Stop inciting violence and offer solutions, Ruto tells leaders

President William Ruto has asked leaders to stop inciting young people to violence and chaos and instead be part of the solution to the challenge of youth unemployment.

The President said incitement that leads to unrest is dangerous not only among young people but also the entire country.

On its part, he explained, the government is implementing deliberate and intentional policies and programmes aimed at creating jobs for the youth.

He cited the Affordable Housing Programme, digital jobs, and labour mobility as some of the key initiatives designed to expand job opportunities for high school, college and university graduates.

The President made the remarks when he met 500 bishops, pastors and evangelists from the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Africa at State House Nairobi on Wednesday.

In the past two years, President Ruto pointed out, 400,000 young Kenyans have secured jobs abroad through the government labour mobility programme.

He disclosed that Kenya continues to sign Bilateral Labour Agreements with various countries across the world, which seeks the expertise, diligence and experience of the Kenyan workforce.

“Through bilateral labour agreements, we are able to protect our citizens and offer help whenever they need it,” the President explained.

Locally, 320,000 young people are fully engaged in the Affordable Housing Programme, while another 180,000 are earning a livelihood through digital jobs in Jitume Labs.

“The task of creating job opportunities for our youth is ongoing. It is not a task that can be completed in one day or one year; it is work in progress,” he said.

The President said if the government had not created over 900,000 job opportunities for the youth in the past two years, the recent protests would have been far worse.

President Ruto said he would remain focused on the transformation agenda of the country, adding that no amount of opposition will derail him.

He quoted former US President Abraham Lincoln, who said “the greatness of a leader is determined by the cause he believes in and the sacrifice he is willing to make to achieve it.”

The President said no amount of falsehoods would conceal the truth of the progress the country has made so far, adding that the results are visible for all to see.

He also said his critics do not have an alternative agenda, they avoid real issues and instead resort to sloganeering.

“I am ready for the 2027 test. I have a solid report card. I will provide an account of what I have achieved,” he said.

The President said the government has implemented strategic interventions to stabilise the economy.

“Today, I can tell you the economy is stable and we are moving forward,” he said.

The President pointed out that inflation, which stood at 9.6 per cent in 2022, has declined to 3.8 per cent, while the exchange rate of the shilling to the dollar, which was at a high of Ksh 165, has stabilised at about Ksh 130 in the past 15 months.

Dollar reserves at the Central Bank of Kenya have increased from $7 billion in 2022 to $10.8 billion today.

When he took office, President Ruto said Kenya was among six African countries listed for debt default.

“Kenya did not because of the measures we took,” he explained.

In agriculture, the President said the government has supported farmers with subsidised fertiliser, which has boosted production and productivity.

This has led to a huge drop in the cost of basic food items such as maize, which has fallen from a high of Ksh 240 per 2kg packet to a low of between Ksh 100 and Ksh 160 depending on the brand.

The President said the government has also dealt with cartels in the coffee sector that has ensured better earnings for coffee farmers.

“They used to get an average of Ksh 70 a kilo; now they get between Ksh 110 and Ksh 150 depending on the factory,” he said.

In the sugar sector, President Ruto said reforms have made it possible for workers and farmers to be paid on time and, for the first time, earn a bonus.

He said production has risen from 500,000 metric tonnes in 2023 to 800,000 tonnes last year. This year, production is expected to hit 900,000 tonnes.

“In three years, Kenya will be a net exporter of sugar,” he said.

To strengthen the education sector, he said the government has hired 76,000 teachers and plans to recruit an additional 24,000 at the end of the year. The recruitment of these 100,000 teachers will be the largest ever in the country’s history in three years.

On universal health coverage, President Ruto said he is committed to its implementation to ensure that no Kenyan is left out or has to sell property to pay hospital bills.

The President said he will continue to unite Kenyans and rally them behind the country’s development agenda.

The President faulted those criticising him for plans to build a church at State House, noting that more than 300 families live in the compound and currently worship in an iron-sheet structure under very poor conditions.

“Those stories you hear that the construction of the church will cost billions is the language of the devil trying to incite the public,” he pointed out.

He reminded Kenyans that Kenya is a God-fearing nation, a position clearly stated in the Constitution.

The church leaders criticised those opposed to the construction of churches.