Ruto convenes two-day meeting to discuss bottom-up agenda

By Peter Ochieng

President William Ruto is leading members of his executive in a two-day retreat to discus the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), being spearheaded by the Kenya Kwanza administration.

The retreat started on Thursday morning, at the Edge Convention Centre in South C, Nairobi.

"Evaluation and consultation are essential to the success of the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda. The quest for new ideas, approaches and constant improvement will enrich our governance and elevate our delivery of the commitments we made to the people of Kenya," said the president.

"The continuous appraisal of our work-in-progress will help us fix our shortfalls and accelerate our successes."

Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua is among those in attendance. Gachagua said they have trained their eyes on delivering the plan.

"The Ruto administration is collaborative and consultative in implementation of our agenda, the Plan. As the President always says, a good idea must give way to a better idea which should ultimately give way to the best idea," he noted.

The forum provides a platform to evaluate and review the success and shortfalls in implementation of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

Cabinet Secretaries, the likes of CS for Sports Ababu Namwamba and his interior counterpart Kithure Kindiki are among those in attendance.

The retreat comes on the backdrop of a public outcry, over the skyrocketing cost of living. Kenyans, led by opposition leader Raila Odinga want the cost of power, fuel and basic commodities to come down.

In his first address as government spokesperson on Wednesday, Isaac Mwaura urged Kenyans to be patient, stating that the Kenya Kwanza administration has put in measures to bring down the cost of living.

He however stated that the measures will start paying off within two to three years.