Kiambu MCA Slams Ruto Administration Over Economic Management and Asset Sales

Kennedy Odhiambo Obudho, the Sukari Ward MCA in Kiambu County, has vehemently criticized President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza government, claiming they have overseen a deteriorating economic situation and secretly transferred strategic national properties to foreign entities. During a recent public forum, Obudho, who chairs the Public Accounts Committee in Kiambu County Assembly, stated that the nation is experiencing challenging economic conditions marked by escalating fuel costs, higher prices of essential goods, and mounting public discontent. The county representative pointed to the recent nationwide strike by matatu operators and protests against fuel prices as proof of the difficulties faced by average citizens. “Kenya is in dire straits,” Obudho declared, noting that the increasing cost of living has pushed many people to their breaking point. He highlighted the rising prices of construction materials including iron sheets, cement, and tiles, along with sugar, asserting that the problem is exacerbated by what he described as conflicting interests among national leaders. The MCA claimed that enterprises associated with the President are gaining advantages from the distribution of multiple products, stating that these assertions have sparked worry among Kenyans regarding the centralization of economic authority. Additionally, he condemned the administration for the privatization and sale of sugar mills in the Nyanza area, cautioning that moving such public resources into private ownership would negatively impact local populations in the long run. “If you visit Nyanza today, all the sugar corporations have been transferred to private investors. In the coming years, residents will face hardship since these resources have fallen into the control of a small group,” he emphasized. The forthright county representative also raised doubts about recent interactions between the Kenyan government and international leaders, specifically the visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, suggesting that certain public properties might have been covertly sold or rented to foreign entities. Without substantiating his claims, Obudho urged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to examine the arrangements made during the visit. “We demand comprehensive investigations so that Kenyans can understand what has been disposed of,” he remarked, citing key facilities like Dongo Kundu, Wilson Airport, and other national assets. The representative accused politicians aligned with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party of neglecting to protect citizens against stringent economic measures and increasing living expenses. He encouraged Kenyans to utilize their voting rights to dismiss officials they believe have failed to safeguard public welfare, stating that elections remain the most powerful democratic mechanism for ensuring accountability. “These Members of Parliament cannot represent us in Parliament. When leaders fail to defend the people, Kenyans should replace them through the ballot,” he stated. The county official also announced his refusal to join the governing party, distancing himself from UDA and urging citizens to reject officials they perceive are misgoverning the nation. His comments emerge during a period of intensified political polarization and increasing public discourse about escalating living costs, fuel prices, and governmental economic strategies, which have sparked demonstrations and condemnation from opposition figures and various segments of society nationwide.