Senate Speaker, Amason Kingi, has called on Kenyans to reject leaders propagating ethnic hatred under the pretext of pushing for government development projects for their regions.
Kingi said all Kenyans were entitled to development regardless of who they voted for because they all pay taxes.
Speaking during a fundraiser at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Ndhiwa Constituency, Kingi criticised leaders who want other parts of the country left behind because of how they voted.
“A taxpayer should demand development because it is his or her right. In that regard, all Kenyans should get development since people pay taxes to the government equally,” Kingi said.
He said the Senate will ensure the government implements equity and inclusion in the distribution of national resources across the country.
“We have seen President Ruto’s commitment to promoting equity in the distribution of national resources and opportunities regardless of any bias. We must support him,” Kingi said.
He was accompanied by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, nominated senators Beatrice Ogola and Joyceyce Korir, and their Migori counterpart Eddy Oketch.
Ogola criticised a section of leaders allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who are against the development which the government is implementing in the Nyanza region because locals did not vote for President Ruto.
Ogola argued that the people of the Nyanza region are also Kenyan taxpayers; hence, they deserve the development being implemented in the area.
“It is wrong for any leader in this country to say that the people of Nyanza should not benefit from development from the government because we don’t have shares in it. That is wrong because we need inclusivity and equity in this country,” Ogola said.
Kajwang appealed to Kingi to take disciplinary action against Nyandarua Senator John Methu over his recent remarks, which perpetuated ethnic division over development in Nyanza.
Kajwang argued that senators are level-headed leaders and should promote inclusivity in Kenya.
“Just recently, the Senate set aside Sh2 billion to assist 11 counties with low revenue collection. Each of them got at least Sh400m, including Nyandarua, which Methu represents, without caring how they voted in the last General Election,” Kajwang said.
He told leaders to stop perceiving some communities as second-class citizens.
“We all belong to Kenya regardless of our ethnic background. Nobody is superior to the other in Kenya as far as citizenship is concerned,” Kajwang said.
Okech said they had started a movement dubbed the Broad-Based Front for fighting for equality in the distribution of national resources.
“With this new movement of young people, we are going to ensure Kenyans get development and other opportunities regardless of a political party or an ethnic group one belongs to,” Okech said.
According to Korir, nobody should be jealous of the development implemented in a given region.
“We need a united country and should always stand firm against leaders who want to divide Kenyans because of unnecessary jealousy,” Korir said.
