‘Kenyans Are Worse Off Than Before You Assumed Office,’ Opposition Politicians Say As They Slam Ruto
A portion of politicians allied with the Opposition have criticized President William Ruto for allegedly breaking campaign pledges made to Kenyans in the days preceding the August 2022 elections.
Wednesday on Citizen TV’s The Big Conversation Show, Kathiani Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Mbui gave the Kenya Kwanza administration an abysmal 10 percent grade for Ruto’s first year as Head of State.
On this date, September 13, 2022, precisely one year ago, Ruto was sworn in as the fifth president of the Republic of Kenya at the Kasarani National Stadium.
“I think I would give them about 10 percent just because they have shown up to the office. But the reality is that when it comes to the issue of cost of living, which was one of the promises that they gave during the campaigns, they have failed this country,” he said.
Mbui added that the first thing President Ruto’s administration should have done to address Kenya’s high cost of living was to ensure that disposable income is readily available to Kenyans and that prices of products and services are lowered.
Mbui insisted that President Ruto instead burdened Kenyans with additional taxes by introducing and signing the controversial Finance Act of 2023.
“The minute they brought the Finance Bill, they pushed up the tax regime that raised the prices of all goods and services because the minute you touch on fuel then everything goes up because fuel touches on transportation, cost of electricity and manufacturing, etc.,” said Mbui.
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“What they have done is raise the prices of goods and services and reduce the amount of money that is available for expenditure.”
Willis Otieno, secretary general of the Safina Party, concurred with Mbui that Kenya’s economy was more stable before Ruto assumed power.
“Last year, Kenyans were able to buy food and access services at a higher rate than they are today. Right now people are just complaining about food,” he said.
“We are now reduced to a situation where all that is promised that we are sure will come is more taxation. We have reached a point where we want to tax swimming, swimming which is more of a life skill than a luxury. Kenya Kwanza has not kept any promises. For me, I’ll give them a D- just for appearing.”
Nderitu Muriithi, a former governor of Laikipia, acknowledged that the price of fertilizers has decreased since Ruto became president, but said that the modest gains made by farmers in the agricultural sector are overshadowed by high production costs.
“The cost of food has gone up and you would think that that might make farmers happy but that is not the case. The price of onions, milk, and other commodities have gone up,” he said.
“You might think that they are better off but they are not because the price of the electricity and fuel have gone up. The farmers are actually worse off because the cost of production, except fertilizer, has gone up. Kenyans are by and large in a worse position.”
‘Kenyans Are Worse Off Than Before You Assumed Office,’ Opposition Politicians Say As They Slam Ruto