You've messed up health and agriculture sectors, Azimio leaders tell Ruto

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga. [Emmanuel Wanson, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja coalition leaders have renewed their criticism against the Kenya Kwanza administration and vowed to dislodge President William Ruto if Kenyans’ concerns are not addressed.

They accused the government of jeopardising public health and food security.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K), Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria (Usawa Party), and ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya regretted that farmers were anticipating poor harvests as patients died helplessly in hospitals because of the strike.

Kalonzo hinted that the mess caused by fake fertilisers, doctors’ strike and aggressive taxation would snowball to the fall of the Kenya Kwanza regime in 2027.

“If it is not fake fertiliser under Ruto’s regime then it is refusing to pay doctors. If not that then we are dealing with historically high taxation. We are alive to history and recall of the unpopular Watergate scandal in the US that sent then president home,” said Kalonzo.

He claimed the fake fertiliser scam was an inside job that touched Ruto’s inner circle as no heads were rolling amid the national outcry from farmers. Kalonzo challenged MPs to impeach Health CS Susan Nakhumicha and his Agriculture counterpart Mithika Linturi for incompetency.

He said the fertiliser scandal combined with the rising cost of living occasioned by high taxation even on crops like sugarcane and avocado formed enough ground to “make a great scandal to take Ruto home”.

“It is sad this government is being led by cartels. If they can’t sort the doctors’ mess, let them invite Azimio to talk to them,” said Kalonzo.

Wamalwa said everyone including the church had tried to reach out to the government on the burning issues in the nation but it remained adamant to act. “On the other hand President Ruto is creating lucrative posts left right and centre to accommodate his friends who failed to clinch political seats, yet claims he doesn’t have money to pay doctors.”

The leaders said if the government doesn’t step up efforts to stop the strike, they would take a roll call of all the people who died in hospitals because of the strike, and take legal action against it.

“I have said it again and again you cannot solve the doctors’ mess through threats. Let the government sit down with the doctors and find a common ground, return to work and save suffering patients,” said Oparanya during celebration of 50 years of Wanga king (Nabongo) Peter Mumia II and the Kingdom’s 1,000 years.

Jack Wamboka (MP Bumula DAP-K) and his Matungulu counterpart Stephen Mule (Wiper) said they were preparing an impeachment motion to kick out Linturi.

Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi said the Kingdom of Wanga had survived the test of time and it was time for the government to start funding cultural activities.