President William Ruto has told off critics of his broad-based government.
Speaking in Keumbu, Kisii county on Tuesday, Ruto insisted that there comes a time when the interests of the country supersede any other interests.
“Naona viongozi wengine wako na shida na muungano wa wakenya, wako na shida na serikali nimeunda kuleta wakenya pamoja, nataka niwaambie hawa viongozi mjue kwamba inafika wakati umoja wa taifa, progress ya Kenya, transformation ya nchi yetu ni ya muhimu kuliko vyama, mirengo na makabila,” he said.
This translates to, “I see other leaders have a problem with the unity of Kenyans, they have a problem with the government I have created to bring Kenyans together, I want to tell these leaders that a time comes when the unity of the nation, the progress of Kenya, the transformation of our country is more important than parties, sects, and tribes.”
The President went on to say that working towards the country’s common good is a greater patriotic call than satisfying personal interests.
He noted that this is not the time for Kenyans to be divided and definitely not one to be thinking about individual interests.
Ruto said Kenya can only be a great nation if the people are united and working together.
“I am asking those leaders who are yet to turn around and believe there is value in unity, working together, and closing ranks. We the people of Kenya working for the progress of the nation, working for the unity of the nation, and for the transformation of Kenya.
That is a greater patriotic calling than individualism and things that benefit individuals, parties or sections or tribes. We want to work together as a nation. This is not the time for us to be disunited. This is not the time to think about selfish interests of leaders. This is not the time to think about our political formations,” he added.
Ruto is on a three-day development tour of the larger Gusii region that began on Monday.
After dismissing his entire Cabinet on July 11, 2024, Ruto said he would form a broad-based government.
True to his word, he included at least five people from the Opposition party ODM into his new Cabinet.
Four of the five have been appointed CS, while one awaits confirmation by the National Assembly.
