List Of Promises Made By President-Elect William Ruto

By Lynnet Okumu / Published August 24, 2022 | 10:07 am

KEY POINTS

Ruto claimed that port operations were transferred to Naivasha and Nairobi against the agreement made before the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway, citing that the move has benefited a few individuals at the expense of the Coast economy.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Ruto told the youth he would inject 100 billion shillings into the youth fund kitty to do away with the escalating rate of unemployment in the country.

On the same note, he also promised to set aside 50 billion shillings under the hustler fund, which would be used to support Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs).

Deputy President William Ruto could oversee Africa’s sixth richest economy should his win be upheld by the eagerly awaited supreme court judgment.

William Ruto has challenged the elected politicians under the Kenya Kwanza Coalition not to look back but serve all Kenyans who have entrusted them with the leadership mantle.

Millions of Kenyans are expecting him to deliver all the endless ambitious promises he gave under the hustler narrative during his campaign rallies around the country.

Ruto through the Kenya Kwanza manifesto made hefty promises for Kenyans, much of which he said would be delivered within 100 days in office.

He proposed reallocating budget funds to support what he termed high-impact areas for job creation, echoing his bottom-up campaign slogan which promises to lift people at the lower rungs of the economic pyramid such as grocers, handcart pushers, and motorcycle riders.

Here are some of the things he pledged to do if elected as the 5^th president of Kenya

Ruto promised to bring radical changes in the education sector

Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential flag bearer William Ruto has pledged radical reforms to revolutionize the education sector if he secures victory in the August 9 general election. He promised to.

Abolish the teacher delocalization policy and replace it with one that appreciates teachers as a national resource.
Introduce a one to two-year paid National Internship Program for all students graduating from learning institutions through a collaboration scheme with the private sector.
Establish a National Education Fund to mobilize grants, bursaries, and scholarships from private and public sponsors to cater to non-tuition costs.
Establish more Vocational Training Centers in every ward plus ensure every constituency has a Technical Training and Vocational Educational Training Institution (TVET).
Employ 58,000 teachers for 25 billion shillings per year for two years to address the current shortage in the sector that stands at 116,000.
Ensure all children have access to equitable and quality free, early childhood primary and secondary education with 100 percent transition from each level.
Review the CBC curriculum
Free internet connection for all primary and secondary schools
Provide free sanitary towels for all primary and secondary school-going girls on top of ensuring 100 percent return to school for all teenage girls.

Deploy 100 billion shillings employment kitty for youth

Ruto told the youth he would inject 100 billion shillings into the youth fund kitty to do away with the escalating rate of unemployment in the country.

On the same note, he also promised to set aside 50 billion shillings under the hustler fund, which would be used to support Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs).

Lower the cost of living within 100 days

Ruto pledged to reduce the cost of living within 100 days if elected the Head of State. According to him, this would be supported through the establishment of agro-processing industries for farm inputs among farmers such as animal feeds and fertilizers.

Under his administration, Ruto stated that the price of 2 kilograms of maize flour would retail at below 100 shillings, while other essential commodities such as cooking oil shall retail at 2800 shillings per 5L, petrol at 105 shillings a liter, while bread and milk at 50 shillings each

Health Cover for all

Ruto proposed fully financed primary healthcare that accords patients a choice between public and private facilities as well as more financial input on conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, family planning, immunization, and nutrition programs.

He noted that all Kenyans would get the National Hospital Insurance Funds (NHIF) cover at a subsidized rate and that his government would pay for those who would not be able to raise the funds.

Ruto promised to publish contracts with China

Ruto said he will publish government contracts with China and deport Chinese nationals working illegally if elected.

He took an antagonistic stance towards Beijing, blamed China for Kenya’s debt, and promised to end government borrowing from China.

Kenya, whose 2022/23 budget of 3.3 trillion shillings ($27.86 billion) has a deficit of 6.2 percent of gross domestic product, owes China about $8 billion shillings.

Half of the administration shall be women

Ruto promised that Women will enjoy equal rights as men during land transactions, at least 50 percent of his Cabinet will be made up of women, while appointive positions in the public sector will adhere to the two-thirds gender rule.

These, he said will be implemented within the first three months of his administration.

Ruto promised to increase Police remuneration

While describing police as patriotic Kenyans who, if empowered, can better maintain law and order, safeguard peace and protect property, Ruto committed to making the Kenya Police Service a respectable department.

He pledged to increase salaries for police officers in the first 100 days if he wins the August 9 general election.

Ruto promised farmers cheap loans and better prices for farm inputs

The DP cited agriculture and manufacturing as some of the key sectors that his government would priorities for the county which is the second largest contributor to the economy.

Under his promise of a 50 billion shillings credit facility for small and micro-enterprises, the DP said traders would be charged low-interest rates to allow for the expansion of their businesses.

He promised to cap the price of fertilizer at 2,500 shillings per 50kg bag and guaranteed minimum returns to ensure farmers know the price before they sell their produce.

He pledged to set the minimum price for a liter of milk at 45 shillings and subsidize artificial insemination services to provide milk coolers.

He stated that he would help revive the timber industry following a four-year moratorium that saw the economy of timber towns in the county take a beating.

Ruto said that his administration would lead in the planting of a million trees on forest lands.

Return Port operations to Mombasa

Consequently, the DP promised to roll out a program for the return of port operations from Naivasha and Nairobi back to Mombasa within six months if elected President.

Free internet bundles and calls

Ruto promised to provide free internet and phone calls to every household should he win the election.

He stated that the internet program will emulate the Last Mile Connectivity Program that was aimed at providing electricity to all parts of the country by 2022 launched by the Jubilee government.

The deputy president said that after crunching the numbers, 38 billion shillings will be required to see that every home has free internet.

Buy two million acres for squatters

The DP said he would end the thorny land issue in the six coastal counties. He added that he is aware of the problems in the region, saying his administration will set aside funds to buy land and settle squatters in Taita Taveta, Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, and Tana River.