Businessman Jimi Wanjigi has expressed his support for Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party, in his call for street demonstrations to pressure the government to address the rising cost of living.
Wanjigi believes that Odinga’s call is timely, given the burden of high taxes on Kenyans and the apparent indifference of the current administration to their hardships. Pointing to the escalating national debt, he argued that the cost of living has become unbearable for ordinary citizens. Wanjigi emphasized the necessity of street actions to compel the Kenya Kwanza administration to repeal the controversial Finance Act of 2023, asserting that it is essential for the well-being of the citizens.
“I support him (Odinga) 101%. Street action and demonstrations are embedded in our Constitution. This pain must be expressed, and let it be expressed on the streets, in our homes, in our churches…we must express it because we seem to have a government that is not listening,” he stated.
Wanjigi attributed the increasing cost of living to the national debt, claiming that about Ksh.70 out of every Ksh.100 collected in revenue goes towards repaying loans. He criticized the President William Ruto-led regime, alleging that it has become unresponsive to the citizens’ plight. In Wanjigi’s view, the only way for Kenyans to be heard is to return to protests.
“It is not going to be an easy year, that is a reality. About a year ago, our national debt was Ksh.8.6 trillion, now it is Ksh.11 trillion even after paying Ksh.2 trillion to that debt. That is the biggest threat to our lives and continues to be. The President was very clear that he is taking Ksh.7 out of every Ksh.10…Ksh.70 out of every Ksh.100 of our tax revenue, and he has to keep increasing tax because of it,” he explained.
“Kenya Kwanza is taking us to a route of bankruptcy. That pain will be felt in 2024. I urge my fellow Kenyans to understand that nothing short of a revolution is going to take us out of this, nothing!”
Wanjigi’s remarks follow Odinga’s announcement on Monday, where he hinted at the possibility of resuming mass action to compel the government to reconsider its contested policies. Odinga vowed to end the high taxation regime witnessed in the country in the last year and called for a better 2024 with reduced taxes and a lower cost of living.
