Kenya: Okoa Uchumi Campaign – Condolences for Rex’s Family and Condemnation of Violence (21.06.2024)

Kenya: These demos might be the hurt that the government can’t heal…

“PRESIDENT RUTO calls on MPs to pass Finance Bill 2024 amid nationwide protests against proposed tax measures; asks Parliament to help fund development projects across Kenya” (Nation Africa, 20.06.2024).

The recent demonstrations and riots in Kenya can easily become the nail in the coffin of the Kenya Kwanza Government. The era of President William Ruto is getting a taste of the bitter fruits of power. As his government is overtaxing and finding ways of adding expenditure on the public. While the high-ranking officials and others are living lavish.

The elites are earning profits and getting value for money. However, the cost-of-living crisis and the problems of the citizens are still there. The added taxes and the costs on day-to-day life isn’t bearable. The taxation will only hurt the pockets more… and make things more dire.

All the promises ahead of the polls. The wheelbarrows and being there for the hustlers are all gone away. Now activists and citizens are arrested for participating in the demonstrations. Even some law enforcements have been using violence and it’s been lethal. Those who has been hurt and killed. Need to be investigated and answered for, as well, as the rights to assemble and demonstrate is still viable in the Republic.

The teargas, water-cannons and live-bullets is a sign of a oppressive government that doesn’t want to listen to the dissent. The public isn’t having it and was peacefully demonstrating against the Finance Bill of 2024. They had concerns and meaningful disagreements with it. As they are the ones who will feel the pinch and the punch of the law itself. The taxes and rises of it will be another burden on them. That’s why they are going to the streets to demonstrate against it.

President Ruto and his allies better listen. They cannot act like they are above it or have all the answers. Right here and right now… they can either become disassociated with the public or be totally disconnected. If the government and the political elite gets to far away from the public. It won’t be easily to get their trust or even their support in the next election. The Kenya Kwanza is now dismantling their own future by challenging the ones on the streets.

This was a government for the hustlers and the ones fighting day to day to earn a living. Nevertheless, that was just words and empty promises. Just like the Jubilee would deliver stadiums and laptops. Ruto continues a prolonged line of empty promises and lack of service delivery. Now on top of that, his adding taxes and making life even harder for the citizens. That’s when you are putting more wood on the fire. He is giving the citizens more reasons to demonstrate and cry out loud.

President Ruto has to engage with the public now. Not wear Kaunda suits and be a vagabond. He needs to listen to the dismay and the discontent, because this can be the last straw. The one that breaks the camel’s back. The last water drops in the glass.

These demonstrations are proof of what is wrong in Kenya. The Republic needs a government that serves the public and not the other way around. That’s how it looks like. A government for the hustlers, are actually hustling the citizens. This is absurd, but not a surprise. Knowing how Ruto operate and how he thinks he can be able to run away from the storm. Peace.

Kenya: Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) – Investigations into Police Shooting during the Finance Bill, 2024 Mass Demonstrations (21.06.2024)

Kenya: Police Reforms Working Group – Kenya (PRWG-K) – Immediate Release of #OccupyParliament Protestors and Condemnation of Police Brutality (18.06.2024)

Opinion: Ruto’s getting a taste of his own medicine [with the Riggy G outbursts]

His PAs and bloggers want to tell me what to do. I cannot allow people who hang around him to think they’re my boss. This group criticized me during the pre-election debate, saying I didn’t know English or how to dress. The criticism was so intense that the president called me because he was concerned. I assured him he made the right decision. Nobody suffered more than me while I stood with the president” – Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (15.06.2024)

What goes around, comes back around. The tides are turning and the wheelbarrows aren’t sufficient. Neither is the stories of supporting and helping the hustlers. The time of friendly fire and tussle within the ranks are beginning to happen.

There is possible cracks in the Kenya Kwanza Government. If not… everything aren’t all shiny around President William Ruto. We know Ruto is busy attending ceremonies, conferences and whatnot abroad. His barely at home and only for the festivities. He isn’t seeing things day-to-day and only getting the cliff-notes. That’s why others are carrying the weight and doing the heavy lifting.

That’s maybe Riggy G who has to cover and takeover power when Ruto is on international and bilateral meetings overseas. Today is the first time other Cabinet Secretaries are speaking of impeaching the DP. The first time another CS calls him a toad.

That happens because of the speeches and the uttering of the DP. He spoke his peace and what he deemed fit. It might not be all in good faith, but he has himself been mocked and ridiculed. So, who can blame him for retaliating back?

Riggy G is the second in command and the next in succession. That’s why Ruto picked him. He maybe thought he would get a mull and silent partner in Gachagua. As Gachagua isn’t as savvy or seasoned politician as Ruto himself. However, as many might say… underestimated and he might sway more than people imagine.

The ones saying he should step down or be more silent. Well, he is a man of higher rank and has the second office of the Republic. The one who knows how lonely and how you can be outsmarted in this office is Ruto. The current President knows the price of loyalty and what it costs to be a poster boy for the government, but with no real power. That’s how he became and was a reason for his change of play in the second term of the Kenyatta/Jubilee government. Therefore, he should make sure Riggy G stays behind the line and is his guy.

We know that Ruto started early to campaign and build his UDA within the Jubilee. That was shown and it was evident ahead of the elections. The DP did this to ensure longevity and become the Head of State himself. Now he hasn’t an official rogue partner, but a man who is tired of being mocked and sidelined. That is something Ruto has to act upon and do the right thing.

Riggy G has the right to speak out about the nonsense. He has the right to call out rank and get people to address him properly. They shouldn’t be there to undermine him. People speak of unity and that his salty. Well, if people where looking down and disrespecting you all the time. You would boil over to in anger. Therefore, the DP is right doing this.

Now it is the vagabond’s turn to act and make a few calls himself. Unless, he wants issues within his camp and get a more hectic return from where-ever his residing at the moment. Peace.

Kenya: Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) – A Call for Review of hte Finance Bill 2024 (07.06.2024)

Opinion: Does Ruto like being someones proxy?

The Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the Kenyan government are now strongly allied with the United States of America. The White House and the Biden Administration have vouched for and are now aligning itself with Kenya. That means the leadership of Nairobi has favours and being cherry-picked by the Americans.

In some eyes, that is seen as a good thing. As the U.S. can offer vital support and financial backing, which can be favourable in the long run. The Kenyan government is already serving American interests in conflicts. That being in Haiti and elsewhere. This is why Kenyan Police Officers are now deployed in Haiti.

The choice that Ruto has made is a financial one. He is selling his sovereignty and his foreign policy on the day-to-day and allies needs across the globe. That’s why Kenyan forces will fight in Somalia and possibly in Yemen. Anywhere where the U.S. cannot send in their own troops, but can train and arm. Just like the U.S. has used other allies to fight the “dirty” wars, which it has had in the fight against “terror”.

That is now the place of Ruto. His the proxy army of the U.S. and he will enjoy the perks. The soldiers and army commanders are the ones that will suffer. The law enforcement and the security organizations of Kenya will be tested. They will be used and stretched as a servant of the U.S. Interest. That’s why they could be deployed to Yemen after having sent people to Haiti. It is just fitting for the U.S. to pay for Kenyan services. Just like the U.S. import cheap Kenyan roses, they now can export Kenyan soldiers to fight their wars as their mercenaries too. While the leaders of Nairobi will cheer on, as they are earning foreign currency doing so.

That’s the game here. The Kenyans are becoming buddies with the West and the U.S. by fighting for them as proxy. They are being the hired guns and the ones who is fighting in their stead. Because, the U.S. cannot be on the ground or waste trained personnel in every conflict. Neither is it political beneficial or a given to do so. That’s why other has to partake in the battles and in the wars to settle the grievances of Washington D.C. and whose better than calling upon Nairobi to get things done.

That’s how this is looking and it isn’t a good look for Ruto. The President and his allies are looking like stooges and puppets of Biden. The “Yes-Men” and happy go-lucky brigade. A government willing to trade the army and the security organization to others. Just so you can get some additional foreign currency and hopefully get a bigger plate to eat. That’s the gig here….

This isn’t a good look for Ruto. He seems to be willing to sell out his integrity and the power of the sovereign. Just so he get a scheme and proper funding for prestige projects. That’s what it looks like, but the cost of this will be a burden on the soldiers and the ones who is deployed to fight. They are the ones risking their lives and livelihood. So, that Ruto can bash in glory and be a token proxy of the U.S. That’s what I see and it’s a grim picture.

Just imagine Kenyan soldiers fighting in Yemen. They will die on the shores of the Red Sea and practically for nothing. Peace.

Kenya: United Democratic Alliance (UDA) – Press Statement (29.05.2024)

Kenya: Azimio la Umoja – Azimio Leaders in President’s State Visit to the US (22.05.2024)

Kenya: Law Society of Kenya (LSK) – Statement on the Government Response to the Flooding Disaster in the Country (13.05.2024)