President William Ruto has issued a stern warning to Kenyans, urging them to be cautious in their choice of leadership. Addressing Kenyans in New York, Ruto emphasized the critical role that leadership plays in shaping the country's trajectory, asserting that the nation's success or failure hinges more on the quality of its leaders than on its natural resources. "The one mistake we must never do is to elect a fool to be a President. Nawaomba kwa unyenyekevu. If we do not have the right leadership, tutakwama," Ruto stated, underscoring the importance of making informed electoral choices.
Importance of leadership choices
In his address, President Ruto also took the opportunity to defend Kenya’s government-to-government (G-to-G) oil importation model. This comes in the wake of remarks made by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni regarding petroleum imports, which some critics have used to question the efficacy of Kenya’s fuel importation arrangements. Ruto clarified that Museveni's comments were in reference to an incident that occurred seven years ago, and he criticized those who have seized upon these remarks to cast doubt on Kenya's current system. "President Museveni said something about importation of oil products seven years ago. I saw some people jumping and saying this G-to-G has a problem," he remarked.
Ruto staunchly defended the G-to-G model, asserting that it is superior to other systems because it operates without the involvement of brokers, which can often lead to inflated costs and inefficiencies. He highlighted the interest shown by other countries in Kenya's model, noting that nations like Malawi and Burundi have sought to learn from Kenya's approach. "We have the right model. Better than any other. Malawi and Burundi came to ask us how we are doing," he said, suggesting that Kenya’s system is becoming a benchmark for others in the region.
Defending the G-to-G model
Furthermore, President Ruto challenged his critics to present an alternative model if they believe Kenya’s current system is flawed. He encouraged a comparison of the landed cost of petroleum products between Kenya and Uganda, arguing that Kenya's model offers more competitive pricing. "Check the landed cost of petrol products coming to Kenya and going to Uganda. Which one is cheaper? We have a better model than even what Uganda is using today," he added, reinforcing his confidence in the current importation strategy.
Challenges to critics
Ruto's remarks come at a time when the cost of living and fuel prices are hot-button issues in Kenya, with citizens keenly watching government policies that impact their daily lives. His comments are likely to resonate with Kenyans who are concerned about economic stability and the efficient management of the country's resources.
