Our heroes did not hail from one village, or speak one language - President Ruto

Kwale, 

Sunday, 20 October, 2024 

McCreadie Andias, 

President William Ruto has preached unity during the 61st Mashujaa Celebrations held in Kwale County on Sunday, 20 October. 

In his speech, the president noted that Kenya's heros hailed from all communities and united towards a common stand devoid of their ethnic or tribal affiliations. 

"Our heroes did not hail from one village, or speak one language. They are numerous and diverse, united by a principled commitment to confront an unjust, exclusive and oppressive system.

In confronting colonialism, our heroes did not seek to free their regions from occupation by a community. Instead, they pursued the noble vision of national liberation. "President Ruto said. 

This, the president said in what was seen as a statement against the recent 'usiguze Murima' phrase, A popular statement phrase used to describe the Central region, the phrase has widely been used by Impeachmed Deputy President and his allies to mobilize the GEMA community ,however it has also been criticized by other communities for being tribal and divisive. 

The president noted that Kenya belongs to all communities who are equally entitled to its resources and services. 

"It is an enduring lesson that has been passed to our era, and we must faithfully transmit to future generations. We are all entitled to make a contribution to nation building, and with an inalienable right to a full, just and fair share of the benefits that accrue from our development. 

No proposition to discriminate or to unjustly diminish one while enlarging another's rights is admissible. Any formula seeking to exclude, alienate or disenfranchise anyone, for any reason, is repugnant to the very essence of our nationhood. "Ruto said 

"We are one people, and Kenya is one united, indivisible and sovereign nation. "He added. 

Today's celebration revolved around the Affordable Housing program that seeks to construct 200,000 houses annually. The success of this program will see improved standards of living across the country.

Meanwhile, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) involved in the government's Affordable Housing programme are set to benefit after the government allocated Ksh4.4 billion to pay them.This was announced by President Today during the Mashujaa Day celebrations. 

The president said his administration is keen on making the Affordable Housing Programme a success, and one of the ways to ensure all Kenyans benefit is by engaging local enterprises in supplying goods and services to the programme. 

"To facilitate this, the government has allocated Ksh.4.4 billion specifically for payments to MSMEs supplying goods and services under the program. Our collaboration with the Jua Kali sector has demonstrated the Affordable Housing Program’s significant potential to transform local manufacturing," Ruto said. 

He singled out a local venture, Soweto Highrise Fabricators and Woodworkers Association in Kibera, which has been awarded a Ksh.720 million contract to fabricate construction material for the project. 

Ruto said the partnership will greatly enhance the business prospects of this Jua Kali association, now recognised as a bona fide AHP supplier.