Jimi Wanjigi, a businessman and past presidential candidate, has come out in support of Raila Odinga, who has threatened to return to demonstrations to force the government to cut the cost of living.
Odinga's demand, according to Wanjigi, is opportune since Kenyans are overtaxed, and the current leadership appears unconcerned about their plight.
Citing the increasing national debt, he stated the cost of life was becoming untenable for ordinary Kenyans, necessitating street protests to compel the Kenya Kwanza administration to repeal the contentious Finance Act 2023 for the sake of residents' well-being.
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“I support him (Odinga) 101%. Street action and maandamano are embedded in our Constitution. This pain must be expressed, and let it be expressed on the streets, in our homes, in our churches…we must express it because we seem to have a government that is not listening,” he said.
Wanjigi blamed rising living costs on the national debt, claiming that for every Ksh.100 earned in income, around Ksh.70 is used to service debts.
He attacked President William Ruto's regime, saying it had become deaf to residents' pain and that the only way for Kenyans to be heard was to return to protests.
Wanjigi attributed the rising cost of living to the national debt, arguing that for every Ksh.100 collected in revenue, about Ksh.70 goes to repay loans.
He slammed the President William Ruto-led regime, reiterating that it had become deaf to the plight of citizens, and thus, the only way for Kenyans to be heard was to return to protests.
“It is not going to be an easy year, that is a reality. About a year ago, our national debt was Ksh.8.6 trillion, now it is Ksh.11 trillion even after paying Ksh.2 trillion to that debt. That is the biggest threat to our lives and continues to be. The President was very clear that he is taking Ksh.7 out of every Ksh.10...Ksh.70 out of every Ksh.100 of our tax revenue, and he has to keep increasing tax because of it,” he stated.
“Kenya Kwanza is taking us to a route of bankruptcy. That pain will be felt in 2024. I urge my fellow Kenyans to understand that nothing short of a revolution is going to take us out of this, nothing!”he added
