DP Ruto says the looming BBI judgement by Supreme Court is immaterial

Deputy President William Ruto campaigned in Kitui and Makueni counties on Tuesday where he told off proponents of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) process for plotting to use it to create positions of political power for themselves.

The DP and his allies claimed the push to amend the Constitution had diverted government attention from the Big 4 agenda.

This comes ahead of the Supreme Court’s delivery of the BBI judgement that will determine the fate of the push for the first amendment to the 2010 Constitution.

“Wale ambao tunashindana na wao wanasema eti this is a constitutional moment, we’re telling them this is not a constitutional moment, this is an economic moment,” said the DP.

Ruto, who addressed several roadside rallies, sustained Kenya Kwanza’s campaign narrative on the state of the economy.

“Our competitors sabotaged the Big 4 plan which had opportunities for jobs and business for young people of our nation. Our priority is to change the economy, so that we can create jobs and opportunities for the young people of our nation…your project of BBI and changing the Constitution is going to be doomed to fail,” he said.

Tharaka Nithi Senator Prof. Kithure Kindiki, on his part, said: “Wale wanashindana na hustler wanasema ile priority ya Kenya saa hii ni mabadiliko ya katiba. Sisi tunasema priority ile kubwa sana Kenya leo ni kuhakikisha tumepindua uchumi ndio kila mwananchi na kile comrade apate kazi.”

Talking to university students at the campaign rally, the DP pledged to review the HELB loan programme and change it to a grant, if elected president.

“Kwanza tuondoe interest, kusiwe na interest yoyote. Ya pili, hiyo pesa ni kidogo sana inatakikana iongezwe ndio comrades waweze kuwa na pesa ya kutosha kulipa mambo yao ya elimu. Na jambo la tatu, inachelewa sana, inakuja kama watu wameshasota kimeumana,” he stated.

“I want to make this commitment, before December this year, every citizen of the republic of Kenya will be enlisted and will be a beneficiary of NHIF that will ensure everyone has a health certificate so that every citizen can go to hospital warudi nyumbani bika kuulizwa masuali yoyote.”

DP Ruto will campaign in Mwingi and Wajir on Wednesday.

Ford-Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula, during parallel campaigns at Matayos in Western Kenya, castigated the government over the shortage of fuel in parts of the country, demanding that the National Treasury explain the cause.

He also dismissed as false President Uhuru Kenyatta's claim of a plot by DP Ruto to remove him from office.