Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has ridiculed President William Ruto’s State of the Nation speech on Thursday.
Speaking on Friday, November 10 during the Transforming a Nation Conference, the former Prime Minister sensationally claimed that Ruto’s speech was as if he was addressing people living on the moon.
“The government today is living in denial. If you listened to the State of the Nation address, it was as if you were talking to some people who are living on the moon. You are not being realistic to some of the problems confronting this country. These problems must be fronted without diversion,” said Raila.
The opposition leader went on to say the government must address the high cost of living if it wants to relieve the plight of Kenyans.
“The cost of living is real and is killing the people. It has to be addressed if you are going to relieve the plight of this country, this is our stand as Azimio,” Raila added.
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He at the same time advised the National Treasury to ask creditors to push up debt payments falling due to a future date rather than keep paying it.
“This is what people do when they face a crunch in their finances but know they can pay later when their income is higher. Rescheduling debt is not the same as defaulting, people default when they are bankrupt, Kenya is not bankrupt,” Raila asserted.
President Ruto in his speech on Thursday said his government is committed to addressing the high cost of living noting that it is a reality experienced in most Kenyan households.
The Head of State said the issue can be solved through practical actions for instance supporting agricultural production.
“The cost of living is not an abstract phenomenon, it is a reality experienced by households which can be addressed by practical actions and effective measures. One of the interventions of addressing the high cost of living is the strategy to support agricultural production throughout the sector,” said Ruto.