Cost of living a deal breaker in Ruto-Raila talks- Maina Njenga
There will be no need to sign the Bipartisan talks between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja agreement if the issue of the high cost of living is not addressed, former Mungiki Leader Maina Njenga has said.
He said millions of Kenyans, especially those living in slums were suffering immensely due to the high cost of living.
The bipartisan talks delegation was initiated following political crisis in different parts of the country, mainly cities and big towns when the opposition led by Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga called for street protests against the high cost of living.
Maina observed that besides the high cost of commodities, the government had gone further to increase the cost of vital services including issuances of personal documents such as national identity cards, immigration passports, and marriage certificates.
“People are already hard-pressed, where is a jobless youth who has just cleared high school expected to get money to acquire an identity card,” he posed.
Speaking after attending a Sunday service at Metro Church International in Nakuru, Maina urged the government to be considerate of its people by lowering the cost of living.
The Laikipia-based politician who is in Nakuru ahead of his court case hearing that is expected to run for three days consecutively was accompanied by Metro Church leader, Bishop Mike Brawan, and one of his lawyers, Evanson Ondiek.
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He observed that the economic situation was complicated further by high taxation and an unfriendly business environment that has seen many businesses close shop or move base to neighbouring countries.
Maina added that this resulted in massive job losses thus sinking the country deeper into poverty.
About the festive season, he noted that criminal activities increased during this period and called on the government to beef up security.
“Nakuru has been on record with a surge in the number of criminal gangs that move around terrorizing residents, mugging and stabbing people, the government should eradicate such groupings,” said Maina.
He discouraged the youth from joining criminal gangs and instead urged them to be creative and start money-generating projects.
Bishop Brawan Echoed Maina’s statement saying that the government should do everything possible to bring down the cost of living.
He urged fellow clergymen to continue praying for the country and the President because Kenya was going through a tough economic phase.
Cost of living a deal breaker in Ruto-Raila talks- Maina Njenga
