Quote boxes of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu ridiculing President William Ruto for the nationwide blackout went viral online.
Many Kenyans have shared mixed reactions over the statement some lauding Suluhu for being a truthful leader while others hitting out at her for the alleged remarks.
Some noted that Ruto had made Kenya a laughingstock even to her neighbors while others noting that Suluhu was only speaking the truth as that was the reality in Kenya.
According to the reports, Suluhu stated that Tanzania’s neighboring country did not have flour or electricity.
“Jirani yetu hana unga, hana stima, anaongea tu kiingereza kwa giza,” noted the statement that loosely translates to “Our neighbors don’t have flour or electricity, they are only speaking English in the dark.”
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Suluhu Speaking on Tanzania’s Situation and Needs
Addressing Tanzanian ministers on December 10, Suluhu spoke about floods and its effects in her country, thanking the ministers and other donors for mobilizing resources to help the affected persons.
Further, she encouraged her cabinet members to utilize the resources they had to help citizens in need without any wastage.
In her speech, she also noted that she would ensure that the affected persons had a safe place to settle as they waited to restore the items they had lost.
Suluhu asked Tanzanians to contribute funds to help build a settlement area including houses for those affected by the ongoing floods adding that they had many needs to meet.
“The affected people want to be resettled. Their needs however are still many, they need houses and items to use inside the home. Many of them have lost their beds and mattresses, blankets and such items.
“They also need items for their kids who will be going back to school. There are those who have lost their husbands and lands. I promised them that the government will take care of them,” she stated in her speech.
Also Read: Suluhu Lectures Ruto on Loans
However, the Tanzanian head of state did not make any direct reference to Kenya or to President William Ruto.
Ruto on Nationwide Blackout
On Wednesday, December 13, President William Ruto, who chaired a Cabinet meeting noted that the frequent power outages were hurting Kenya’s investment profile.
Subsequently, the Cabinet decided that the transmission line system would be unbundled so that a power outage in one part of the country would not affect the entire country.
According to the Cabinet dispatch, the Bomet-Narok line will be built with ksh66 billion (€400 million) financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Earlier on December 11, following a nationwide blackout on December 10, Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir explained that the country had not invested in transmission networks for about 5 years leading to the blackouts.
Therefore, he noted that the demand for power increased causing constraints on the transmission networks available, adding that the government would construct more transmission networks as a solution to the problem.
Suluhu however skipped Kenya’s 60th Jamhuri celebrations on Tuesday, December 12, over the floods in Tanzania.
Zanzibar’s President Hussein Mwinyi delivered Suluhu’s apology during the event at Uhuru Gardens.
“President Samia Suluhu wished she could attend this Jamhuri Day celebration. But due to the effects of the floods being experienced in our country, particularly in the Northern parts, she sent me to represent her,” he stated.
