Ruto Rebukes Raila, Dares Him for Alternatives Amid Maandamano Return
President William Ruto has urged Azimio leader Raila Odinga to propose solutions to the challenges facing the nation instead of advocating for nationwide demonstrations, which, according to him, will further exacerbate Kenya’s struggling economy.
During the funeral service for Michael Waweru, the father of Nyandarua Senator John Methu in Nyandarua, the president ridiculed the opposition for condemning the government without presenting any practical remedies or solutions.
During his speech, Ruto expressed that Raila’s warnings about resuming protests were a strategy of intimidation aimed at pressuring the government to yield to the opposition’s requests.
The opposition leader announced that if the government does not revoke the Finance Act 2023, mass protests (Maandamano) will recommence in 2024.
“Let me tell the opposition, instead of trying to bring violence, tell Kenyans the alternative that you have. We have told people to pay taxes so that we can pay debt. Don’t tell us about bringing maandamano which will bring bloodshed, and disrupt businesses, how will that help Kenyans?” Ruto posed.
“So, let’s stop all these intimidation tactics, give us viable alternative views if you have any. But this opposition does not have any plans, look at them. They are known for carrying sufurias on their heads while farmers were busy on the farms, now prices of goods are beginning to go down.”
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The leader clarified that his government will persist in addressing tax matters, highlighting their crucial role in averting the nation from falling into financial difficulties caused by excessive debt.
“We need to correct the mistakes made by our predecessors. Our main problem is not taxes, it is debt. People do not want to be told the truth. This has caused so many nations to default and not know how to get themselves from such messes,” he stated.
“I cannot allow our country to go that route whereby Kenya will get a bad name. I want to tell our citizens that unless we control our appetite for borrowing, we will be slaves to those who lend to us.”
Ruto made mention of the influential message delivered by former president Mwai Kibaki during his presidency, urging Kenyans to contribute their due taxes to enable the nation to achieve self-sufficiency.
“There is no single nation that has been destroyed by taxes. Many nations have been built by their taxes, that is where we need to go, that is the truth,” he noted.
“Kibaki told us to pay taxes is to be self-reliant. He pushed for VAT and increased taxes almost four times. Along the way, we deviated from that route and went to borrow loans.”
Ruto Rebukes Raila, Dares Him for Alternatives Amid Maandamano Return
