President Ruto warns opposition will take Kenya ‘back to the stone age’

President William Ruto has described opposition leaders as people who have no past development record, no agenda now and no vision for the future.

Such leaders, the President said, would take Kenya backwards instead of forwards and are thus "an existential threat" to the country's progress and transformation.

He pointed out that threats by the opposition to reverse the gains made by his administration - if it were to win - is a clear indication that those leaders are the greatest danger to the future prosperity of Kenya.

Speaking at the Kapkatet grounds in Bureti Constituency, Kericho County, on the second day of his working tour of Bomet and Kericho counties on Thursday, President Ruto pointed out that the opposition lacks clear policy alternatives or a meaningful manifesto to take the country to the next level of development.

"The difference between those of us who want to make Kenya a first-world economy and those who want to take us back to the stone age is like day and night," the President said.

Dismissing claims by the opposition that the Kenya Kwanza Alliance had over-promised in the 2022 campaign manifesto, he maintained that he has delivered on all his pledges.

He stated that he never over-promised, explaining that his administration is fully implementing campaign commitments.

The President pointed to roads, affordable housing, universal health coverage and youth employment programmes as evidence of his administration's agenda, challenging the opposition to explain its own priorities.

“We are building roads, what is the opposition plan? We have affordable housing, we have universal health coverage, and we are creating jobs for the youth. What is their plan?" President Ruto asked.

He went on: "Their agenda is one-term and Kasongo, among other slogans. They should find an agenda. William Ruto cannot be their agenda."

The President said his plans are solid, visible and being felt across the country.

"We did not overpromise because we knew what we were doing. Our plan is solid, and our delivery can be seen. We have transformed Kenya in accordance with our plan and agenda," he said.

On inclusivity and fairness, the President was emphatic that no part of Kenya would be left behind because every region and county deserve roads, electricity, water, jobs and public services because all citizens are equal before the government.

“Every part of Kenya must get equal development. This is what my administration is doing despite opposition from people who don't believe in equal distribution of national resources and development across the country," he stated.

Earlier, he broke ground for the construction of the 53km Sabunit-Kapkondor-Furaha-Hill Tea Access Road in Londiani, Kipkelion East Constituency. It is a Ksh.3 billion project linking key tea and coffee-growing areas in Kericho County.

"Our agricultural reforms are delivering results. Kericho coffee farmers have emerged as the highest earners at Ksh.6 billion last year," President Ruto said.

The President noted that the government has revived road projects that had stalled by 2022 across the country by paying Ksh.900 billion owed to contractors. Consequently, the contractors had returned to site.

"We have also launched new projects and, as a result, more than 6,000km of roads are currently under construction nationwide," he pointed out.

To transform Kericho town into a city, the President said Ksh.5.6 billion is being invested in the first 2,200 affordable housing units of a total 5,000.

"A Special Economic Zone will also be established to attract investment and unlock many opportunities," he said.

Meanwhile, the President announced that the construction of Kabianga Medical School in Kericho town is set to begin soon and will cost Ksh.1 billion.

"We are also building Londiani and Kericho Referral hospitals to strengthen healthcare in the county," President Ruto explained.

In sports, he said Ksh.1.1 billion is being invested in the building of Kapkatet Stadium and another Ksh.1 billion for Kericho Green Stadium in the town.

Regarding the provision of water and sanitation services, President Ruto said the government has secured Ksh.1.6 billion for the Kapkatet and Litein projects, with another Ksh.400 million for Kericho town.

Kapkatet is being upgraded to a 10,000-capacity stadium with a six-lane running track, standard football pitch and other modern sporting facilities.

At the same time, Ksh.1.6 billion has been allocated to the Last Mile Electricity Connectivity project to connect 16,000 households in Kericho County.

In Bureti Constituency, he launched the construction of the 34km Panda Pilis-Kampala-Bokoiyot-Mabasi road and explained that the Ksh.22 billion is being spent to build 300km of roads in Kericho.

He also handed over the Kapkatet Modern Market in Bureti Constituency to Mama Mboga and other small traders. The market will accommodate more than 200 traders.

"The market is one of the 12 we are building across Kericho County to ensure traders do business in decent and dignified spaces, complete with electricity, water, toilets, storage facilities, cold rooms and Internet," he said.

The President emphasised that his administration will continue to fulfil the promise to Mama Mboga by delivering more than 600 modern markets across the country.

He ended the day with two road functions - commissioning of the Chebole-Kiplokyi-Kapkoros road in Sotik Constituency and launch of construction of the Kipsonoi-Kamureito-Kapkelei road in the same constituency, Bomet County.

During the functions in the two counties, the President was accompanied by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot,  Governors Eric Mutai (Kericho) and Hillary Barchok (Bomet), several MPs among many other leaders.

The President's four-day visit of Kericho and Bomet counties continues on Friday and Saturday.