President William Ruto at his Karen Residence on September 5, 2022
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- I remember this is what the former cabinet minister John Michuki had told me when he spotted me outside the Railway bus stop where I was waiting a matatu to take me to my then place of work along Ngong road. This was during his early morning visit to Kenya Railway headquarters when he was a planting a tree outside the offices.
- Morning Mutua Ndonga, I can see you are there. I have been reading your articles in print media and you have not been kind to us. You have been criticizing and labeling the Kibaki administration as a government that has failed to keep its word. This is in terms in fulfilling the pledges we made during the campaign.
Two days after Dr William Samoei was sworn-in as the fifth President of the Republic of Kenya, the prices of fuel shoot up. This is not what many Kenyans expected because during the campaign he had promised that he would bring down the cost of living.
But for the new president, this issue did not escape his mind. In his acceptance speech, he stated: I’m fully committed to address this recurring problem once for all. Kenyans are used to quick fixes but Dr Ruto appeared not persuaded to buy this in totality.
Undoubtedly, he wanted to take a different approach. First, his administration would do away with subsidies on fuel and food. Subsidies cannot help our economy to grow. He gave two reasons. Apart from draining the public coffers, the subsidies cause shortage of the same product.
He recalled that for the last one year, the government has spent Sh144 billion on fuel subsidy. In run up to this year’s General Election, the government reduced the cost of 2 kg packet of Unga from Sh200 to Sh100. Again, this subsidy gobbled up to Sh7 billion of taxpayers in one month.
To me, the President’s message was clear. You cannot plant today and expect to reap tomorrow.
I remember this is what the former cabinet minister John Michuki had told me when he spotted me outside the Railway bus stop where I was waiting a matatu to take me to my then place of work along Ngong road. This was during his early morning visit to Kenya Railway headquarters when he was a planting a tree outside the offices.
Morning Mutua Ndonga, I can see you are there. I have been reading your articles in print media and you have not been kind to us. You have been criticizing and labeling the Kibaki administration as a government that has failed to keep its word. This is in terms in fulfilling the pledges we made during the campaign.
Ndonga, when you plant an arrowroot, you spend money and wait until when it is ready for harvest. Thereafter, you cerebrate because you can see the fruits of your work.
For now, I would expect you to write something good about us. We are committed to fulfill what we promised Kenyans.
Hon Michuki had known me since 1997 when I worked as political violence monitor in the countdown to the general election held in that year. The seven month programme was being run by Kenya Human Rights Commission [KHRC] and I was posted in Muranga County.
Given this background, I’m sure Kenyans would agree with me that President William Ruto is on the right course.
For 10 years of Uhuru presidency, Dr Ruto served as the Deputy President. I know he learnt big lessons in the first term when he worked cordially with his boss. He would use the experiences he gained to move this country forward.
For the prices of fuel to come down, the priority should be given on tackling the challenges that inhibit the growth of our economy. Corruption, mismanagement, wastage of public resources and over- borrowing foreign loans are at the core.
I’m happy to note that President Ruto has repeatedly stated he was personally prepared to deal firmly with these cartels and corrupt individuals.
Besides, he should strive to reduce the taxes and levies imposed by the government on petroleum products which exceed more than 50 percent. If the cost of fuel from the international market is 50 percent, then you can see the amount of money the state was raking in.. It is time these taxes should be reduced.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a Political Analyst based in Nairobi
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