The skyrocketing cost of living coupled with many unfulfilled pledges has triggered unease in President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza camp.
The Star has established the growing concerns among the confidants and troops of the President over the government’s failure to tame the runaway cost of living.
Ruto’s men are also jittery over the high taxes the state has imposed on crucial consumables, as most Kenyans struggle to put food on the table.
Currently, the prices of petroleum products have hit the roof—a situation that has prompted a sharp rise in prices of basic commodities, including sugar and cooking oil.
“These characters seem power drunk, eating taxes with a big spoon, wearing the most expensive designer shoes and vomiting remnants on Kenyans who walk bare feet,” Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa said.
This comes after the government increased the cost of crucial services, including issuance of birth, death and marriage certificates, passports and ID cards.
Barasa is one of Ruto’s point men and fiercest defenders of the Kenya Kwanza regime. This public criticism exposes the simmering anxiety in the ruling UDA and Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
“Things are taking a wrong trajectory; I’m raising my voice! Wananchi are suffering! The government must listen! A marriage certificate for example has cruised from 30k to 100k! Are we for real? Why oppress citizens?” Barasa said.
Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku told the Star the high cost of living was giving every member of the coalition ‘sleepless nights’.
“It’s a serious matter and it’s a big concern to all of us in the coalition, including the President himself,” he said.
On Friday, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops led by Archbishop Martin Kivuva of Mombasa diocese expressed concerns over the high cost of living, which they said has been worsened by overtaxation.
The high cost of living and overtaxation, the bishops said, have left Kenyans in a state of despair and helplessness, and a perpetual state of poverty.
“Our country is facing perhaps the most acute economic strain coupled with unemployment, drastic climatic changes and uncertainties in the direction of decisions within our governance,” Kivuva said after the bishops' meeting in Nakuru.
He said the rising cost of fuel, basic commodities and added demands coupled with increase in school fees and healthcare demand, have almost ruined families.
“The high cost of living has deeply shaken the deep fabrics of Kenyans society. It’s especially strangling the very poor in their modest needs,” he added, calling for a consultative and collaborative approach to addressing the problem.
During his inaugural State of the National Address in Parliament on Thursday, the President alluded to the tough economic times in the country.
The head of state outlined how he has been forced to make tough decisions—including lifting subsidies on consumables and cutting ‘wasteful’ expenditures—in a bid to reform the economy.
“The cost of living is not an abstract phenomenon. It is a reality experienced by all households,” Ruto said in the address that analysts say failed to inspire hope in Kenyans.
His address came only three days after top government officials warned of even tougher times ahead.
Early this week, Energy CS Davies Chirchir warned that a litre of petrol could soon hit Sh300 from the current Sh217—an all-time high—after the state scrapped a subsidy.
“The international prices of fuel could go up to $150. This would literally mean our petroleum prices could go up to Sh300 per litre at the pump. We hope it will not get there,” he said.
Ironically, the prices of fuel in neighbouring countries, including Tanzania, are dropping.
High taxes on petroleum products have been blamed for the steep rise in the prices of commodities.
Political observer Martin Andati said the high cost of living and the many ‘blunders’ by the regime could rock it.
“These are many things this regime promised Kenyans, remember Mama Mbogas being told they will make calls for free, and now they are not seeing it. It’s the MP and MCAs who will take the hit,” he said.
During campaigns, Ruto and his lieutenants capitalised on the cost of living, especially the high price of fuel, and the ballooning debt to hit out at former President Uhuru Kenyatta and his ‘handshake brother’ Raila Odinga.
Kenya Kwanza troops confronted the President to address the high cost of living that has exposed the regime, during the parliamentary group meeting at State House on Tuesday.
“Yes, the issue of cost of living was very hot. Members wanted a mid-term solution to bring the cost of living down,” a source told the Star in confidence.
Nominated MP Veronica Mania reportedly called for a review of some of the taxes loaded on the petroleum products that are causing not only pain at the pump but also at the grocery, and making it harder to raise school fees.
“We even pleaded with him to allow a review of taxes so the situation can become bearable to our people,” another source indicated.
The President is seen to have largely failed to fulfil most of his pre and post-election pledges, something that has not gone down well with his troops, who have continued to take pressure from the public.
During campaigns, and in his manifesto, Ruto promised to form a state capture committee to inquire into the extent of state capture.
However, this is yet to happen, 14 months after he took over power.
The President and his troops had attacked Uhuru and opposition leader Raila as dynasties who had ‘captured’ the country.
Ruto also promised to provide all new mothers with free diapers for the first three months after delivery. This is yet to happen.
In March this year, the President promised that the price of cooking gas would drop to between Sh300 and Sh500 for a 6kg cylinder.
“We will allocate money that will enable us to reduce cooking gas prices, we will do away with taxes and enable our women to cook without thinking about their health,” he said.
However, five months after the promised date, the prices have remained —if not higher.
Speaking during the 60th Madaraka Day celebration at Moi Stadium in Embu county in June, Ruto pledged that the government would introduce electric motorcycles by September this year.
“By September this year, we will have a mechanism where you can get your boda boda that does not need petrol [and] will be run on electricity,” he said.
This is yet to be seen.
In January, Ruto promised to build a dam and revive the Galana-Kulalu irrigation project within months.
“In another eight months we’re going to do another 10,000 acres, and in the next two to three months, I will be in Galana to launch the construction of the dam, that will make it possible for us to do the next 300,000 acres,” he said.