Uhuru Snubs Ruto for Kibicho in Kirinyaga

The rift between President Uhuru Kenyatta and deputy president William Ruto continues to manifest in various developments in the political space.

Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho is not new to situations and media reports about the predicaments that the Jubilee government is in.

On Friday, February 14, Kibicho arrived at Kirinyaga County to follow up on President Kenyatta’s promises to the county residents, whereas DP Ruto was scheduled to arrive at Kiburia Girls Secondary School in the same county for an education empowerment program.

A reporter at the county informed Kenyans.co.ke that the PS was sent by the head of state to follow up on the implementation of his promise that rice farmers would be well considered by his government. 

“Kibicho is here to personally get a report from the rice farmers on the president's behalf as to whether the price increment order was implemented. 

“He will also check on the progress of construction of the Wang’uru Stadium which the president promised to the locals for sporting activities,” remarked the reporter.

The PS was accompanied by six other PSs including Belio Kipsang (Basic Education), Gordon Kihalangwa (Public Works), Paul Maringa (Infrastructure), Zeinab Hussein (Correctional Services) and Johnson Weru (Trade).

Kibicho's tour comes barely two weeks after President Uhuru Kenyatta assured Mwea residents of the government’s commitment to addressing challenges facing rice farmers in the region.

Addressing locals at Wang’uru Stadium in Kirinyaga County on Saturday, February 1, the president directed all government institutions to only buy locally produced rice to ensure farmers reap maximum returns from their hard work.

The head of state also ordered the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) to buy rice from the farmers at a cost of Ksh 85 per kilo of paddy instead of the current Ksh 70.

A day prior, President Uhuru Kenyatta told resident of Nyandarua that he would no longer send people around him to inspect projects since they had failed him.

The visibly agitated President noted that some projects had failed to start because those he sent had started focusing on their own selfish needs.