Home » President Ruto changes tune, blames Ukraine inversion for high cost of living

President Ruto changes tune, blames Ukraine inversion for high cost of living

by Enock Ndayala
President William Ruto has maintained that Kenyans must pay their taxes diligently if the country is to return to a state similar to President Mwai Kibaki's regime when he said the economy boomed.

During the 2022 presidential campaign, William Ruto trashed then-President Uhuru Kenyatta’s affirmations linking the high cost of living to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Speaking when he launched his manifesto in May, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate William Ruto said the tough economic times that Kenyans were facing had nothing to do with the Russia-Ukraine war.

Ruto instead blamed the high living costs on Uhuru’s handshake with opposition leader Raila Odinga, which he said shifted the government’s focus from the Big 4 agenda to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

During the 2022 presidential campaign, William Ruto trashed then-President Uhuru Kenyatta’s affirmations linking the high cost of living to the Russia-Ukraine war.
During the 2022 presidential campaign, William Ruto trashed then-President Uhuru Kenyatta’s affirmations linking the high cost of living to the Russia-Ukraine war. Photo: William Ruto/Twitter

“The challenge of the cost of living is increased agricultural productivity, blaming it on the war in Ukraine is a lost cause,” William Ruto said.

However, on Tuesday, October 11, the Head of State is now blaming the Russia-Ukrain war as the cause of the high cost of living in the country.

The First in Command said there was an urgent need to bring the Russia-Ukrain war to an end adding that Kenya and the whole world were bearing the consequences of the war which includes high food prices.

“We must bring the conflict to an end. The position of Kenya is that we need a peaceful resolution, a mechanism that will bring the war to a stop because whatever it is, we are all bearing the effects of what that conflict potents for us. High food prices, we cannot pay for and access fertilizers…,” said Ruto.

On his part, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition captain Raila Odinga said the President does not have the leeway to ensure he fulfills the promises made in the run-up to the August 9 election which includes lowering the cost of living.

Raila said the Kenya Kwanza had hoodwinked Kenyans with “unachievable promises” adding that the country was already feeling the pain of bad leadership.

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