Africa-Press – Kenya. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has slammed opposition chief Raila Odinga over his criticism of Kenya Kwanza’s foreign policy saying the government will engage with all partners.
Gachagua said that President William Ruto’s administration will not shun development partners from any geographical region of the world as it seeks resources to implement its manifesto.
“We welcome the support from the West, East, North, South or even Centre. The West is supporting us and we are happy. We will continue working with the West,” he said.
Gachagua spoke in Lagdera, Garissa County where he graced the launch of the a drought response plan with development partners.
The DP was responding to allegations by Raila who said that the Kenya Kwanza Government was cozying up to the west too much.
But Gachagua, who is driving the government efforts to fight drought, said the government does not need any piece of advise from the opposition leader.
“They have no moral authority to advise us. When they advised the former President, the country found itself with Sh10 trillion debt,” Gachagua said.
“We will go to the people, listen to them and heed their advice.”
Gachagua said the Kenya Kwanza Government was keen on partnering with stakeholders, reiterating the government’s motto of consultative engagements.
“Continuous engagement is the new normal in this country. With engagement we believe a good idea will lead to a better idea that will lead to the best idea,” he said.
The DP urged international partners to work with the Government to find long-term solutions to perennial challenges such as the ongoing drought.
He challenged the private investors and humanitarian organisations to get ready to work with the government under the Public-Private Partnership to construct dams and water pans in Arid and Semi-Arid regions.
He revealed that the government has prioritised the expansion of the Hunger Safety Net Programme to Garissa, Isiolo, Tana River and Samburu counties which are often hard hit by drought.
Gachagua said the National Drought Management Authority, which is implementing the programme, has registered beneficiaries across the four counties.
“Community-based validation is ongoing to identify the most vulnerable and needy cases,” he said.
Once completed, the selected households will receive a monthly stipend of Sh2,700 to cushion them against climate shocks.
Already the government has received more than Sh47 billion in support from development partners led by UN agencies, the private sector and other multilateral organisations.
“Even as the Government works very hard in the short term to address the drought, the main long-term goal is to ensure food security for all Kenyans through modernising Agriculture and combating climate change. That is our plan,” Gachagua said.
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