'Nitawakalia ngumu!' Ruto tells opposition as Azimio plans protests over high cost of living

President William Ruto on Monday swore to “be very hard” on people he said are trying to test him, an apparent jab at opposition leaders who have been vocal against the Finance Bill, 2023.

The president, fresh off assenting to the bill on Monday, addressed stakeholders in the boda boda sector at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, where he praised the Housing Fund comprised in the new law as a road to social equality.

“I thank you for understanding that the housing program is meant to bring the cost of houses down and make it affordable to boda boda operators. People have for long disrespected boda boda operators and associated them with just mud houses, but it is also a right for every Kenyan to live in decent housing,” Ruto said.

“Hawa watu wananijaribu, nitawakalia ngumu. Kenya sio ya watu wachache, Kenya ni yetu sisi sote. Nilieleza jana tuko na mpango ya kureduce cost of living," he said. (“These people who are trying to test me, I will be very hard on them. Kenya does not belong to a few people it is for all of us. We have plans in place to reduce the cost of living.")

His comments came just a day before the planned public rally called by the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition at Nairobi’s Kamukunji Grounds over the high cost of living.

The Raila Odinga-led outfit announced the rally after the contentious bill was approved by the National Assembly last week Wednesday.

In the opposition’s view, President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration overlooked the opinions of Kenyans who openly objected to the contentious bill during the public participation stage, instead bulldozing its way and “forcing” it on citizens.

But Ruto on Monday seemed to dismiss Azimio’s planned rally, saying such acts are ineffective in addressing the cost-of-living crisis.

“No matter how many friends from the other side put pans on their heads, the cost of food cannot come down, that is the plain truth,” the president said.

He dismissed it as mere “politics”, saying elections are long over and that losers of the 2022 presidential race should wait for 2027.

“For now, what remains is how we will work to take this country forward. We want everyone’s business to thrive,” added the president.