Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged Kenyans, especially the youth, to reject leaders who incite them to cause violence, loot property and engage in destruction, saying such actions only hurt the nation and do not provide any solutions.

Speaking during the Women Economic Empowerment Programme in Matayos Constituency, Busia County, Kindiki commended Busia residents for maintaining peace during the recent protests that resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property in other parts of the country.

He said the youth must not allow themselves to be used by politicians he described as self-centred.

“Thank you Busia for keeping peace, thank you for maintaining law and order, I praise you for that,” said the Deputy President.

Kindiki said the Kenya Kwanza administration is committed to reviving all collapsed sugar factories in the western and Nyanza regions, including in Busia and Kakamega, as part of efforts to transform the region’s economy.

He said this will ensure that farmers and workers are paid well and on time.

“We will revive all the sugar factories in western and Nyanza including also here in Busia and Kakamega one by one. In our program we will ensure that farmers and workers are paid well and on time. For the first time since the farming of sugarcane in 1922 in this country, cane farmers were given bonuses by this administration,” asserted Kindiki.

The Deputy President also outlined other government plans aimed at stimulating the economy and creating jobs, particularly for young people.

These include construction of fresh produce modern markets, expansion of affordable housing, the Climate WorX programme, opportunities for overseas employment, and professional jobs in the teaching and health sectors.

“We are saying two terms for President Ruto to ensure the registration of 24.7 million Kenyans in SHA as of today to 55 million, two terms for electricity connection, roads construction, employment of youths and revival of sugar factories,” said Kindiki.

He urged residents of Busia to register in large numbers with the Social Health Authority, noting that 310,000 people have already registered, which represents 40 percent of the county’s population of nearly 900,000.

Kindiki also assured the people of Bungoma and neighbouring counties that road projects in the region will be completed, including re-carpeting of the Kisumu–Luanda–Busia highway and the Nasewa–Funyula–Budalangi road.

“I know President Ruto was here some time back to inspect some projects — Lower Nzoia Irrigation Scheme Canal — and he promised to decommission the expensive generators but at the same time to expand the project,” said the Deputy President.

He also highlighted ongoing projects between the national and county governments, including the County Aggregation Industrial Park and the Special Economic Zone in Busia, which he said will employ over 3,000 people, the majority of them locals.

Kindiki was accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Busia Governor Paul Otuoma, and several members of Parliament and county assembly leaders from Busia and surrounding regions.