The government must stop shooting itself in the foot if it wants to assuage Kenyans who are still languishing in pain amid high cost of living.

Much as the Opposition is trying to hold the government at ransom through picketing over high cost of living, recent developments within the government raise concerns and could exacerbate matters.

Take the timing of announcements for changes in tariffs that increased the cost of power effective next month, for instance. It was wrong to announce such a significant change in cost of electricity amid picketing.

Further, some expenditures that seem to go against the much-hyped austerity measures announced last year by President William Ruto are raising eyebrows. Having planned to reduce government expenditure by Sh300 billion to slow down external borrowing and reduce the public debt, the government promised to reduce what it called non-essential spending like travelling, advertising and training.

By sticking to the playbook of austerity measures, the government would have given the little man in the street hope during the tough times, sadly, the government decided to burden the taxpayers further with non-essentials in the Budget.

That is why claims that Treasury is searching for an operator for a posh members-only gymnasium club and massage parlour at its Nairobi Bima House headquarters sounds ludicrous in the middle of a severe austerity drive spearheaded by the Treasury itself.  Further, to finalise his government, the President’s new team of 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries also raised eyebrows coming amid calls for austerity.

The number of CASs actually doubled compared to the previous administration. Their salaries were also increased. The new CASs will now be earning more than Principal Secretaries after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission raised their monthly pay to Sh780,000, putting them in the group of top six best-paid officials in the public service. Another gaffe amid austerity measures was increasing funds for the President, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Musalia Mudavadi by allocating them Sh802.2 million for purchases of the new fleet of cars.

Indeed, it would go a long way if such cuts started from the top, others would easily follow the lead.