Give priority to ‘hustlers’ needs in 2024

A  recent Tifa poll says Kenyans are disillusioned with the state of affairs in the country. For most Kenya Kwanza supporters, the euphoria that greeted President William Ruto’s inauguration just over a year ago is gone.

Kenyans are disappointed that the promises Ruto gave in the run-up to the August 9 general election remain unfulfilled. Many today are grappling with extremely high fuel prices, rising inflation and an unaffordable life. 

The Tifa survey showed that many government supporters are especially disappointed with the government’s performance more than anything else. They believe that Kenya Kwanza has failed to capture the imagination of ordinary Kenyans, particularly in bringing down the cost of life.

President Ruto rode to power with the promise that their tribulations would be over soon; today, there is little evidence that hustlers are enjoying any appreciable success. I fact, per the poll, over 80 percent of respondents say the economy has deteriorated over the past year. This is a reality that Ruto acknowledges, and admitted as much in his Jamhuri Day speech, but promising that the difficult part is done, and that the economy will bounce back soon. Kenyans do not share his optimism.

The majority of Kenyans have slashed personal expenditures to adapt to the high cost of life, and this should be useful feedback for the government if it is serious about tackling the issues that are most germane to Kenyans.

Politically, Kenya Kwanza is ending its first full year in office on the back heightened political tensions, the opposition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance engaged in protracted political battles revolving around electoral reforms, especially those touching on the conduct of the 2022 presidential elections and other governance issues. These would later drag on into the year, shaping policy and political discussions and decisions.

Moving into the new year, President Ruto needs to prioritise the welfare of his citizens if we are to move past the hurdles that defined 2023, and create a better life in 2024.