Raila: Kenya’s economy will continue struggling as long as Ruto is president

Opposition leader Raila Odinga Sunday blamed President William Ruto for the high cost of living, attributing it to rampant corruption and negative ethnicity under his government.

Speaking in Nyamira County, the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition leader claimed the increase in prices of commodities such as flour and sugar is due to questionable dealings among members of President Ruto’s inner circle who own businesses in these sectors.

“Uchumi huu ata Ruto akae miaka 100 haiwezi rekebika kwa sababu ya ufisadi. Wao ndio wameleta mahindi, ngano, michele, sukari na mafuta ya kupikia yote yanapitia hapa Mombasa na inauzwa kwa bei ya juu na hiyo inaenda kwa mfuko za marafiki wa Bwana Ruto na yeye mwenyewe,” Odinga said.

This translates to; “Kenya’s economy will continue to struggle as long as Ruto is president, even if he rules for 100 years. These people are the ones who handle the supply of maize, wheat, rice, sugar and cooking oil through the Mombasa port. They are then sold at high prices, to the benefit of Mr Ruto and his friends.”

According to Odinga, Kenya’s economy was better under the leadership of former president Uhuru Kenyatta, who had endorsed him as his preferred successor instead of his then-deputy, Dr Ruto.

Odinga argues the previous administration was not marred with rampant corruption and negative ethnicity like Ruto’s.

“Wakati ule kulikuwa na pesa wakati wa Uhuru, bei ya Mafuta ata ushuru ilikuwa Chini...kitu kubwa inaitwa Ufisadi ndio watu wengi hawajasema...ufisadi ndio shida kwa hii serikali (There was money during Uhuru’s time, taxation was low and so was the price of fuel. The biggest problem with this government is corruption)” said Odinga.

“Sahii unaskia Ruto anaajiri watu Permanent Secretary 51 na imejaa ukabila. Kuna ubaguzi kubwa na ukabila, Hatuwezi kukubali watu wabaguliwe na wakenya wanatoa ushuru (His appointment of 51 PSs was very ethnic, we cannot allow it yet all Kenyans pay taxes),” he added.

The opposition leader linked Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his family to the recent bungled procurement process handled by the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) that left the country on the verge of losing a Ksh.3.7 billion worth of anti-malaria nets from the Global Fund.

“Uliskia ya Kemsa na Net ya Mbu wale waliohusika kwanza walifuta PS na wahusika walikuwa ni Gachagua na Mtoto wake (You heard about KEMSA and the mosquito nets. Those involved first fired the PS in charge and they are Gachagua and one of his children),” Odinga said.

“Wizi wa Net ya Mbu uliza Ruto alisema atafanya kitu na mpaka sasa bado (Ruto said he would do something about it but to date nothing has happened. It is Gachagua),” he added.

He was referring to the former Health Principal Secretary in the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Josephine Mburu was sacked on May 25 but has since distanced herself from the procurement process, saying it began as she got into office.

Odinga at the same time denied pushing for a truce with Ruto similar to the March 2018 ‘Handshake’ with Kenyatta through the bipartisan talks the two leader’s camps have agreed to.

He maintained that the talks are for Kenyans' welfare, terming President Ruto’s government too filthy to get into such a truce or a coalition government agreement.

“Sisi tumesema tuko tayari kuzungumza. Sisi hatujasema ata siku moja eti tunataka nusu mkate, Staki kushika mkono na wezi nitaharibu Jina langu. (We are ready to discuss, we have never said we want a nusu mkate arrangement. I do not want to shake hands with thieves; I will soil my name,” said the Azimio leader.

Azimio and Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance have formed a dialogue committee. Azimio, among other things, wants a reduction in the cost of living, an audit of the 2022 General Election servers, bipartisan reconstitution of the IEBC, as well as its inclusion in national affairs and respect for political parties.

Odinga has threatened the return of street demonstrations if the planned bi-partisan talks are not fruitful. The recent round of demos left over 20 people dead.

Previous talks in April and May broke down as both sides accused each other of sabotage.