'Kila mtu akuje hapa ndani tuitwe Zakayo pamoja,' Ruto defends his broad-based Cabinet

President William Ruto has appealed to Kenyans to positively embrace being christened his moniker 'Zakayo' as a way of solidarity in collecting and paying taxes.

Addressing a rally in Sagana, Kirinyaga County on Saturday, the President downplayed the nickname coined by Kenyans on social media following a myriad taxes introduced by his regime saying everybody should accept to be called that as long as the country bears the responsibility of growing the economy.

He suggested that instead of being called Zakayo alone when he was not collecting the revenues for his own use, Kenyans should be happy to share the name the same way they share the pain of paying taxes.

"Mnajua hawa watu waliniita Zakayo. Sasa, kwani hii pesa inaokotwa ya Kenya, inaenda kwa account ya Ruto? Si inaenda Treasury penye mambo yetu yote inaelekea? Hakuna haja kuita mtu mmoja Zakayo. Kila mtu akuje tukuwe Zakayo wote hapa ndani, tuitwe Zakayo wote pamoja,” Ruto said.

"Si sisi wote tuitwe Zakayo hapa ndani? Tutafute ushuru? Tulipe madeni? Na tusukume Kenya mbele?"

The Head of State cited the unity agenda as displayed in the broad-based government as a key pillar to growing the country without divisions.

He defended the move to appoint opposition leaders in his Cabinet reiterating that his focus was to ensure that the whole country spoke and acted in one voice.

Ruto further added that the decision to involve everyone in the government will be consequential for the nation to unite in paying taxes, the country's debt and overseeing development.

"Juzi mliniambia tuunganishe Kenya tuweke Wakenya wote pamoja. Juzi nimetengeneza serikali nikaleta kila mtu ndani. Nikalete wale wa kando ndani na kila mtu mwenye ako na la kusema huku ndani. Hakuna haja ya kuongea au kulaumiana huko nje, kuja tuongee hapa ndani," said Ruto.

"Ndio tupange vile tutalipa madeni ya Kenya. Tunafaa tupange vile tutapanga ushuru wa Kenya ndio tujue vile tutapanga uchumi wa Kenya."

President Ruto has in the past welcomed the Zakayo name emphasising that he was unbothered, so long as Kenyans continue to pay their taxes.