William Ruto Locks CSs Kindiki, Kuria From State House Function For Arriving Late: "I Want Explanation"

• President William Ruto asked members of the Executive who arrived late for the performance contract signing event to give him a written explanation
• The head of state said most had taken the event as a ritual despite being crucial in gauging the performance of the government
• He warned that the cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries should not use heavy traffic in Nairobi as an excuse

Nairobi - President William Ruto has barred government officials who arrived late to the contract signing event at State House.

Performance contracting in the government of Kenya has been in effect for the last 20 years since former president the late Mwai Kibaki ascended to power.

During the performance contract signing event at State House on Tuesday, August 1, the head of state said he would want a written explanation from the state officers.

A furious Ruto said it seemed most government officials had been taking the event as a ritual; hence they were late.

"I don't know whether it is because these performance contracts have been going on for 20 years that many people may be mistakenly thinking that it is a ritual. And that is why people resort to the old incompetent excuses," Ruto said.

The president said for the members of the Executive who were locked out, including Interior Cabinet Secretay Kithure Kindiki and his Trade counterpart Moses Kuria, the traffic should not be an excuse.

Ruto said if the members of officials couldn't keep time, then they would have automatically dismissed themselves.

"That there was traffic for them not to be in the most important public function. We have a job because we have a contract if you cannot keep time with your employer, you have basically dismissed yourself. I mean, it's just simple as that. So for those who came late, who are members of the executive, I will be expecting a written explanation, and it should not include matters of traffic on why they do not take this performance contracts seriously, " he added.

Ruto on contract with Kenyans

The head of state said Kenyans had given them the mandate making it a contract.

He said if they don't take performance contracting seriously, then it means they don't take the contract with Kenyans seriously.

Ruto observed that the framework had helped the government identify, collect, collate, and analyse vital information.

The performance contracts framework has also been critical in, enabling government identify, collect collate, and analyse vital information connected with the performance of public agencies. Over that time, the performance contracts have evolved into a robust tool employed by government for measuring the performance of ministries, departments and agencies in serving the people of Kenya," he said

Ruto asks Raila to apologise

In a separate incident, Ruto asked opposition leaders to apologise to the country for planning the anti-government demonstrations that led to the loss of lives and destruction of property in different parts of the country.

Ruto noted that it is dishonest for Azimio leaders, including Raila Odinga and former president Uhuru Kenyatta, to show concern for lives lost during the demos, yet they are the ones who planned the riots.