Uhuru blames sluggish economy on coalition govt

Uhuru blames sluggish economy on coalition govt Written By:KNA,    Posted: Fri, Jul 06, 2012

Uhuru said squabbles in the coalition government has cost this country valuable time for steering development Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has blamed the current slow economic growth to disharmony within the coalition government. He said constant squabbles within the government led by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had cost the country quality time for development. Uhuru who until early this year was the minister for Finance, said the country started experiencing stunted growth soon after the national accord was struck. Addressing residents of Kathwana market in Nithi constituency when he commenced his three-day tour of Tharaka-Nithi and Embu counties, Uhuru said Kenya was not ready for another coalition government as it derailed development. The TNA presidential candidate said continuous quarreling within the coalition government has cost this country valuable time for steering development. "This government has spent most of its time fighting instead of working and giving service to wananchi," Uhuru said. He urged the public to vote for a government that will be led by one party and will fight for the welfare of the common mwananchi. "We want a government that speaks in one voice, where its leaders dialogue and agree on issues instead of pulling from different sides," he said. Uhuru appealed to Nithi and Tharaka residents to vote for him saying he had demonstrated political maturity by conceding defeat in 2002. "I conceded defeat in 2002 since I observe the rule of law and respect the wishes of wananchi," said Uhuru. He assured residents of arid and semi arid counties that they would fully benefit from natural resources coming from their locality. Agriculture assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki and his Public works counterpart Mwangi Kiunjuri said the government should ensure marginalized counties were the first to benefit from resources they produced. They said such resources as oil and other minerals should not be shared at the national level.