By E, KNA
Residents of Northeastern Region have been urged to support the Kenya Kwanza government in its quest to fulfill the promises it made to the people that include equal distributions of resources and development projects to all corners of the country.
Deputy President (DP), Kithure Kindiki, led pro-government leaders in calling for the Northern Kenya residents to rally behind President William Ruto as he strives to guide the nation through various administrative and development initiative that benefit every citizen irrespective of social, political, religious or economic status.
The leaders noted that the recently launched development programmes that include, re-opening of the Garissa Regional Immigration Office and the abolition of the Identity Card (ID) vetting process which had been a challenge to the local residents in the region, was a clear testimony of the Kenya Kwanza Administration, to ensure the region also realize development just as any other part of the country.
The DP and his team over the weekend, toured all the three North Eastern Region counties of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera, for an empowerment fundraiser, while promising better lives and more development projects for the area.
Speaking in Modogashe town, Garissa County, the Deputy President reiterated the government’s commitment in ensuring equal distribution of resources and development projects to all parts of the country and promised that the northeastern region would not be marginalised again.
“There have been several governments. This is the fifth government and there has been no other government that has brought equity to all Kenyans the way President Ruto’s Administration has done. The President will be remembered for uniting the country and developing the areas that had been overlooked by the previous successive régimes,” Kindiki observed.
“The longest road project which is 750 Kilometres from Isiolo to Mandera is being constructed by the Kenya Kwanza government. The construction work is already ongoing and it will be finished within two years at a cost of Sh100 billion,” he added.
Among other development initiatives in Garissa County include eight modern markets in all the Sub-counties, construction of 1,720 – bed capacity hostels at Garissa University, construction of affordable houses and the ongoing construction of the LAPSSET road gateway.
“The government has allocated Sh 1.7 billion for the last mile connectivity project in Garissa County to connect 7, 200 households to electricity grid. Every program that is happening at the national level, is also being done here in Northeastern Region,” he said.
The National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula, who was also in the entourage urged the residents in the region to support the president’s vision of uniting the country, urging them to ignore critics who are opposed to the abolishment of the ID vetting process.
“You are equally Kenyans as all other regions. We respect you and your hard work in nation building. Every Kenyan has a right to be happy and not be discriminated against. Without an ID you cannot access services, you cannot get a passport or receive the Inua Jamii cash transfer if you are elderly,” Wetangula said.
The National Assembly Majority Leader, Kimani Ichungwa, scolded the opposition leaders for what he termed as empty rhetoric without a plan that may help ordinary citizens.
Ichungwa said that their call for a second term is not just an empty slogan but for continuation of the development projects being undertaken in different parts of the region.
“Our Tutam is not an empty slogan but represents the development projects like construction of roads, electricity connections, and construction of modern markets,” Ichungwa said.
“The wantam team offers nothing to the common Kenyans but divisive politics, tribalism, incitement and hatred,” he added.
Other leaders present include the Principal Secretary (PS), in the State Department for Culture, the Arts & Heritage Ummi Mohammed Bashir, Garissa Governor, Nathif Jama, Garissa Senator Abdul Haji, MPs Adan Keynan (Eldas), Farah Maalim (Dadaab), Dekow Barrow (Garissa Township), Hussein Weytan (Mandera East), Abdisirat Khalif (Nominated), Abdirahman Mohammed Abdi (Lafey), Innocent Mugabe (Likuyani), John Bwire (Taveta) and the President’s Aide, Farouk Kibet among others.
