‘How Should Ruto Fund the Nation?’ Governor Kihika Slams Kenyans’ ‘Negativity’ in Defense of Ruto

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has defended President William Ruto's infrastructure financing strategy and dared Kenyans to adopt Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deals as the only sure way out of overdependence on government loans.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, she addressed concerns about the President's financial strategies while urging Kenyans to adopt a more constructive stance.

“Ok good people, am sitting here wondering what Kenyans really want?” Kihika questioned, noting a growing contradiction in the public’s response to the government’s financial strategies.

She acknowledged the resistance to both external borrowing and internal revenue collection methods, such as the controversial Finance Bill, and raised concerns about how this resistance might hinder essential projects.

“You don’t want the President to borrow any more money…but when we have willing investors for PPP’s then you are all up in arms?” she asked.

Kihika cited major infrastructure projects desired by Nakuru residents, including the dualling of the Rironi-Mau Summit Road, completion of the Itaare Dam, and upgrades to road networks across the county.

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika and President William Ruto

“Where is he supposed to get this money from? He wasn’t a magician the last I checked,” she remarked, questioning how such ambitious projects could be funded without alternative financing sources.

The governor added that PPPs in infrastructure financing were a common approach globally, as evidenced by the developments of a $9.5 billion JFK Terminal 1 and the $12 billion Istanbul Airport using PPPs.

“As we face limits on debt and as local resource collection mechanisms face challenges, it’s time to embrace sustainable development solutions such as PPPs for Kenya's infrastructure growth,” she said.

In her statement, Kihika also criticized what she perceived as increasing cynicism among Kenyans, which she suggested was impeding patriotic support for national development.

Governor Kihika’s comments come amid a national debate on the sustainability of Kenya’s debt and the Finance Bill, which aims to raise internal revenue through taxes and has faced opposition from various sectors.