DP Ruto insists there is no urgency in reviewing the Constitution

Deputy President William Ruto has said there is no urgency in the review of the Constitution.

He said the most pressing issue on the decision table for leaders was the rendering of support to poor Kenyans.

“We do not have a problem with the review of the constitution. But it should be heavy on wealth and jobs creation for the ordinary people,” explained.

The Deputy President said millions of ordinary people were struggling economically, a situation that has been worsened by the COVID-19 outbreak.

DP Ruto assured the country that he would not succumb to pressure to engage in a race that risks dividing the country.

He further noted that there was no need for a contested referendum on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), adding that Parliament should debate and remove contentious issues in the report.

“There are no gains in dividing Kenyans on matters of constitution. By doing this, we will attain a win-win situation and a non-contested referendum,” said Dr Ruto.

DP Ruto spoke on Wednesday in Narok West Constituency in Narok County where he led various empowerment programmes.

He was accompanied by Narok Deputy Governor Evalyn Aruasa, Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Gabriel Tongoyo (Narok West), Ken Aramat (Narok East), Johana Ng’eno (Emurua Dikirr), Benjamin Tayari (Kinango), Korei Ole Lemein (Narok South), Soipan Tuya (Narok) and former Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto.

“We are occupied with the modification of our economic model to uplift the standards of living of those at the base of the wealth pyramid,” added Dr Ruto.

He regretted that the focus now is in the coming up of a new constitution whose focus is on the creation of positions for a few leaders.

The Deputy President urged leaders to desist from engaging in the politics of ethnicity.

Mr Murkomen said they were focussed on serving Kenyans. “We did not look for leadership from Kenyans so as to engage in the review of the constitution,” he argued.

It is a sentiment that was echoed by Ms Tuya who asked leaders to work together to support the poor.

“More resources must be channeled to the base of the wealth pyramid. It is our duty uplift the ordinary people,” noted Mr Cheruiyot.

On his part, Mr Aramat claimed that the isolation that Dr Ruto was experiencing in the political scene was as a result of the vision that he has in bettering the lives of the poor.

Meanwhile, Mr Ruto said leaders should not drive a wedge between communities. “We are beyond the dividing of the country on tribal lines. Let leaders compete on the basis of issues and ideas,” explained the former Bomet Governor.

Mr Tayari said ODM leader Raila Odinga has lost political support in Coast region, saying his style of leadership has been overtaken by events.