Don’t Take Us for Fools, Ruto Tells Raila over Reduced Unga Prices

Deputy President William Ruto has hit out at his main competitor Raila Odinga for taking credit for the recent move by the government to reduce the prices of maize flour.

Speaking during a campaign rally in Nakuru this week, Odinga said he prevailed upon President Kenyatta to put in place measures to cushion Kenyans from the high prices of Unga.

“I talked to Uhuru and told him to reduce the Unga prices and you saw on Monday he reduced the prices. From today Unga is Sh100 and are you not happy? When I get into government we will reduce the high cost of living to alleviate suffering of Kenyans,” said Odinga.

The Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition presidential flagbearer also castigated Ruto for terming the reduction of Unga prices as a ploy to hoodwink voters ahead of the August 9th elections.

“That Sugoi man (Ruto) is complaining that this is all political because he wants Kenyans to continue suffering and doesn’t want Kenyans to be cushioned. You people cried a lot and I told Uhuru my people are crying,” he added.

But in a rejoinder, Ruto questioned why Odinga could not intervene before the maize flour prices escalated, insisting that the subsidy announced by the government is a short-term solution meant to blindfold voters.

“My friend [Odinga] you are talking to Uhuru right now what were you doing four years with President Uhuru Kenyatta that you let maize prices reach Sh230. Is that not being deceived?” Ruto posed on Wednesday.

The deputy president reiterated that the high cost of living has been caused by the failure of the Jubilee administration to prioritize the implementation of the Big 4 agenda following the March 9th, 2018 handshake between President Uhuru and Odinga.

“Don’t take us for fools. You hindered the implementation of the big 4 agenda, the issue of farming, you removed the fertilizer subsidy. You can’t come last minute to say you have reduced maize flour prices for a few weeks, then after the polls, the prices shoot to Sh300,” Ruto said.

On Wednesday, President Uhuru announced new stimulus measures that have seen the price of a two-kilo packet of unga drop from Sh205 to Sh100.