The late Odinga lamented that Kenya was once on par with countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea sixty years ago.
JOOUST, Bondo, October –President William Ruto has disclosed that it had always been the wish of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga that Kenya becomes a middle level.
According to Ruto the late Odinga used to be disturbed that the country still lags behind despite being at per with the Eastern tigers at the turn of independence.
The President was speaking at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Bondo during the funeral of the late Odinga.
Dr Ruto said the late Odinga regretted that Kenya was on par with countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea sixty years ago.
He said the Odinga was to regret that those countries are now way ahead of Kenya and are now classified as middle-level economies.
‘’The late Odinga wanted us to work towards removing the country from this quagmire” he said.
He said the former ODM party leader was concerned with the development of the Kenya and the state of development of the country.
Ruto said nuclear energy production in Siaya was a brain child of Odinga. He said Odinga suggested that Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) should continue from Naivasha through Siaya, Malaba and dual carriageway from Nakuru to Malaba, Kisumu and Kericho.
Ruto added that other plans included a new airport where former president Uhuru Kenyatta was to be part of the engagement.
The president said he was concerned with Ruto further disclosed that he had already invited Mr Hiroyuki Hino who was director of regional office for Asia and Pacific (OAP) in Tokyo in order to work on such modalities.
Ruto said his policies bordering on affordable housing, education, health and agricultures were similar to those of the late Odinga.
Saying the late Odinga was his political mentor, Ruto said he met the former prime minister after the last elections in order for them to mend fences.
Ruto said he told Odinga he wanted the first finance minister to come from Nyanza hence the elevation of John Mbadi to that position.
He lauded the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning (CS) Mbadi for reducing inflation rate from 9 % to 4%., with the exchange rates have also reduced from 165 to 129 against the dollar.
President Ruto said interest rates have also gone down considerably with Kenya now one of the largest economies in the world.
