be constructed every year.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi