Africa-Press – Kenya. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has responded to remarks made by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta regarding the Kenya Kwanza administration, urging clarity between constructive criticism and commentary that he claimed misrepresents government programmes.
Kindiki addressed Uhuru’s statements during a Saturday empowerment event in Dadaab, Garissa County, emphasising the importance of accurate observations about the progress under President William Ruto’s leadership.
“Hii serikali ya Ruto, wale wanaikosoa waikosoe lakini wakuwe na ukweli…,” he said.
Highlighting the evolution of the Linda Mama initiative into the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme, the Deputy President explained that the benefits of the scheme had expanded beyond maternity care.
“Linda Mama ilikuwa inashughulika na akina mama wajawazito pekee. Sasa tumeipanua kupitia SHA na inalinda wamama, wazee, vijana na watoto. Tunaita Linda Jamii kwa sababu inalinda kila mmoja, sio mama pekee,” Kindiki said.
Uhuru, speaking at the Jubilee Party National Delegates Conference (NDC) in Nairobi on Friday, had expressed concerns over government changes to programmes he said previously benefited millions of Kenyans.
“Today, many of the gains we had in the past have been eroded. Linda Mama and others were replaced by new, untried, untested schemes. And while we wait for these experiments to work, Kenyans suffer and our progress is retarded,” he told delegates.
Kindiki, however, stressed that the current administration had not only maintained existing initiatives but also enhanced them. He cited lower fertiliser costs and a stronger shilling as evidence that government policies were producing measurable results.
“Rais Ruto alikuta mbolea ikiwa inauzwa Sh6,500, leo imeshuka hadi Sh2,500. Vile vile, shilingi ya Kenya ilikuwa imeanguka, dola moja ilikuwa Sh165. Leo imeshuka hadi Sh129. Hizo ndizo ukweli ambazo wananchi wanapaswa kujua,” Kindiki said.
The DP was flanked by senior political allies of President Ruto, among them presidential aide Farouk Kibet, Wajir Senator Abass Sheikh Mohamed, MPs Mohamed Adow (Wajir South), Fatuma Jehow (Wajir County), Abdirahman Mohammed Abdi (Lafey), Ibrahim Abdul Haro (Mandera South), Major Dekow Barrow (Garissa Township), Jane Kagiri (Laikipia County) and Culture Principal Secretary Umi Bashir.
Kindiki assured the country that the Kenya Kwanza government was determined to deliver on its pledges despite what he termed as attempts by critics to derail progress.
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