Ruto defends first-world dream, accuses Kalonzo of lacking a plan

President William Ruto on Tuesday mounted a defence for his first world status dream, saying the National Infrastructure Fund and the Sovereign Wealth Fund approved by Cabinet will provide economic prosperity and elevate the status of over 10 million Kenyans living below the poverty line.

Buoyed by the nod the Cabinet gave to two funds to power his agenda, President Ruto who spoke during his visit to the Tobong’u Lore festival in Turkana County, maintained that the Funds will set the ground for his plan.

“Hiyo plan ya 5 trillion tulianza jana. By next year, we will be halfway. We want to lift over 10 million from poverty in Kenya. 80% of Turkana is living below the poverty line. We have set aside a Ksh.1.5 trillion budget to build dams in Kenya,” he said.

As part of resource mobilisation for the Sovereign Wealth Fund, President Ruto promised to have the oil discovered in Turkana extracted in the next one year.

“Jana tulipitisha ile field development plan ya ile mafuta hapa Turkana. Serikali itatoa mafuta hii Turkana ni hii yetu. Kufika December 2026, December next year, malori ianze kutoka hapa kubeba mafuta kwa sababu tunataka kuweka rasilimali ya Turkana County. Nimesema, which year? Na mimi si mwendawazimu. I know what I am saying,” he stated.

“January tutakuwa na emergency Bunge ya kupitisha hiyo field development plan. By December mko sawa,” Ruto assured.

President Ruto then turned his guns at the opposition, singling out the Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, firing at him over the poor condition of roads in the Ukambani region.

“Kama huwezi kujenga barabara ya kwako, utatengeneza ya watu wengine aje? In 40 years hujajenga barabara ya kwenda kwako. Unahitaji miaka mia ngapi kujenga barabara ya kwenda kwa Wakenya wengine? Si utahitaji miaka 1000?” Ruto posed.

The Tobong’u Lore cultural festival is an annual event held in Turkana County, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Turkana people and their neighbouring communities.

Speaking on Sunday, at the Africa Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa Karuri in Gatundu North Diocese, in Kiambu, the President explained that the Ksh.5 trillion would fund the country's transformation and take it to the next level.

He pointed out that the funds will be used in upgrading and expanding high-quality infrastructure, including the dualling of 2,500km of highways, tarmacking 28,000km of roads, expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Mombasa and Lamu port, and the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to the border with Uganda.