During his tour of Taita Taveta County Sunday, the Head of State said he was forming the Government of National Unity (GNU) to unite the polarised country and urged all Kenyans to embrace the idea so that the focus turns to development and job creation.
The President admitted that the Generation Z (Gen Z) protests were an eye-opener that allowed him to reorganise his administration to ensure inclusivity for harmony and development in the country.
“This is a season of uniting and working together irrespective of party affiliation. I need prayers as I reorganise my government for efficient delivery of services to Kenyans,” Ruto said.
The Head of State assured Kenyans that the Government of National Unity (GNU) would enhance national interests and strengthen democracy like never before, urging all citizens to support it for future generations.
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He acknowledged that his administration is facing challenges, including Gen Z protests and significant budget cuts that could impact some projects.
Ruto also announced the government’s focus on creating jobs for youth through labour export programs, affordable housing, and digital hubs.
He mentioned that the Ministry of Labour had 400,000 foreign job opportunities available, with approximately 1,000 youths travelling abroad each week to take up these positions.
“On the digital space of the Principal Secretary for Labour, there are currently 400,000 foreign jobs. We urge MPs to prepare the youth in their constituencies to take up the opportunities. The youth will get passports within a week and get free air tickets,” he said.
He made these remarks at Bura in Mwatate sub-county, Taita Taveta, following a service at ACK St Peter’s Church.
Local politicians expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that the county had been unfairly treated in terms of government job allocations.
Taita Taveta Women Representative Lydia Haika and Mwatate MP Peter Shake praised the nominations of former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and former Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya to the Cabinet. However, Haika urged the President to also consider Taita Taveta for high-level government positions.
We have decided to work with the government because we have stayed in the cold for too long. We are also supporting the formation of the broad-based government, and we need more job opportunities in government,” Shake said.
Haika pointed out that Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime and Kenya’s ambassador to Rwanda, Janet Oben, who accompanied the Head of State, are the only senior members of the community currently in the government.
“We have many professionals in the region who can be appointed to senior government positions,” said Haika.
The President said he will inaugurate a Sh10 billion steel factory in Manga, near Voi town next month.
