President William Ruto is currently hosting a highly anticipated X Space with Kenyans, although communication hiccups have marred the event. Originally scheduled for 2:00 PM, the start was delayed until 2:20 PM, with further delays caused by the State House team’s setup.
Prominent participants include Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen, Ababu Namwamba, and Florence Bore, Governor Susan Kihika, and Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot. The Ministry of Health is also part of the discussion. Link to the ongoing space.
Live Updates from the X Space:
On Floods: Ruto Admits He Could Have Done More
When questioned about support for Kenyans rendered homeless by floods and the displacement of those living on riparian land in Nairobi, Ruto acknowledged it was the first time the government provided financial assistance to affected families. He admitted, “I went there in person and committed close to Ksh400 million to attend to those affected by the flooding. Maybe I should have done more.”
Ruto Sympathizes with Osama Otero’s Alleged Abduction
Osama Otero, hosting President Ruto on the X Space, shared his experience of abduction during the anti-finance bill protests. Otero described being taken from his home to an unknown location and interrogated in a ‘safe house.’ Ruto responded, “I regret your situation,” and requested Otero to send details privately for further action, stating, “You don’t deserve what you went through.”
Human Rights Concerns
Human rights groups report over 30 abductions in the last three weeks, including Gabriel Oguda.
Ruto’s Promises on Jobs
Defending his track record on job creation, President Ruto emphasized plans to significantly boost tourism. “I will increase tourism by five times. By 2027, we should be at 10 million tourists.”
Ruto Defends Finance Bill 2024
Ruto addressed misconceptions about the Finance Bill, stating it was misrepresented. He clarified, “There was not a single sentence on Land Rates. We had allocated Ksh2B for people with cancer and hypertension under universal healthcare, not taxes.”
Taxing Diapers to Promote Local Manufacturing
President Ruto explained the intention to raise taxes on imported diapers to support local manufacturing. “There is no need to import diapers when there are enough factories in Kenya, hiring Kenyans, building Kenyans, and giving opportunities to Kenyans.”
Ruto on Firing Cabinet
President Ruto dismissed demands to dissolve his cabinet. “I will not dissolve the Cabinet because I am in the process of looking at things differently.”
Technical Issues
By 3:05 PM, the space experienced a 15-minute silence, with the President having initially welcomed participants before the space went quiet. The State House is being consulted for updates.
Nervous Speakers
As the space continued, it gathered over 75,000 participants, with some speakers appearing nervous while posing their questions.
Stay tuned for more updates from the X Space.
Recent Comments