• The political pundit did not, however, give the context in which he believes the country is ungrateful to the President.
• Ruto has since ascending to power been traversing the country launching and unveiling development projects amid criticism from members of the Opposition.
Image: FILE
Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has showered President William Ruto with praise and told him to keep going even if he goes unappreciated by Kenyans.
In a statement on Friday via his X handle, Ngunyi asked the President to 'kaa ngumu' (remain steadfast) saying the country is progressively getting used to his leadership.
"Dear Ruto: May you find joy in what you do. And peace after you have done it. Remember: Thoughts become things; and Words become flesh (Jesus)," he said.
"Thank You for leading an ungrateful nation. We are getting used to a Hustler President - slowly," Ngunyi added and wished the Head of State a happy Mashujaa Day.
The political pundit did not, however, give the context in which he believes the country is ungrateful to the President.
Ruto has since ascending to power on September 13, 2022, been traversing the country launching and unveiling development projects amid criticism from sections of members of the Opposition.
The Opposition led by Raila Odinga holds that the President who campaigned on the platform of transforming the Hustler (ordinary Kenyan) has turned around and overburdened him with taxes amid rising cost of living.
It followed the enactment of the Finance Act, 2023 which provides the imposition of a housing levy on salaried Kenyans towards the Affordable Housing project.
Affordable Housing project is one of the anchor projects of Ruto's Bottom Up Economic transformation agenda which seeks to construct 200,000 housing units per year.
The Opposition Azimio has, however, accused the Kenya Kwanza government of overtaxing Kenyans in order to finance its programme.
Kenyans on payroll from July 1 started paying 1.5 per cent of their Gross monthly pay matched by 1.5 per cent by the employer.
On May 11, Ruto asked leaders not to twist and criticise his affordable housing plans.
"I did my campaign with many leaders and these leaders heard me loud and clear when I said there is a plan for housing and it was public," Ruto said.
"So don't betray me now when we are in the middle. Sasa msinigeuke hapa katikati, kwani mlidhani ilikuwa siasa ya maneno na kuongea tu porojo? he posed.
(So don't betray me in the course of the journey. Did you think it was just politicking and idle talk?)
The President on October 1 declared that the end result of the initiative includes eradicating slum dwellings in Kibera, Africa's largest informal settlement.
"We want to build 200,000 houses across Kenya. In Nairobi alone, in the next five years, we are planning to build 200,000 houses. We are also moving people from the slums. In 10 years, there will be no slum in Kibera, we'll have changed it into an estate," Ruto said.
Ruto spoke when he visited Mukuru Met Social Housing Project in Mukuru, Nairobi, where over 14,000 units are nearing completion.
On Thursday, the President made another milestone by assenting to four Universal Healthcare Bills into law..
Ruto acknowledged that the effort to sign the bills was not a single-person task.
"The people of Kenya talked loudly for a system that leaves nobody behind, where families do not lose their properties or savings due to illness," he said as he congratulated teams that worked on the initiative.
"My team of advisors was so committed to this plan, not forgetting the team in Parliament who have delivered," he said.