KENYA: THE LAND OF BROKEN PROMISES

Kenya’s leadership has mastered the art of empty promises, but when confronted with cold, hard facts, even the most powerful struggle to spin their way out. In a damning interview with Al Jazeera’s Mehdi Hasan, Kenya’s National Assembly Majority Leader, Kimani Ichungw'a, was put on the spot over the 281 pledges made by President William Ruto’s government. His response? Evasion, deflection, and an embarrassing inability to account for the administration’s failures.

When asked how many of the pledges made to Kenyans by the ruling party had been fulfilled, Kimani Ichungw'a had to admit that he couldn’t give a straight answer.

It’s a cringeworthy watch. This was no case of integrity-driven honesty. It reflects the political bad will and the general political landscape in the country, in which politicians rise up the ranks and say things they do not mean simply to gain votes. Kenya’s ruling elite has turned the country into its personal cash cow, while the mass of citizens suffer.

The ruling elite’s greed did not stop it from attempting to tax Kenyans even more under the IMF-backed 2024 Finance Bill, resulting in mass protests across the country calling for Ruto to step down.

When it was pointed out to Ichungw'a that, over two years, only 14 of the promises have been honoured, he was unable to explain why, resorting to distraction.

Video Credit: @aljazeeraenglish (YouTube)

Sources

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2024/7/7/why-are-kenyans-angry-with-the-imf

https://tracker.mzalendo.com

https://www.ictd.ac/blog/kenya-protests-show-citizens-dont-trust-government-with-their-tax-money-can-ruto-make-a-meaningful-new-deal/

https://nation.africa/kenya/newsplex/fact-check-does-kenya-really-lose-sh2-billion-to-graft-daily--3282360

https://www.citizen.digital/news/revisiting-president-elect-william-rutos-manifesto-n305126

https://nation.africa/kenya/news/politics/the-promises-versus-reality-president-ruto-s-rough-road-ahead-4282818