• Market Watch

Kenya’s Ruto aims for presidency

- 2022-03-17 00:00:00

DUNCAN MIRIRI
Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday used his new party’s nomination to stand for Kenya’s presidency in an August election to lambast President Uhuru Kenyatta over his economic policies and democratic credentials.
Kenyatta, who must stand down after serving the maximum of two five-year terms, says Ruto is not trustworthy and less experienced than veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Ruto will run against Odinga, who has Kenyatta’s support, in the election.
Ruto attacked Kenyatta’s record in front of five thousand cheering delegates dressed in his new United Democratic Alliance party’s green and yellow colours at a Nairobi auditorium.
“Debt must be the last resort. We must not be slaves of debt from any place or any country,” he told the gathering.
Kenyatta’s government has increased public debt by 7 trillion shillings (US$61.32 billion) from nearly 2 trillion shillings since assuming office in 2013.
The loans which include billions of dollars from China are pushing against the nation’s debt ceiling.
Ruto also accused Kenyatta of failing to honour his 2017 election promises and using state institutions to persecute political opponents.
Kenyatta has in the past defended his policies, saying he wanted to entrench the rule of law and boost economic growth by constructing roads, railways and other infrastructure, partly finance by the borrowing.
Some Kenyans are concerned about the divisions between the two men because elections have sometimes sparked violence - notably in 2007, when Odinga’s supporters said his victory was stolen and clashes between ethnic groups erupted.
Ruto has sought to calm fears by promising to accept the election results in August.
Kenya is East Africa’s most well-off and stable nation and a close Western ally that hosts the regional headquarters of international firms like Alphabet Inc and Visa.
- Reuters