Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has criticized opposition leaders for playing cheap politics with the health of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga.
Kindiki said it was shameful and un-African for leaders to make the health of a senior and respected national figure a derogatory topic in their political rallies.
“Mzee Raila Odinga is safe and healthy. Those wishing him ill are not good people because it is against African tradition to wish anybody ill, even your worst enemy,” he said.
The Deputy President spoke on Monday in Alego Usonga, Siaya County, during a resource mobilization event for boda boda saccos hosted by Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga.
He said he had spoken to the ODM leader, who hails from the county, and affirmed that Raila was in good health and remains keen on the country’s development agenda.
“I have spoken with him, and he is fine and resting. He has welcomed us to Siaya, and he will be back soon to face those who wished him ill,” Kindiki noted.
The Deputy President reiterated that under the broad-based government, every part of the country would experience development regardless of political, regional, or religious affiliation. He said the government fully supports President Ruto’s collaboration with Mr. Odinga and other allied leaders.
“We respect them. They are working together, leading us, and we are following them. Make no mistake—the future of Kenya is broad-based,” he affirmed.
Kindiki also praised Siaya Governor James Orengo, who earlier hosted him at his office, for cooperating with the broad-based government to accelerate development in the county.
“Governor James Orengo is a towering figure—larger than life—an impeccable, successful, and accomplished senior counsel whom we respect immensely. We will work together to develop this county,” he said.
Siaya County is among the biggest beneficiaries of the broad-based development agenda, having received multiple projects worth billions of shillings that have boosted local incomes.
Alongside other counties bordering Lake Victoria, Siaya has benefited from Sh3.1 billion in funding for fish landing sites and related infrastructure in Migori, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Busia, and Siaya, as part of the government’s commitment to economic growth in the Nyanza region.
Currently, nine fish landing sites are under construction in the region, including the Luanda-Kotieno site worth Sh134 million, which has been completed and is operational. Two more sites at Kokach and Wichlum, each costing Sh150 million, are underway.
Siaya is also among the counties with the highest number of new markets under construction, with 25 markets in various stages of completion across Siaya, Usenge, Yala, Bondo, and Ukwala.
Affordable housing and institutional hostels are also being developed, bringing total government investment in the county to Sh35 billion under President Ruto’s administration.
“A total of Sh35 billion has been set aside to develop institutional housing, affordable housing, and modern markets in Siaya, making the county one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Affordable Housing Programme,” the Deputy President noted.
Additionally, Sh1.5 billion has been allocated for last-mile electricity connections, targeting 16,200 new households in Siaya. The Siaya Stadium is also being upgraded at a cost of Sh550 million to meet international standards.
“There is no other government that has invested heavily in the blue economy in the Lake Victoria and Coastal regions like Ruto’s government,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President further urged residents to continue registering for the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical cover, noting that 430,000 of the county’s 995,000 residents have already enrolled.