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Business Insider
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
‘I will dismantle them': Kenyan president, Ruto, dares opposition, signals reluctance to step down
Given the proximity of the Kenyan presidential elections, campaign banter between potential rivals has begun making rounds, including sentiments from the country's current president, William Ruto. Kenya's President William Ruto addresses opposition criticisms during a church event in Kivaywa Primary School. Ruto accuses opposition figures of tribalism and lacking actionable plans for Kenya's future. He asserts the importance of creating jobs, improving education, and addressing healthcare challenges. During a church event held at Kivaywa Primary School on Sunday, June 15th, the President of Kenya, William Ruto, expressed concerns about his opposition's plans for the future of the East African country, especially considering his suspicion of their alleged tribalistic agenda. He used this concern as a basis for a stance that seemed too assertive, as he noted that he has no plans to relinquish administrative control to them. 'These other people (opposition) have no plan, don't waste time on them. We will not hand over power to people who have no plan,' the president expressed. 'Their only plan is that 'Ruto must go.' How will that help Kenyans and the country?' Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper, Eugene Wamalwa of the DAP-K, and former Interior Chief Security Officer Fred Matiang'i were among the opposition figures whom Ruto criticized for their inability to change the nation, as seen on The Standard. 'These people cannot do anything. They just want to tell stories. Will you accept the mere rhetoric of people who have no plan?' the president presented the question to the congregation. He then went on to label accusations of tribalism, division, and hatred against the opposition, urging them to keep the Kenyan people away from their battles, and instead face him. 'If they have a problem with me, they should come and face me. I will dismantle them. The important thing is to plan how to create jobs for our youth, improve education, and healthcare. That should be the priority for Kakamega, Western Kenya, and the nation,' he said. 'People of Kakamega and Western Kenya have long suffered from unbalanced budgets. This time, we have allocated Sh2 billion for roads from Kakamega Airstrip to Shinyalu and Chepsonoi,' the president added. Fresh Ruto must go chants Ruto recently had a run-in with the Kenyan people, who expressed displeasure at his initial silence concerning the death of the social media personality and educator Albert Ojwang. This fresh round of criticism opened the conversation of Ruto's popularity, with protesters under the banner of 'Ruto must go' calling yet again for the resignation of the president. He would later speak, stating 'I fully expect that the truth about what happened to Ojwang will be established in due course, and that justice will be served,' Ruto said. 'Like most Kenyans, and especially as a parent, I received the news of the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody with utter shock and deep dismay. I take this moment to extend my heartfelt condolences to Meshack Ojwang and his family for the cruel loss of their beloved son," he added.
Zawya
12-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Uganda: ‘Stop charging high fees at Mulago Specialised Hospital'
Members of Parliament have expressed concerns following reports that high fees are being charged at the private wing of the Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital. Buhweju County Member of Parliament, Hon. Francis Mwijukye raised the issue stating that the high fees charged on women for consultation and antenatal care to delivery are unfair. 'Yesterday I was at Mulago Specialised Hospital to visit a woman who delivered and was charged Shs2 million for a caesarian section. This was a primary teacher who could not afford the fees and I wonder how many women can afford such costs,' Mwijukye said. Mwijukye was responding to a motion urging government to adopt resolutions of the Second Women Parliament on at a sitting of the House on Wednesday, 12 March 2025. He said it is displeasing for a government funded hospital to charge Shs890,000 for anesthesia, Shs800,000 for antenatal care and Shs800,000 for normal deliveries. 'I wonder how such policies were arrived at with the Ministry of Health. We cannot continue to talk about addressing the plight of women yet when it comes to implementation it remains rhetoric,' said Mwijukye. MPs observed the need for the Ministry of Health to reign over operations of the private wings in all government hospitals saying medics seem to have neglected the free services accessed by the majority. 'Government must come out and address what is happening in the public wings of the hospital where services are free but one has to wait for six months or a year to receive treatment,' Mwijukye added. Bukanga County MP, Hon. Stephen Kangwagye said the policy to charge fees in one section of a public hospital remains skewed as it discourages service delivery in the section where services are freely offered. 'Most of our mothers in our constituencies cannot afford the private wing; you find them lying in the corridors of hospitals as they wait for long hours to be served. We need to see how to attract the attention of doctors in the public wing as well,' Kangwagye said. The Minister of Information, Communication, Technology and National Guidance, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi criticised what he called commercialisation of the hospital saying government's intention to introduce a private section in public hospitals was not about commercialisation. 'Ministry of Health should be able to look into that policy and reduce fees being charged in government hospitals because the intention was to provide quick services to those who can afford but not to put exorbitant figures like Sh2 million on caesarian section,' Baryomunsi said. The Minister of State for Health (General Duties), Hon. Anita Kawooya pledged to follow up on the reports saying, 'it is a government policy but you cannot ask someone to pay Shs2 million even if it is a private wing'. The motion for a resolution of Parliament urging government to consider the resolutions of the Second Women Parliament was moved by Lira District Woman MP, Hon. Linda Auma and adopted with its 30 resolutions. The resolutions included appeals for government to ensure continuity of education for girls who become pregnant while in school, an increase in the education budget by 20 per cent to be able to provide gender responsive facilities in education institutions, strict enforcement of all policies against gender based violence and promotion of women participation in leadership. The Speaker Anita Among directed the relevant ministries to present action reports on resolutions within three months. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
