Ruto: 'We have unlocked billions to fast-track development in Ukambani'

President William Ruto on Friday announced that the government has secured funds to complete 320 kilometers of stalled roads in Machakos County.

Dr Ruto ended his three-day visit to the Ukambani region with a promise to residents that he will work with elected leaders to develop the region even as majority of MPs allied to Wiper Patriotic Front boss Kalonzo Musyoka skipped the tour.

The President who spoke in Mwala, Kangundo, and Machakos as he launched various development projects on his third day of Ukambani region, said he will ensure the Ukambani region is not left behind in development.

He urged the people to shun opposition politics.

The President who was welcomed by Governors Mutula Kilonzo Jnr in Makueni and Governor Julius Malombe in Kitui in the past two days, was not accompanied by Governor Wavinya Ndeti in his tour of Machakos County as expected.

Governor Ndeti instead issued a Press Statement welcoming the President to the County while listing a litany of unmet promises by the President including several road projects in Machakos County.

But while speaking at various stopovers across Machakos County where he addressed wananchi, President Ruto indicated that the bottlenecks that marred the implementation of the various projects had now been addressed and that the projects were on course.

Dr Ruto launched the construction of the Kangundo-Mwala road and inspected the ongoing construction of Mutituni ESP market before commissioning phase one of 250 Affordable Housing units in Machakos Town.

The President said a total of Sh25.5 billion was earmarked for affordable housing in Machakos.

Speaking at a rally in Machakos Town ,Dr Ruto said the construction of Muwongoni dam in Machakos had been stalled by issues surrounding compensation of landowners.

He said the government had set aside Sh700 million for the project and asked the stakeholders to agree so that the project could proceed.

The Muwongoni dam was one of the projects cited by Governor Ndeti in her open letter to the President in the morning.

However her absence was criticised by Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, who hailed other Ukambani governors for accompanying the President in their respective counties to “lobby for development”.

CS Mutua sarcastically said he was happy to note that governor Ndeti was also in their midst and started ululating when the crowd responded with jeers.

President Ruto again reiterated that he has a solid plan to develop Ukambani region and asked the people to shun the opposition leaders, whom according to him, have got no plan.

He enumerated his plan for construction of roads, connection of households to electricity, rolling out of universal health coverage through the Social Health Authority, and distribution of water among others as key to his agenda.