
Kenya's President William Ruto makes remarks, during the swearing-in ceremony of his new Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, at the Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on November 1, 2024. Kindiki is an academic turned politician who was thrust into the limelight when he defended his boss President William Ruto at the International Criminal Court. The 52-year-old millionaire served as interior minister for more than two years before taking over as deputy president on November 1, 2024 following the historic impeachment of his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP) (Photo by SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images)

By Felix Wanjala.
Licha ya kuendelea kuwepo kwa upinzani kuhusu mpango wa serikali wa kukodisha baadhi ya viwanda vya sukari humu nchini, Rais William Ruto amewakosoa vikali wanaoupinga, akiwataja kama wanaokwamisha juhudi za maendeleo.
Akizungumza na viongozi kutoka kaunti za Machakos, Kitui na Makueni kuhusu mageuzi katika sekta ya kilimo, Rais Ruto alisisitiza kuwa serikali yake imejitolea kuzuia utegemezi wa uagizaji wa sukari kutoka mataifa ya nje.
Aidha, aliwahakikishia wakulima wa miwa pamoja na wafanyakazi wa viwanda hivyo kuwa watalipwa kwa wakati ufaao, sambamba na kunufaika na bonasi kama ilivyo kwa wakulima wa kahawa.

Hii ni kufuatia malalamiko ya baadhi ya viongozi kutoka maeneo ya Magharibi na Nyanza waliopinga mpango huo wa serikali, wakisema kuwa haukuzingatia maoni ya wananchi kwa kina.Zaidi ya hayo, Rais Ruto alieleza kuwa serikali itaweka mkazo zaidi katika kuongeza uzalishaji wa kahawa na majani chai ili kufikia masoko ya kimataifa.
Kuhusu masuala mengine ya maendeleo, Rais alisema serikali inaendelea kuchukua hatua za kuinua uchumi na kuboresha utoaji wa huduma kwa wananchi, ikiwemo kuajiri walimu wapya takriban 24,000 kote nchini.