• They said the President was still up to the task to scale down the biting high cost of living and resultant economic effects.
• What is needed, they stated, was a little more patience among Kenyans.
Image: MAGATI OBEBO
Political leaders in Kisii have come out in defence of President William Ruto's economic policies and expressed optimism that his government is still on the right trajectory.
Former Kisii Governor James Ongwae and MPs Sylvanus Osoro (South Mugirango) and Zaheer Jhanda (Nyaribari Chache) spoke separately during burials in Kitutu Chache South and Nyaribari Chache on Friday.
They said the President was still up to the task to scale down the biting high cost of living and resultant economic effects.
What is needed, they stated, was a little more patience among Kenyans.
"I have firm faith that the President still means well for the country. He has crafted a credible team to help in turning around the country's fortunes. I think it would be fair that we give them time," Ongwae said during a burial ceremony in Kitutu Chache North.
National Assembly Majority Chief Whip Sylvanus Osoro, who was present, also defended Ruto saying he was serious on economic reforms.
"These are proposals that will be tabled before the National Assembly and MPs will debate and make the right decision. Improvements will be done to ensure that we have a stable economy," he said.
Similar sentiments were voiced by Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda during another burial in Nyaboribonge in his constituency.
"We are just few months in office, not even enough for an expectant mother to give birth. The president remains steadfast in his bottom up agenda," he told mourners.
Jhanda spoke after an inspection of various projects during a marathon tour across the constituency.
County Senator Richard Onyonka, who was with Ongwae and Osoro at the Kitutu South burial, on his part differed on Ruto's commitment to stem inflation.
He said Ruto should first start re-examining some of the contentious proposals in the Finance Bill 2023 if he was serious on his hustler agenda.
Ruto has proposed a raft of tax measures in the bill aimed at increasing revenue collection to fund his Bottom-up economic model.
Some of the proposals have, however, been met with criticism with opposition leaders and the Kenya Federation of Employers saying the new taxes will impoverish Kenyans.
Onyonka said conversation around the bill needs to be made as candid as possible.
He said that much was needed to convince Kenyans that all was well in the face of skyrocketing cost of living.
"The President is making wrong moves and we must be candid enough to tell him so. Any new tax proposals would only add a boil to an injury,"Onyonka said.
Ongwae said his ditching of ODM for Kenya Kwanza was his strong belief that Ruto had greater potential to lead the country into prosperity.
Onyonka, however, asked Ruto to honour is hustler development agenda and stop overloading Mwananchi with punitive taxes.
He also poked holes on state appointments which he said lacks a national face.