President Ruto Hints at Reintroduction of Finance Bill Amid Development Challenges
President William Ruto has signaled the potential reintroduction of the Finance Bill, 2024, during his tour of the Gusii region. This move comes just two months after the bill was withdrawn following widespread protests across the country. Speaking at Ekerubo in Nyaribari Masaba, Ruto expressed his concerns over the stalling of various projects, particularly a Sh130 billion allocation for road developments.
The President highlighted the dilemma he faces, stating, “I had planned that road and I had allocated Sh130 billion for all other national roads. But some other people came out, made noise and made the Finance Bill to fail. I must repeat that task. Or what do you think? Do I go back for it?” Ruto emphasized the necessity of securing these funds to execute planned projects and urged MPs to swiftly pass the bill when it reaches Parliament.
Local support for the bill appears to be shifting. Area MP Daniel Manduku noted that while residents had previously instructed him to vote against the Finance Bill, they might now be open to supporting it if reintroduced. This change in stance could potentially smooth the way for the bill’s passage.
During his tour, President Ruto launched several significant development projects in the region. These include an Affordable Housing Project for 270 units in Kisii and the construction of a Sh3 billion cancer treatment center funded by the Saudi Arabian government. The latter comes as a relief to residents who have been forced to travel to distant cities like Eldoret, Nairobi, or Nakuru for cancer treatment.
Addressing the burden of cancer treatment costs, Ruto announced plans for a Critical Illness Fund. “Cancer has been a serious problem with our people. So many people have fallen victim to the disease and have used a lot of money to treat others even giving up on treatment and dying. This will not happen again going forward,” the President assured.
The tour also saw the commissioning of several road projects, including the Sombogo-Marani Road in Kitutu Chache North, the Itibo-Riana Road, and the Kisii-Isebania-Ahero Interchange. In addition, Ruto unveiled plans for substantial improvements to educational infrastructure, with the construction of 183 classrooms, 44 laboratories, and dormitories across 68 schools in Nyamira, at a cost of Sh1.4 billion. This project, financed by Kuwait, aims to support schools affected by the 2007/2008 post-election violence.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua took the opportunity to commend the collaborative relationship between the Kisii County Government and the National Government. He emphasized the importance of this cooperation in driving development in the region.
As the tour continues, President Ruto is set to commission Rural Last Mile Electricity Connectivity projects in both Kisii and Nyamira, further demonstrating the government’s commitment to infrastructure development in the area.
The President’s hint at reintroducing the Finance Bill, coupled with the launch of these significant projects, underscores the administration’s focus on development despite previous setbacks. However, it remains to be seen how the public and parliament will receive this potential revival of the controversial bill.
