.jpg) |
| President William Ruto addressing resident of Rukuriri, |
President William Ruto now says that he formed a broad-based government because he wants to unite the country in achieving economic transformation.
Speaking in Iriari, Runyenjes, Embu county, Ruto said the new inclusive government will tame incitement and enable the country to be focused on development.
He went on to say that this way, the country can look for taxes as one team because what is collected belongs to all Kenyans.
It is on that note that he, seemingly in jest, said he would not want to be nicknamed Zakyo alone.
“Sisi wote ni team moja. Tumekubaliana tunaunganisha Kenya iwe team moja. Juzi nimeunda serikali ya kuunganisha wakenya wote kwa sababu sitaki fitina tena na mkenya yeyote. Kama ni madeni tulipe pamoja, kama ni kutafuta ushuru tutafute pamoja.
“Mimi peke yangu nisiitwe Zakayo, sisi wote tupange mambo ya kutafuta ushuru ya Kenya. Pesa natafuta ya Kenya inaenda kwa account yetu sisi wote. Kwa hivyo kila mtu akuje akuwe Zakayo, tutafute Ushuru pamoja,” he said.
This loosely translates to, “We are all one team. We have agreed that we are uniting Kenya into one team. The other day I formed a government that will unite all Kenyans because I don’t want any more incitement from any Kenyan. If it’s debts, let’s pay together. If it’s taxes, let’s look for it together. I alone should not be called Zakayo, let’s all plan how to get taxes for Kenya. The money I am looking for in the country goes to our account. So everyone should come and be named Zakayo, let’s find that tax together.”
Zakayo is the Swahili word for Zacchaeus. Biblically, Zacchaeus was famed for being a tax collector.
The name has been used to refer to President Ruto after he introduced several tax measures after taking power in 2022.
The President previously said he did not mind being called Zakayo, as long as he was doing the right thing for the country.
He recently formed a “broad-based” government after he brought in members of the ODM party.
The Cabinet Secretary nominees Hassan Joho (Blue Economy), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum) and John Mbadi (Treasury) were top officials in the opposition party.
They have been vetted and they await approval by the National Assembly.
by BRIAN ORUTA