Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has vowed to champion equitable development across the country, warning that divisive and ethnic-based politics have no place in modern Kenya.
Speaking in Irunduni, Tharaka Nithi County, during a development engagement with grassroots leaders and residents from Kitui County, Kindiki said the government will work with all leaders regardless of political, regional, or religious affiliations.
He insisted that the government’s mandate is to serve all Kenyans equally.
“The politics of dividing Kenyans, preaching hatred and ethnicity has no place in Kenya. The government has been elected to serve all Kenyans in spite of how they voted. Our Constitution protects all Kenyans against discrimination of any form,” he said.
The DP dismissed attempts by sections of the opposition to balkanize the country along past voting patterns, insisting that every part of Kenya deserves development.
He highlighted several multi-billion-shilling projects underway in Kitui. They include the construction of Ithookwe Stadium at a cost of Sh800 million and the upgrading of Ithookwe Airstrip at Sh150 million.
Both projects are expected to be ready for Mashujaa Day celebrations later this month.
Kitui town is also receiving a facelift through road re-carpeting ahead of the October 20 event.
In addition, the county has benefited from Sh2.1 billion allocated under the last-mile electricity connectivity programme, targeting 16,000 households.
Other ongoing initiatives include affordable housing projects and hostels at South Eastern Kenya University, Kenya Medical Training College campuses, and local technical institutes such as Tseikuru and Mwingi TTIs.
Construction of 12 modern markets is also in progress in Kisasi, Zombe, Ikutha, Nuu, and Mwingi, among other towns.
Stalled roads such as Kwa Vonza-Ikutha and Zombe-Kyuluni have been revived, while the Enziu Bridge project in Mwingi is being fast-tracked.
Kindiki promised to personally inspect its progress soon.
“We will continue working with Kitui leaders to speed up development. I will be pushing for development in Kitui and I will not let you down,” he pledged.
The DP also urged local leaders to boost efforts in registering residents for the Social Health Authority scheme.
Kitui has so far enrolled 400,000 people against a target of 1.1 million.