President William Ruto has warned Homa Bay residents against vandalizing roads and property.
Speaking on Saturday when he visited Victoria Fish Farm in Suba South, Ruto said constant protests have made investors shy away from investing in the county and the country at large and called on the residents to shun violence.
He said he has invested his time and energy trying to woo foreign investors to come and invest in the country but they always shy away due to the notion that the country is always having protests.
This, he said, has left the negative view that their property will be destroyed in the protests.
“Tuelewane, tena sitaki mnisumbue. Nimezunguka duniani kote nimepata waegezaji ambao wanataka kuweka vifaa vya utalii hapa kwenu,” Ruto said.
“Lakini nikiwa huko ulaya wananiambia tunaskia huko kwenu ni mahali ya vita na ni mahali ya fujo nan ni mahali mali ya watu inaharibiwa, mahali ya kufanya maandamao sijui kila jumatatu,” Ruto added.
This is translated to mean ‘I have found investors who are ready to venture into tourism in this county but when I am abroad they ask me if they hear in this country there is violence, protests every Monday and destruction of property’.
He said it is high time Kenyans embraced peace so as to attract foreign investors, adding that violent protests will hinder the country’s economic growth, adding that no investment is going to come to Kenya if people are violent.
“We want to encourage people to come and invest in our country but we must also as the people of Kenya make sure that we are a peaceful nation and are a people that appreciates property otherwise we are going to lose investment,” he warned.
“Mimi sitaki tena niskie watu wamekosa kuegeza mali yao Homa Bay kwa sababu iko fujo. Kwani iko faida gani kwa hii fujo, hapana mimi hiyo mambo nimekataa. Mimi nazunguka duniani huko kwote nawaambia Kenya is a good place halafu wanegezaji wanakuja wanakuta iko maandamano, mali yao imeharibika, si hiyo ni mambo ya upuzi sana so we must stop that nonsesnse,” the President added.
This is translated to mean ‘I don’t want to hear but people are unable to invest in Homa Bay because there is violence. What benefits are derived from violence? I move around telling investors Kenya is a good place but when they come they find protests.’
By Newshub