BY JAMES MWAMBAI.
Internal party democracy will give Kenya good leaders, President
Uhuru Kenyatta has said.
The
President noted in the past the country for a long time has had challenges in
picking good leaders because of interference by party leaders but assured that
each aspirant will be accorded equal chance in the Party.
“We want
to assure that Jubilee will conduct fair nominations and all aspirants will be
given equal chance. Our internal party democracy will ensure voters are given
space to choose the candidates they want,” said President Kenyatta.
He added:
“The Deputy President and I have no preferred candidates. It is upon the
electorate to decide whom they want. People should not go around claiming that
they are our favourites. To us, all Jubilee aspirants are equal.”
President
Kenyatta was addressing a mammoth gathering after he launched the tarmacking of
the Kutus – Kianyaga – Kiamutugu – Githure – Kibugu road at Kianyaga in
Kirinyaga county. The road will be tarmacked at a cost of over Ksh 1.3 billion.
The Head
of State said the Jubilee party wanted the Independent Electoral and Boundaries
Commission to conduct its nomination to ensure free, fair and transparency in
the exercise.
This, the President said, would give the electorate an
opportunity to elect their leaders without any interference.
“When we
say we are together, we mean that residents are given the opportunity to elect
their leaders without any manipulation,” said President Kenyatta.
“It is you
who will decide what kind of people you want to take up leadership positions,”
the President emphasized.
The
President pointed out that upon completion, the road will accelerate economic
growth and boost the lives of the people of Kirinyaga County, especially
farmers.
He pointed
out that the Government has earmarked to tarmack 173 kilometres of road within
Kirinyaga to open up the county for faster development.
“We don’t
want our farmers to continue making losses because of bad roads,” the President
said, adding that soon the Kirima-Karatina road would also be tarmacked to
ensure easy connectivity between Embu and Nyeri counties.
President
Kenyatta said electricity, road infrastructure and good healthcare are the
basic ingredients for development and that is what his Government is striving
to achieve.
“If
Kenyans have electricity, good roads and better healthcare then they will be
able to handle other issues,” said the President.
President Kenyatta also noted that the Government has
continued to expand the free education programme to carter for exam fees and at
the same time added more money for the free maternity programme.
“This year none of the parents with children in public
schools were charged exam fees. We have also continued with our free maternity programme
and allocated more funds to it. After women give birth they are given NHIF
cards which allow them access free medical healthcare,” the President said.
The President also said the Jubilee Government works
as a team and is action oriented unlike the opposition which is a grouping of
parties without a vision for the country.
He
castigated opposition Chief Raila Odinga whom he said is fond of criticizing
any project undertaken by the Government without considering its merits and
benefits to Kenyans.
“Even if
people are to criticise because they are in the opposition, the criticism must
be constructive if it is meant to improve the country. Unfortunately, our
opponents only criticise for the sake of it and do not add any value,” he said.
Deputy
President William Ruto – who accompanied the President – said as an action
oriented Government, the Jubilee administration has fulfilled most of its
pledges it made to Kenyans.
He said unlike the opposition, Jubilee is focused and
has well thought plans for the development of the country.
Present
were leaders from Kirinyaga County led by Joseph Ndathi, Senator Daniel Karaba
and Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua among others.
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