Ndindi Nyoro Defends Ruto Over Contradictory Remarks

Citizen TV anchor, Ayub Abdikadir, on Wednesday, June 7, questioned Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro on the seeming inconsistencies of the Kenya Kwanza government regarding the high cost of living.

In the interview, the anchor wondered why the administration of President William Ruto had originally blamed the prior government for not resolving the economic crisis, but later conceded that the Russian conflict in Ukraine had a negative impact on the country's financial stability. Abdikadir questioned Nyoro's faction, which had been saying in the months leading to the election that the war had not impacted the nation and insisted that the then administration of President Uhuru Kenyatta should address the main problem. 

Nyoro accepted that the conflict had consequences but insisted that the measures taken by Ruto's government are what set apart the existing and past administrations. Nyoro, the Budgets and Appropriations Committee chairman, accused the Kenyatta administration of only pretending to care about the people of Kenya by not providing subsidies and leaving the problem to Uhuru's successor. 

"The difference between what they did versus what we're doing is the distinguishing factor. They subsidised consumption and we are subsidising production. You will see that it will have a spiral effect in terms of multiplying the production. We are attacking the cost of living on that basis and not frivolous statements," Nyoro defended his boss. 

Before the August 9 General Election, Ruto dismissed Uhuru's remarks that the high cost of living was due to the Russia-Ukraine hostilities. Mr Ruto asserted that the matter could be resolved by investing heavily in agribusiness and increasing farmers' output.

"This story about Ukraine is a lost cause," Ruto stated on June 30, 2022