President William Ruto has renewed his call for Kenyans to reject tribal politics, saying the country’s progress depends on ensuring every region benefits from government development.
Addressing the ABC Annual National Women Congress at Scott Theological University in Machakos on Saturday, Ruto said his administration had chosen a broad-based government to bring people together and spread development across the country.
He said Kenya should not return to a political system where some communities or regions feel excluded from government programmes and opportunities.
Ruto said his administration was committed to ending what he described as the old practice of discrimination in development, insisting that the country should be treated as one.
“I said that the old style of politics where certain regions faced discrimination would come to an end, and that development would reach every area, because Kenya is one nation,” Ruto said.
The President said leaders should avoid politics that pits communities against one another, warning that tribalism and discrimination should have no place in the country’s political affairs.
“We do not want politics based on tribalism and discrimination,” he said.
Ruto said the broad-based government was part of efforts to promote unity while ensuring development is not concentrated in particular areas.
He also used the meeting to defend the Social Health Authority (SHA) against criticism over its performance.
Ruto dismissed claims that SHA was not working, saying some of its critics lacked a clear understanding of the system because they had not visited hospitals or used the service as patients.
He said the health scheme was designed to ease the pressure medical costs place on households and stop families from being forced to dispose of their property to settle hospital bills.
“SHA was introduced to put an end to the practice of Kenyans having to sell their assets to afford medical treatment,” he said.
Ruto attended the event alongside ABC Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, Machakos Town MP Caleb Mule, Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka, Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse and former State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita, among other leaders.