Why Kenyans May Not Get Ruto's Promises In 100 Days- Shollei

Kenyans will have to wait for at least one year to see changes realised by President William Ruto's administration, as promised during his campaigns, especially on the cost of living.

Speaking on KTN News on Tuesday, October 11, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei pleaded with Kenyans to give the new government time to address the issues of hard economic times in the country.

Shollei, who was elected Uasin Gishu Woman Representative in the August polls before being elected Deputy Speaker, urged leaders to teach Kenyans the virtue of patience as this is an issue that will not easily go away.

“It is a new move to impact the livelihoods of people and it is not going to be instant we have to tighten our belts, it's going to be a difficult time for the next 100 days to 12 months but Kenyans are going to see the fruits of some of the decisions in a year's time,” Shollei noted.

"We must preach to Kenyans to be patient. The pain is not going to go away immediately."

Shollei came to the defence of President Ruto's decision to remove the fuel subsidy as well as that of maize flour to allow the government to focus on the fertiliser subsidies to boost agriculture nationwide.

She added that subsidizing fuel and everything else were just short-term measures that cannot help Kenyans in the long run.

“We are facing famine, and the price of Unga is still high but in the long term, the most sustainable decision is to say let's subsidize fertiliser, increase production and then the price will naturally come down,” Shollei noted.

"You can decide to subsidise fuel and everything but after a while, it is not sustainable and you are back to square one," Shollei added.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua urged Kenyans to be patient as they find a way around the turbulent economic solution, maintaining several times that the Ruto government has inherited a depleted economy and that it will take a long time before Kenyans see the fruits of the Gachagua-Ruto labour.

Raila Claims How Ruto Will Be Exposed in 100 Days

The new government is under huge pressure to meet some of its promises at the lapse of the 100 days. During the unveiling of his manifesto, one of President Ruto's issues he had pledged to address was to fix the cost of living, a matter which has since created doubts across a number of camps, including the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

Speaking at a meeting with Bunge la Wananchi on October 11 at Jevanjee grounds, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga alleged that Ruto will struggle to explain to Kenyans why the cost of living will not have reduced in that 100-day period.

"We will give them 100 days and wait and see what they will do. They used to blame Uhuru, and yet the former president was facing the same challenges as world leaders. 

"These challenges are the reasons why Uhuru had so many subsidies. They have removed them saying it will be unsustainable," he stated.

Raila Odinga speaking in Mombasa accompanied by other leaders on Thursday, September 15, 2022. /FILE