Former presidential candidate Jimi Wanjigi has pledged his support for Raila Odinga’s push for street demonstrations to protest the soaring cost of living in Kenya. Both leaders expressed frustration with the government’s response to citizens’ economic struggles.
Wanjigi stated, “I support him 101%,” emphasizing his agreement with Odinga’s call for “street action and maandamano (peaceful protests).” He argued that the current economic hardships warrant a collective outcry for change: “This pain must be expressed…we must express it because we seem to have a government that is not listening.”
Attributing the escalating cost of living to the nation’s rising debt, Wanjigi blamed the Ruto administration for neglecting the plight of its citizens. He urged a return to protests as the most effective way for Kenyans to make their voices heard, saying, “It is not going to be an easy year…and the national debt continues to be the biggest threat to our lives.”
Wanjigi highlighted the impact of loan repayments on tax revenue, claiming that it burdens citizens with higher taxes while leaving limited resources for public needs. He warned that Kenya Kwanza’s policies are pushing the country towards bankruptcy, declaring that “nothing short of a revolution” can rescue the nation from its economic troubles.
This stance aligns with Odinga’s recent comments suggesting he may return to mass action to pressure the government to address its contested policies. He aims to combat Kenya’s high taxation regime and make 2024 a year of economic relief for Kenyan citizens, stating, “We want 2024 to be better than 2023…We want taxes to be reduced and the cost of living to come down. Zakayo (symbolic representation of tax collectors) must stop…must come down and join us.”
