Tuliza Boli, President Ruto Tells Raila After Criticism Over High Cost of Living

President Ruto has told off opposition leader Raila Odinga over his criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration over the high cost of living.

On Tuesday, Odinga accused Ruto of failing to honor the promises he made to Kenyans during his campaigns, saying the country is already feeling the pain of bad leadership, citing the high food and fuel prices.

“I know Kenyans are suffering in pain. During campaigns, their promises were many; tutapunguza unga kutioka 200 hadi shilingi 70. Lakini bei imeenda juu na bei ya mafuta inaenda juu. They promised Huslter fund, ile ya kina mama inaonekana?” Odinga posed.

But in a rejoinder on Sunday, Ruto termed Odinga’s criticism of his government as premature, saying he has only been in office for less than two months  

"Wale ambao tulishindana na wao, mimi nataka niwaambie watulize boli, mambo bado," Ruto said during an interdenominational prayer service at Kericho Green Stadium.

The president pointed out that he inherited a run-down economy from his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta and that it will take time to fix the situation.

"Uchumi ilikuwa imesambaratika, tuko na madeni kutoka hapa hadi sijui wapi. Kilimo ilikuwa imeharibika mpaka bei ya unga ikafika zaidi ya shilingi mia mbili, mambo ya usalama yakiluwa yamezoroteka mili ya watu inapatikana kule River Yala," Ruto added.

Ruto further said Odinga was partly to blame for the current state of affairs, citing his handshake with former President Kenyatta and the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which was declared unconstitutional by the courts.

"Hawa jama hawawezi kutuzuia kubadilisha Kenya... Waliharibu nchi yetu, watupatie nafasi tuifanyie ukarabati na tuipange iweze kuenda mbele. Walitumia miaka mitani kuharibu nchi; uchumi, madeni, usalama, polisi wakakua watu wa kuua wananchi," said Ruto.