President William Ruto has fired back at opposition leader Raila Odinga for criticizing the administration over tax increases.
Speaking at the funeral of Field Marshal Mukami Kimathi in Nyandarua County on Saturday, where the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader was also present, the President boasted of his expertise in turning around the country's ailing economy.
President Ruto lectured Mr Odinga on the economy's health, repeating that his administration, unlike his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta, is focused on supporting production rather than consumption.
The Azimio leader, who spoke earlier, had lashed out at the President over the high cost of living and additional taxes, saying the measure would burden Kenyans who were already overburdened.
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Mr Odinga's thoughts that his rule had lowered over 20 sections of levies on products in the country, so reducing around Ksh.500 billion, were dismissed by President Ruto, who told the former premier to have his facts straight before poking holes in his leadership.
According to the President, the former administration, of which Mr Odinga was a part, is to responsible for the current economic crisis, and thus the Azimio CEO should not complain about high product prices but instead wait for him (Ruto) to lower them.
“You (Odinga) have spoken about the cost of living; lakini nikichaguliwa, si unga ilikuwa Ksh.230? Saa hii ata imepata nafuu na unga sasa inafika Ksh.170. The mistake you did is mlienda kupatia pesa millers. Huyo miller anatoa wapi unga yake? Si unga iko na wakulima? I have gone to farmers…it is how to reduce the cost of living,” he said.
“You don’t reduce the cost of living by working with millers on subsidy programs; you subsidise production, you don’t subsidise consumption. That is where the country went wrong. I agree with you on the cost of living but you are the one who destroyed it, wacha mimi nirekebishe.”
He added: “If you look at the budget, I have reduced over 20 sections of taxes, almost Ksh.500 billion of debts in the current budget, to reduce the burden on Kenyans. Pale kwa historia unaweza kunishinda, lakini hapo kwa uchumi, hapana…mimi naelewa kabisa.”
