You'll See Changes In Two Years- Isaac Mwaura To Kenyans On Tough Economic Times

Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has promised Kenyans that they would see positive changes in the next two years courtesy of President William Ruto's government amid tough economic times compounded by the high cost of living.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, November 15, while outlining the government’s achievements in his inaugural press conference, Mwaura commended the government for implementing measures that stopped the current tough economic situation from escalating into crisis levels.

He asked Kenyans to endure for two more years so that the government stabilises an already difficult economic atmosphere which has also seen the cost of basic needs, including food, go up.

Kenyans walking in Nairobi CBD. /FILE

"The government has done quite well in terms of ensuring that we don’t sink further, it would have been much worse.

"I really want to call upon Kenyans, tuvumilie (let us endure) so that we stabilise things. In the next one to two years, we for sure will start seeing changes because we have to take the painful road...we must take the painkiller because we are the pain. But that painkiller is not as sweet in the mouth and that's it," he asked.

Appearing to throw jabs at former President Uhuru Kenyatta's government, Mwaura recounted how he had warned in 2014 that Uhuru's successor in 2022 between Ruto and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, would initially struggle in running the country, blaming Uhuru for orchestrating an economic downfall made worse by global crises which included the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As far back as 2014, I was on record as a Member of Parliament saying whoever will be president in 2022 will have no country to run and that's the truth," he went on.

Regarding the fuel prices as announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on Tuesday, November 14, Mwaura explained the steps the government took to protect Kenyans from another consecutive increase in the cost of fuel which would have caused the cost of everything else to increase further.

He also explained why the prices of Diesel and Kerosene had decreased in the latest review, with only the cost of Super Petrol remaining stagnant.

"The government has stabilised fuel prices by up to Ksh19.82 per litre, resulting in a reduction in the pump price of Diesel and Kerosene. This price stabilization has cushioned Kenyans against the projected increase in fuel prices attributed to the rise of landed costs of imported fuel.

"Without this stabilization, Petrol would have retailed at Ksh229, Diesel Ksh223 and Ksh206 for Kerosene," he continued.

In the latest monthly review, the price of Diesel and Kerosene decreased by Ksh2 per litre, but the price of Super Petrol was left unchanged.

While the price of Super Petrol remains at Ksh217.36, the price of Diesel and Kerosene decreased to Ksh203.47 and Ksh203.06 respectively from Ksh205.47 and Ksh205.06.

The latest review came amidst huge pressure by Kenyans on President Ruto's administration to lower the cost of fuel which would in turn lower the cost of living amidst job cuts and freezes pushing scores of Kenyans into an economic black hole.

Critics have cornered the government for hiking the cost of fuel in the country as global oil prices are projected to drop to the lowest rate in months.

Neighbouring country Tanzania announced a decrease in fuel prices for November as Kenya continued to grapple with record-high fuel costs.