Raila fights Ruto. Who will laugh last?
Monday being the day set by the Azimio Party leaders, led by ODM leader Raila Odinga, to push the government to lower cost of living among other demands, we all wait to see how the events will unfold.
This comes after the opposition party’s leader, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga declared Monday a ‘Public Holiday’. Most people have anxiety and most anticipate to see the end result on which side will finally take over the day.
This might be a test of the expression ‘He who laughs last, laughs best’. Will the opposition party demands be implemented and addressed or the government will be unmoved?
Raila party woos grass-root Kenyans
Recently there has been a twist of events as the opposition party conducted a number of rallies in the country calling people to join them in the country wide demonstrations.
This comes after their demands were not implemented within fourteen days as requested. Some of the demands which they pushed for included; lowering the cost of living in the country, verification of the previous elections results and formation of an electoral commission which is neutral and independent without any political base.
The government stated that it had already lowered the cost of some basic commodities and also addressed that in the course of the year, the cost of living will be affordable and standard. However, the gradual lowering of cost of living seems to be insignificant and unnoticeable by majority of citizens.
Many speculations have been raised about the high cost of living such as the increased inflation rates, COVID-19 effects, long droughts, increase in taxes, embezzlement of money meant for goods subsidies and a non-performing government. The government being constantly blamed for its inefficiency.
The President, his Excellency William Samoei Ruto said that the government is working to ensure that it stabilizes the economy. With the creation of many government positions the President stated that those in those positions will help in creating and identifying the appropriate and suitable markets for the Kenyans goods. This comes after the raised concerns that the positions will be a heavy burden to the taxpayers to accommodate for the many positions.
Opposition Demos disrupt business
With most activities thought to be affected on Monday, the opposition party leaders stated that their demonstrations will be peaceful without any loss of live or destruction of property.
Schools might be greatly affected since most resume from their midterm holiday on this day whereby traveling might be paralyzed due to the demonstration inconveniences and business activities might also be affected. The government stated that legal action and measures will be taken if the activities turn out to be violent and chaotic.
Might this be the new-normal whereby we experience calls for revolutions, campaigns, constitutional reforms or demonstrations immediately a new regime has taken over the government?
Some say that it is the hope in that a government will perform better than the previous one that ‘kills’ or demotivates the citizens.
Most people want to experience immediate changes once there is a new government which is not the real case of what happens mostly since the government needs time to implement its manifesto and policies. Then the immediate question that comes to the citizens mind is, ‘For how long should we wait to have changes and an efficient government that caters for the people’s needs?’
This further makes people lose patience and trust in the government therefore calling for reforms since there are no evident solutions to the numerous problems.
DOMINIC KIMATHI Dominic Kimathi is a Journalism student at KCA University
