Stop punishing Kenyans, Azimio tells Ruto over high cost of living

Azimio leader Raila Odinga during the funeral of the Nominated MCA Godliver Omondi. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Azimio coalition has hit out at the Kenya Kwanza administration, claiming that it has turned a deaf ear to pressing issues affecting Kenyans.

The leaders while attending a burial ceremony in Mwala, Machakos County led by ODM leader Raila Odinga faulted the Kenya Kwanza allies for being hard liners on matters pertaining to cost of living.

They said in the just concluded National Dialogue, high cost of living was one of the irreducible minimums that was being championed by the opposition side.

At the same time, Raila said the plans by the government to auction parastatals was inappropriate.

"No country in the entire world can dare dispose such a crucial parastatal unless its out to finish it's citizens" he said, adding several attempts by the past regimes flopped.

They were attending the burial ceremony of Phyllis Mawathe, the mother of Embakasi south MP Patrick Mawathe.

At the same time, Raila accused Parliament of being compromised by the executive at the expense of Kenyans.

He said Kenyans will live to blame the legislators for overlooking many ills being carried out by the Kenya Kwanza government at their expense. He however, vowed to lead the Azimio brigade to call for end to the suffering Kenyans are going through.

"Azimio will stop at nothing until what is due for Kenyans is delivered" he said, adding that although they agreed on some issues during the dialogue, the government resisted those which aimed at reducing the burdens of common mwananchi.

Resistance

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said they did their best during the talks despite the resistance by the government side.

"We did our utmost best without achieving all what was needed, we shall stop at nothing until the most sensitive point of reducing the cost of living is achieved" he said.

He echoed Raila's sentiments that the fact that MPs agreed to be compromised to pass some bills knowing they were harmful to Kenyans will not be forgiven.

On proposal to auction some of the government parastatals, he said that was the most unthinkable idea by the current administration.

"Those in government should think twice on the matter and stop it as it aims at landing the country in a future crisis," Kalonzo said.

While speaking earlier in Matungu, Kakamega during the funeral of the Nominated MCA Godliver Omondi, Raila called on the government to speed up revamping of the Mumias Sugar Company.

"It's sad that President Ruto has pronounced that he doesn't want him (Sarrai Group ) around just like he doesn't want Jaswant Rai in West Kenya, who then does he want?" he said.

The ODM leader credited Azimio for bringing Sarai Group from Uganda arguing they were capable of running the miller as they had success running sugar mills in Uganda.

He said rather than intimidating investors, the President should work towards bringing the soaring cost of living down.

"It's sad the cost of living is unbearable with virtually every basic commodity's price rising by the day yet Ruto ran a campaign to lower the cost of living for the common man," said Raila.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi and his Nairobi counterpart Edwin Sifuna hinted going back to the streets until the Kenya Kwanza government heeds to Kenyans demands.