Advertisement

‘Raila CSs’ must be wary of joining lying queue

‘Raila CSs’ must be wary of joining lying queue
President William Ruto chairs Cabinet meeting at Kakamega State Lodge. PHOTO/Print

Individuals who were appointed to what President William Ruto describes as a broad-based government have taken up their jobs with misplaced overzealousness.

Theirs has been a more dramatic Damascus moment. Once acerbic critics of the Ruto administration, they have quickly transformed into car roof-top zealots of what Kenya Kwanza calls “the plan”.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and his Treasury counterpart John Mbadi have exploited every platform to sing praises for the administration. Perhaps aware that is how the journey to hubris begins, those they found in the Cabinet have gone quiet. More experienced hands like Wyliffe Oparanya of the Cooperatives and MSME Development docket have taken a low profile.

The Opposition leaders seem to have forgotten the circumstances under which they found their way into the Cabinet. It is worth reminding Mbadi and Wandayi that they were appointed after deadly protests by young people who agitated against over-taxation, insensitive displays of opulence and arrogance in a government that was talking down at the people who had elected it.

The Gen Z revolt was a protest against elite politics that appeared keen to rob young people of their future through broken policies on education funding, reward for innovation, healthcare and access to opportunities.

The young crusaders paid with their blood rallying against what Catholic bishops called a culture of lies. In a statement issued in November, the clerics lamented that a lack of transparency had eroded Kenyans’ trust in the country’s leadership, with integrity and truth often overshadowed by false narratives.

“The culture of lies is swiftly replacing the integrity and respect that Kenyans deserve. Basically, it seems that truth does not exist, and if it does, it is only what the government says,” they said.

According to the clerics, it was unfortunate that Kenyans seemed to have “helplessly tolerated the lies told to them constantly by the politicians”.

It is, therefore, frightening that the “Raila Cabinet Secretaries” have swiftly joined the lying queue that is the Ruto Cabinet. They exhibit the very demi-god attitudes that Kenyans continue to express themselves against.

Only a day ago, Mbadi claimed that Kenyans were crying over pocket change in their lamentations that they are over-taxed. This is baffling.

For his part, Wandayi was left with egg on his face defending the dubious Adani deal that the President later “cancelled”.

Author Profile

For these and more credible stories, join our revamped Telegram and WhatsApp channels.
Advertisement