Hustle Fund to come into force within a 100 days: Ruto promises Kenyans

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya’s newly sworn-in president Dr. William Ruto has promised to create a ‘Hustle’ fund as a way of providing cheap and reliable finance to youth-based enterprises.

“Millions of youth across Kenya are engaged in different trades trying to make a living and the biggest challenge they face is access to cheap and reliable financial solutions. In 100 days we will have a hustle fund dedicated to ensuring that their enterprises thrive in order to better their daily income. This new fund will be available to all youth and women across the country.” President Ruto reveals.

He will also work with county governments in setting up over 200 new markets for small-scale traders.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Moi International Sports Complex Kasarani-Nairobi, the president also extended an olive branch to his competitors in the August 9 race to the country’s highest office.

He also promised to serve all citizens fairly without discrimination despite not voting for him during the elections.

The 5th president further thanked Kenyans for maintaining peace throughout the election cycle and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for upholding democracy.

“It’s also appropriate to celebrate our Judiciary for sustaining its tradition of boldly giving us much-needed guidance, especially in playing post-election grievances in a sensitive, credible, and authoritative manner,” added the president.

He termed his assumption of office as a miracle like no other, Dr. Ruto who was flanked by First Lady Rachael Ruto and their children thanked his family for always praying for him.

“By the grace of God we have got here and let me say that standing here is a testimony that there is a God in heaven and today I want to thank God because a village boy has become the president of Kenya, I want to thank my wife and family for always praying for me and my team.”Dr. Ruto said.

The head of state also praised Raila Odinga of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition party and his running mate Martha Karua, who he deemed worthy competitors for staging a vigorous campaign.

“Their participation enhanced competition and enriched public debate that underpins democratic choice,” said President Ruto, “I assure them that their supporters will be my constituents. I will work with all Kenyans irrespective of who they voted for.”

Among the heads of state who spoke from the East African region praised Kenyans for upholding a peaceful election.

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni congratulated Dr. Ruto, assuring Kenyans that the new President is full of good ideas.

Museveni challenged Kenya’s president, Dr. Ruto, to prioritize the Integration of the East African Community market as a way of enhancing development across the trade bloc.

“In order for East African countries to catch up with the United States, they should look at the regional market. Our products should be able to find a market within the region and in that way, we shall be able to grow the region’s economy” Museveni said.

While Tanzania President Samia Suluhu admired Kenyans for keeping the peace during the election period and proving that peaceful handover of power is possible.

Suluhu “If there is a gift that this country gave to the East African Community this year, it is maintaining peace throughout this election. We thank you very much for that special gift.”

The new president has also announced that retired President Uhuru Kenyatta will continue chairing the region's peace initiatives.

Speaking during his maiden address as head of state at Kasarani, Ruto said Uhuru had agreed to continue the missions in his retirement.

He noted that the former President had done well in ensuring there was peace within the region.

"On peace initiative in our region, in Ethiopia and the Great Lakes region, I have asked my elder brother President Uhuru Kenyatta who has done commended able engagement with those regions and he has graciously agreed to continue chairing those discussions on behalf of the Government of Kenya," Dr. Ruto said.

New Government Promises

On the Judiciary the newly sworn-in president has maintained that his administration will continue to uphold the independence of those institutions. “We must have a strong judicial system for our democracy to grow and that’s why today my administration will scale up an additional budget of Ksh 3 billion to the judiciary. I will also appoint the 6 judges who were cleared by the court of appeal and by this afternoon they will an oath of office.

In the next three months, we shall embark on constructing new magistrate courts across the country which will have the state-of-the-art technology to facilitate the delivery of justice to Kenyans.”

The police forces are set to gain from the new administration as the president plans to better their working condition.

“Our police forces were at the center of this elections and refused to be used as political agents to create tension among Kenyans and that’s why I will ensure that they are fully funded and paid so that they work diligently for the country," President said.

Local farmers next benefit from farming inputs that kick off as the country awaits the short rain season.

President “Over the last 4 months alone the government has used 151 billion in both fuel and maize flour subsidy as a way of cushioning Kenyans against the high cost of living. In the next two weeks, farmers will have 1.4 million fertilizers available to them at low cost to help enhance food production in the food basket regions.”

President also revealed that his administration embarks on skilling the youth through the TVET sector.

He believes that it’s the ideal way of ensuring that local industries have the well competent workforce to drive growth.

“We must ensure that our Jua Kali sector is not just producing goods but they produce with global standards. This is why we shall work with the TVET sector in skilling and re-skilling them.” Comments Ruto.

Perhaps what diplomatic experts can say is a wrong move for the new administration is the reversing of Naivasha-based Inland Container Depot[ICD] back to the coastal city of Mombasa.

Dr. Ruto during his campaign had promised the voters in Mombasa that he will reverse the dry port back to Mombasa.

“I stand by the promise to the coastal voters that their jobs were shifted to Naivasha and today my administration will embark on reversing the dry port of Mombasa so that they can have their source of income back”

The Chinese-built ICD at Naivasha has been seen as economic development for the people of Nakuru county.

The president also plans to create a new ministry that will handle Kenyan issues in the diaspora.

“For many years Kenyans have continued to suffer in a foreign land without being catered for and that’s why the Ministry of Diaspora will be responsible for ensuring Kenyans are safe wherever they are at all times without being treated like second-class citizens, yet we are sovereign nations like others," Concludes the president.

GAROWE ONLINE