Kenya’s high cost of living has continued to push Kenyans to a corner as basic commodities hit a new high every week.
Maize flour went to a high average of sh150 per 2kg bag leading to a huge protest. The government negotiated a deal with millers and the prices reduced slightly to sh120 per 2kg bag.
No sooner had the price of flour come down than that of sugar and milk went up sparking yet another protest by consumers. Deputy President William Ruto found himself on the firing line after he posted on his twitter account that government is working towards restoring the price of basic commodities.
“@williamsruto we are to stabilize the prices of essential commodities, which have soared because of external factors,” read the tweet.
He was ridiculed by Kenyans on twitter (KOT) for what many called late. response to a crisis that has been biting for a long time now.
“Maziwa is at 80/= you should not be saying this but rather saying its back to 30/=,” read a tweet from @RawnaldSimiyu.
The opposition is now accusing Jubilee of intentionally raising the cost of living and pledging to intervene only now to gain political mileage.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma on Monday blamed the high cost of living on Jubilee’s leadership, saying those in the country’s top leadership are “businessmen” who do not mind about the high cost of living but only care about the profits they get.
“What is happening to the country should show you that you should not have businessmen leading the country. And that is the tragedy we find ourselves in as a nation.”
“From the top to the bottom you have businessmen leading a country and so, the motivation for them to reduce prices is not there as businessmen they are trading with the state,” he said.
Kaluma said Jubilee has no interest in lowering the cost of living.
But President Uhuru Kenyatta has assured Kenyans of bringing the cost of living down.
