Kongamano La Mapinduzi Urges Government to Prioritize People-Centered Approaches in State of the Nation Response
In picture, the Kongamano La Mapinduzi group, during a press conference.
By Aoma Keziah,
Kongamano La Mapinduzi (KLM) has expressed concerns over the recent State of the Nation Address delivered by President William Ruto, calling out the administration’s failure to address the harsh realities faced by millions of Kenyans. While the speech painted an optimistic picture of Kenya’s trajectory, KLM argues that it overlooked the growing economic inequality, systemic corruption, and suppression of democratic freedoms that have marked the government’s two-year
The movement affirmed that they stand firm in challenging the government’s approach and is offering a series of people-centered solutions and to address these persistent issues, they said that they are particularly critical of the economic policies under President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration, particularly the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. Despite claims of reduced inflation and a stabilizing currency, the reality on the ground remains grim. Millions of households are still struggling with skyrocketing food prices, exorbitant fuel costs, and unaffordable housing.
Also on the 2024 Finance Bill, which passed despite overwhelming public opposition, further compounds the economic hardships faced by ordinary Kenyans, imposing punitive taxes while the government turns a blind eye to rampant corruption. Scandals like the fake fertilizer saga they say that it only reinforces the narrative that the Ruto administration is more focused on protecting elite interests than addressing the needs of the average citizen
They further proposed Solutions like repeal punitive taxes and implement a progressive tax system that alleviates the burden on low-income earners, establish transparent oversight mechanisms to direct public funds to critical sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure and tackle corruption head-on by empowering independent bodies to investigate and prosecute offenders without political interference.
Despite President Ruto’s rhetoric on democracy and good governance, they highlighted a troubling record of extrajudicial killings, police brutality against peaceful protesters, and a lack of transparency in public spending saying that the government’s failure to pass essential legislation, such as the Conflict of Interest Bill, further exposes its unwillingness to tackle deep-rooted governance issues.
Another proposed solution that they touched on was that the government to strengthen governance by enacting pending laws like the Conflict of Interest Bill and introducing e-procurement systems to ensure accountability, reform the security sector to prevent police brutality and ensure justice for victims of enforced disappearances and reinforce public participation and strengthen constitutional mechanisms to engage citizens in the decision-making process.
While the government has highlighted reforms such as the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and increased funding for higher education, KLM argues that these initiatives have not reached the most vulnerable communities. Poor implementation and high costs continue to undermine efforts to improve education access for marginalized groups.They proposed Fully fund public education and abolish school-related levies that bar vulnerable children from accessing quality education, expand teacher recruitment to address shortages and improve the quality of education in underserved regions and government to conduct a participatory review of the CBC to ensure it aligns with the socio-economic realities of Kenya’s diverse communities.
They also criticized the administration’s handling of youth unemployment. The government’s reliance on programs like the Hustler Fund and labor migration schemes has failed to tackle the structural issues causing widespread joblessness. These initiatives, KLM argues, benefit only a small elite, leaving the majority of youth without meaningful opportunities , and proposed Investing in local job creation through public works programs, manufacturing, and sustainable agriculture, Provision of interest-free capital and technical support for youth entrepreneurship and expand digital infrastructure and training programs to enable youth to thrive in the global digital economy.
As KLM prepares for its 2024 Congress on December 15th in Nairobi, the movement is ratifying resolutions to hold the government accountable and amplify the voices of ordinary Kenyans. Central to its agenda is the #BungeMustGo campaign, which demands leadership that prioritizes the welfare of the people over the interests of political elites.
They called on all Kenyans, from all walks of life, to join the movement for a more just, equitable, and accountable Kenya. Through solidarity and collective action, they believe the country can overcome its current challenges and build a future based on fairness, justice, and opportunity for all.
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