Ruto Under Fire Over Another Campaign Promise

Nominated Senator, Hezena Lemaletian has cornered President William Ruto on another campaign promise that he made before the August 9 general elections which has not been met.

Speaking during an interview with K24 TV on Tuesday, November 1, Hezena cited the promise of the Head of State to incorporate the youth into the Kenya Kwanza government which is yet to be fulfilled.

She noted that on behalf of the youth, she has been paying attention to the campaign promises made both by Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja regarding the future of the youth in the event either of them would be elected at the time to see which coalition would actually live up to their promises.

Senator Hezena Lemaletian speaking at the launch of the Ladies in Leadership Association of Daystar University on October 8, 2022. /FACEBOOK.HEZENA LEMALETIAN

Specifically, she mentioned the inclusion of youth into the Executive, a promise she stated is yet to bear fruit.

"We are the youth and we know where the shoe pinches, and when I said the youth have been misused by the government, today's debate is about the promises to hustlers. What we are talking about is what promises has he implemented and which ones has he left out.

"The deal was this, President Ruto said and we all were in Azimio but we were listening to the promises on both sides to see which one makes sense and who looks like living up to his word. The President said he would include the youth and hustlers in his government, and by government, I mean the Executive. So far, that promise has not been met," she stated.

Hezena further criticised the Head of State for not addressing how they would lessen the demanding requirements to serve in his administration.

"Maybe it's the requirements of experience, we have not heard him saying they have been done away with like a government that cares about hustlers and the youth," she added.

With almost two months into office, President Ruto has been backed to a wall regarding some of the unmet campaign promises, particularly the 50 per cent of women in Cabinet, with only eight women appointed out of 24 members, translating to 33.3 per cent.

They include Susan Wafula (Health), Florence Bore (Labour), Penina Malonza (Tourism), Soipan Tuya (Environment), Aisha Jumwa (Public Service), Rebecca Miano (East Africa Community), Alice Wahome (Water) and Mercy Wanjau (Secretary to the Cabinet).

The Kenya Women Leaders Association (KEWOLA) had on Tuesday, October 4 tasked the President to ensure that the campaign promise was met and give priority status to the passage of laws that will facilitate the implementation of the Two-Thirds Gender Principle, giving an ultimatum of one year to end a stalemate that was the bone of contention in the previous regime.

In June, in the run-up to the August polls, Ruto signed a charter with women at Nyayo Stadium, where he promised them 50 per cent of his Cabinet.

He also pledged to make women equal partners in his government, saying they will be the face of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“I commit that the women will have a 50 per cent access to the Ksh50 billion Hustler Fund without any conditions or interest," he said at the time.