Deputy President William Ruto took a swipe at Central Organization for Trade Union (COTU) boss Francis Atwoli, terming him the most foolish person he has ever met
Ruto, who was addressing Kenyans living in London and UK on Sunday, March 6, said the trade unionist’s move to frustrate the government’s move to have high earning Kenyans pay around KSh 5,000 per month to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) as a way of increasing the fund’s capacity to provide services to sick Kenyans proved just how stupid he was.
“When we came into office, we had 3.8 million people contributing to NHIF and everybody was contributing KSh 320. So we decided to adjust so that the people who earn more like me (William Ruto) can pay up to KSh 5,000,
“So we changed the regulations but we were taken to court by a stupid man called (Francis) Atwoli…I have no regret to say he is a stupid man because he is a very foolish person,” William Ruto said.
Ruto who is on tour in the United Kingdom for three days was speaking at a UDA Kenyan diaspora event at a Holiday Inn Hotel in London where he insisted that he will not apologize for calling Atwoli a fool.
It was yet another time in which the sour relationship between Ruto and Atwoli played out in public. Previously Ruto and his political allies have taken on hurling insults at Atwoli, a close ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Atwoli on the other hand never hides his contempt for Ruto who he more often than not terms as very corrupt and unfit to be president of Kenya.
At the UK function, Ruto promised that he will sort out health matters once he succeeds outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta saying that it will help those living abroad to invest without pressure from their kin back at home over hospital bills.
While enticing the few diaspora votes ahead of the August 9 General Election, Ruto further vowed to initiate a diaspora bond that will enable Kenyans living abroad to lend money to the government at an interest rate of seven percent.
“We will make it possible so that instead of keeping money at the bank here(abroad) and getting zero interest, we can give you 7 percent interest at home, by having a diaspora bond where you can put your money, you will help the government with money to run programs,” he said.
