Ruto Will Not Bend to Azimio's Threats and Blackmail, Says Kidero

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero says President William Ruto will not bow to the opposition's demands to annul the Finance Act 2023. 

During an interview on K24 TV on Wednesday morning, Kidero defended the additional taxes instituted by the Kenya Kwanza government, labelling the Azimio la Umoja- One Kenya coalition's request for a mass protest as "intimidation and blackmail" to oblige the government to dance to the oppositions tune. 

"I do not think the President (Ruto) is going to cow down and bend to threats, intimidation and blackmail because that is what Azimio is doing. The price of petrol has gone up in not only Africa but the whole world. Kenya even with this price increase is in the middle," Kidero said. 

Kidero claimed that despite the increase of Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products from 8 to 16 per cent, the cost of fuel in the country is still fair in comparison to other countries. The former governor accused Raila Odinga of doublespeak, explaining that the former Prime Minister had backed some of the taxes presented by President Ruto during President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration. 

Kidero is among the allies of Ruto who believe that the former Prime Minister is trying to use the anti-government protests to compel a handshake with the Head of State, presumably to get a piece of the Kenya Kwanza government. The opposition leader has declared plans to hold a rally at Kamukunji on July 7, 2023, to protest against Kenya Kwanza taxes which he deems punitive. The opposition faction is relying on civil disobedience to force Ruto to respond to Azimio's demands.