Ruto Must Pay Us Our Dues - Residents Cry Out After DP's Rally

Deputy President William Ruto speaks to Kisumu residents on Wednesday, November 10.
President William Ruto campaigns in Kisumu on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.
(Courtesy)

Small scale vegetable vendors and Boda boda operators from Bungoma county have expressed their disappointment after Deputy President William Ruto allegedly failed to fulfil his promise of donating Ksh 2M to support them. 

Speaking to the press on Monday, November 15, the traders stated that they had many expectations which Ruto did not meet. 

According to the group, the rally in Western was supposed to be a game-changer, since they knew they would get handouts. 

However, the traders say that although the deputy president promised to leave them Ksh2 million, up to date, they do not know if he gave the money, and if he did, they have no idea who was to deliver the elusive windfall. 

DP Ruto Addresses Mourners On Tuesday, August 25.
DP Ruto Addresses Mourners On Tuesday, August 24.
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“I want to ask you one thing, Deputy President. Are Bungoma people different from others? Wherever you went, you gave handouts but when it came to us, you did not give anything.

“We knew you were coming to uplift our lives and businesses, but it seems our expectations cannot be met,” one of the boda boda riders stated. 

The locals complain that during his rally, they basked under the sun, were rained on and they even shut their businesses for the entire day, just to follow Ruto and dance for him wherever he went. 

The chairman of the boda boda riders in the area claimed that he mobilized everyone early in the morning, just to ensure they were set for the rally to show love to the DP, but now the riders have turned against him. 

“As the chairperson of riders in Bungoma, I am having a hard time because the others think I have squandered their money, but the reality is that I have not received a single cent Ruto had promised to give.

“I mobilised people from morning organizing his event and we were rained on for the better part of the day, just ensuring that we give him a heroic reception, but our efforts were all in vain,” he lamented. 

The vegetable vendors on their part regret that they shut their businesses for the entire day, but they were not compensated as they expected. 

“The day Ruto came to Bungoma, we all shut down our businesses. We did not sell anything. All we did was dance and cheer him, and we knew he would leave Ksh1 million as promised, which he did not,” one vendor remarked. 

The locals demanded that the country's second-in-command visits the area once again so that they can have a more candid interaction.  

DP William Ruto meeting with residents of Migori County on November 11, 2021.
DP William Ruto meeting with residents of Migori County on November 11, 2021.
DPPS