Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto has dismissed those castigating his wheelbarrow brand of politics that symbolises the boto-up economic model is being insincere.
The former agriculture minister said there is no difference between his proposed model and the government-led ‘Kazi mtaani‘ initiative which is simply paying graduates to do menial jobs.
Speaking to political aspirants in Kisii, William Ruto wondered why a section of politicians keep criticising his attempt to help ordinary Kenyans but praise him when he helps political bigwigs.
“I want to ask you people from Kisii, don’t we have a government project called Kazi Mtaani? Graduates use pangas and slashers to cut grass in the program. Now, what is the difference between Kazi Mtaani and donating wheelbarrows to small business owners for their enterprises? he posed.
The former Eldoret North MP said she had become an enemy of the people because of his economic agenda which seeks to focus on uplifting the ordinary Kenyan compared to his competitors whose economic models are based on rewarding the rich.
Ruto’s bottom-up economic model characterised by giving wheelbarrows, car wash machines and carts to youths has come under sharp criticism from many political leaders who accuse him of hoodwinking Kenyan youths for his selfish gains.
ODM leader Raila Odinga, President Uhuru Kenyatta, and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka are some of the leaders who have criticized Ruto’s Bottom-up economic model terming it as handout economics meant to entice the masses for votes.
While on his campaign tour of Nyandarua County Saturday, ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi also used the opportunity to criticize the Deputy President for his bottom-up approach noting it is not viable and realistic. “Do not be cheated by semantics. The bottom-up approach is not realistic at all. It is risky,” he said.
Speaking in Nakuru during the ODM leader Raila Odinga’s tour on Tuesday, August 18, Laikipia governor had warned the Mt Kenya region against the wheelbarrow scolding that the 10 GEMA counties were too big to fit into the wheelbarrow.
“Mt Kenya is 10 counties, from Nakuru to Nyandarua. We are the central economic bloc, KSh 2.7 trillion. Put it differently, we are bigger than 34 different African countries. I’m a bit surprised that you take that economy and put it in a wheelbarrow. I’m surprised myself,” he said.
