- DP said while out of the country, he was still following closely the online spat between the Kenyans and public servants
- “Kenyans, like the rest of the world, are going through difficult economic times and leaders should address them with sensitivity and empathy.”
Image: PSC
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has hit back at senior government officials over their careless remarks on the ongoing debate on the high cost of fuel in the country.
Gachagua who has jetted back into the country from Colombia, expressed concern that public servants who are in the office to serve Kenyans were instead talking down on the very Kenyans they are supposed to serve.
The DP said while out of the country, he was still following closely the online spat between the Kenyans and public servants.
He said it is high time that leaders, particularly those whom Ruto has given the privilege to serve Kenyans, exercise caution in addressing the People of Kenya, whom he said are their employers.
He further termed it insensitive to talk down on the people, adding that responsible leaders should be sensitive and inspire hope to the people for a better tomorrow.
“Talking down on the people and demoralising those who look up to them for solutions and a way out of the difficult situation they find themselves in is not good leadership. Please do not spite the people of Kenya,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua said that even though the leaders were not directly employed by the people of Kenya, they decisively elected Ruto as President who in turn appointed them ‘Cabinet Secretaries and Advisors’.
“And hence by virtue of this, they are employed by Kenyans. You do not address your employer with arrogance. Do so with humility and decorum,” the DP said.
He added: “Kenyans, like the rest of the world, are going through difficult economic times and leaders should address them with sensitivity and empathy.”
Since the fuel prices went up this week, a section of leaders have come out to utter distasteful remarks on the issue.
For instance, Trade CS Moses Kuria has told off Kenyans who are complaining about fuel prices to drill their own oil wells.
In a video shared by Citizen Digital, the CS said the whole world is aware that the prices of crude oil have gone up and it is not a secret.
"Ukishinda umesema bei ya mafuta imeongezeka kutoka asubuhi mpaka jioni, si uchimbe kisima chako?" he said.
This is loosely translated to: When you keep on complaining that the prices of fuel have gone up, why don't you just drill your own oil well?
Ndii on the other hand in his remarks appeared to indicate that Kenya Kwanza's economic recovery strategy is mere guesswork.
Ndii made the assertion during an engagement with users on the social platform X who wanted to know whether the current economic outlook was going to worsen amid rising taxation or whether things would get better in the long run.
This however, seems not to have gone down well with Gachagua who has cautioned the leaders to exercise restraint when addressing Kenyans.