Allow Me to Fix Uhuru's Economic Mess, President Ruto Tells Azimio MPs

President William Ruto has implored Members of Parliament to pass the contentious Finance Bill 2023 in a bid to enable his government to raise money to tackle the economic struggles facing the nation. 

At a prayer service and fundraiser in Kakamega County yesterday, Mr Ruto highlighted that the Sh 9 trillion debt borrowed by the former administration has left the country in a difficult financial position. He also asked the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition MPs to disregard their party leadership's instructions and cooperate with their Kenya Kwanza counterparts in backing the bill.

Dr Ruto said: "Some political parties (referring to the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Party) are writing letters to MPs instructing them not to support the Finance Bill. While you (MPs) are reading the letters, I would like to ask you if you have read letters from those who voted for you.” 

The President made a heartfelt plea to legislators to pass the Finance Bill in its current form. He also called on voters not to pile pressure on their elected officials to reject the proposed tax plan. Ruto explained that his administration is taking a three-step approach to economic development, which includes bilateral agreements with countries such as Germany, Canada, and the United States to provide one million jobs to Kenyan youth. 

According to the Head of State, the youth will then generate an annual income of Sh4 billion which will be channelled back into the country. Dr Ruto stated that his administration is concentrating on digital occupations and has also begun putting together county conglomeration and industrial parks to perform value addition, agro-processing and job generation.

He pointed out that through the proposed tax scheme, the economy will be revived to give the Kenya Kwanza government the opportunity to generate jobs for the unemployed youth. He cautioned that the opposition's plans to rally their supporters for mass action will derail the economy.