By Hilda Atika
President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, has cautioned Members of Parliament (MPs) against tribalism, warning that it has plunged the country into a devastating situation. Speaking during a fundraising event for 60 women’s groups in Sango Ward, Likuyani Constituency on Friday, Farouk called on MPs to abandon tribalism and instead embrace unity in re-electing President William Ruto for a second term.
Through the President’s aide, the Kenya Kwanza government urged the public to remain steadfast and resist being misled by political leaders who lack vision. “There are leaders whose destiny remains uncertain, while others are driven by tribalism, and it is these individuals who infect the rest with division,” Farouk said. He called upon the people of the Mulembe Nation to raise their voices and condemn tribalism.
Ikolomani MP Benard Shinali and Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, who were present at the event, agreed that the best path forward for the country was to ensure that citizens fully participate in development initiatives in order to strengthen democracy.
“We have gathered here not because we are idle, but to prioritise development through the empowerment of women in the Western Region,” Wangwe remarked. As the event concluded, Farouk emphasised the importance of women forming self-help groups and urged the Cabinet Secretary for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), FCPA Wycliffe Oparanya, to support initiatives in Sango Ward, suggesting it would help women grow their businesses in line with their counterparts across Kenya.
Farouk encouraged women to venture into small businesses and pledged his unwavering support for their progress. He further urged Oparanya to facilitate women’s access to loans, emphasising that women’s empowerment is a vital gateway to societal transformation.
“When you empower a woman, the entire society benefits, and the future becomes brighter. Men tend to disappear once they receive money,” he added. Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe echoed Farouk’s sentiments, calling for strategic developments to take shape across the constituency.
