Aasai

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday welcomed more than 3,500 womens opinion leaders from Tharaka Nithi County to his home in rural Irunduni, encouraging them to play a central role in shaping the future of the county and protecting its development agenda.

 Addressing the meeting, Kindiki updated the women on the implementation of important government projects, including road construction, market improvements, electricity connection, completion of the Nithi Bridge, and creating jobs for young people. He asked women to be at the forefront of rejecting leaders who, in his words, "have dirty lips, incite young people to violence, hooliganism and destruction of public and private property that could provide employment and income opportunities." 

"There is a bad culture slowly emerging where political competitors are exploiting the youth and causing violence, and destroying property. This is unacceptable. We have to tell young people to be violent," said Kindiki. The DP called on women to mentor young people and better persuade them to make full use of government programs designed for economic empowerment. "I urge you to continue to nurture and support mature young people so that they become better people and not marginalized people who engage in bad behavior," he told them. 

Kindiki also targeted his predecessor, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was fired last year, accusing him of neglecting his duties. “Instead of helping, his elder goes to fight with him... If a person is blessed, he gets there, he becomes proud and is expelled to his people,” said, clearly referring to Gachaguas quarrel with President William Ruto. Regarding development, Kindiki promised to equip all Tharaka Nithi hospitals, from Level 2 to Level 4 facilities, with adequate medical facilities, while upgrading Meru Referral Hospital to Level 6 to provide intensive care. 

"We will ensure all Tharaka Nithi hospitals at all levels have adequate facilities," he said. He promised to speed up the completion of stalled road projects, including Chogoria-Weru, Keria-Magutuni-Kathwana, Kibugua-Itugururu-Ishiara, and Kaanwa-Mariani-Kamutiria roads, among others. "These roads were stalled when Uhuru was President due to economic challenges and COVID-19. Now that the economy is showing signs of recovery, we have resumed paying contractors, and I want to assure them these roads will be completed," he said. 

The Deputy President also announced the allocation of Ksh1.2 billion to strengthen the electricity connection in the county, making it equal to other regions. He dismissed critics of the governments empowerment programs, saying opponents had gone out with the struggles of ordinary citizens. “There are people who are full in Nairobi who say that we are bribing the people with this empowerment... What is the leaders problem with helping the people?” Kindiki posed.

Confirming his loyalty to President Ruto and his commitment to national service, Kindiki said, "My job is to help the President serve Kenyans and defend the government. I work day and night because I don want to let you down... I am a servant of all Kenyans, not just my region. But when I serve Kenyans, I will never forget Tharaka Nithi because he is part of Kenya."