Raila hopes for better year, times in 2023

Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has termed the year 2022, which came to an end last night, as difficult.

Raila, in his new year message, said last year’s hotly contested general election and harsh economic circumstances made life unbearable for many Kenyans.

He, however, said he is buoyed and looking forward to a better year and better times in 2023 and beyond.

“We have come to the end of 2022. We thank God that we are able to usher in 2023 in celebrations. As we celebrate, it’s also incumbent upon the nation to recalibrate,” the statement reads.

“For one we’ve had a difficult 2022, with a hotly contested election once again. Living conditions were made more trying by the difficult economic circumstances that prevailed and continue as we usher in the New Year.

“I am however bouyed and looking forward to a better year and better times in 2023 and beyond.”

To help steer the country in the right direction, Raila said he looks forward to a robust conversation on ways how to “improve our constitution and governance institutions”.

We had a challenging 2022, with a hotly contested election leading to circumstances exacerbated by the difficult economic conditions prevailing as we enter 2023.

We do, however, expect a better year and better times. Happy New Year. pic.twitter.com/RELkHuOBhA

— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) December 31, 2022

Raila has in recent months continued to pile pressure on the Kenya Kwanza administration led by President William Ruto to address the high cost of living in the country that has seen prices of basic commodities hit the roof.

Last week, the ODM party leader, who lost the August 2022 presidential election to Ruto, said the Head of State had failed to honor the promises he made to Kenyans during the campaign period.

Raila said Ruto’s first 100 days in leadership have been full of unattained promises.

He accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of “pulling more Kenyans out of the frying pan and threw them into the flames”.

“These have been 100 days on the road to nowhere. Kenyans are worse off than they were during the campaigns when UDA promises flowed,” Raila said in a statement.

“Where Kenyans expected and deserved a massive stimulus package to bail them out of the devastating economic circumstances, they got hit with the cancelation of the subsidies that had cushioned millions from the pain,” the former prime minister said.

“Off went subsidies on petrol, diesel, electricity, paraffin and school fees in these 100 days. Quietly they did away with cash transfer to the elderly, Pesa ya Wazee and took away the Linda Mama programme that covered maternal services for economically disadvantaged mothers.”

President Ruto has in the past defended the government’s move to scrap subsidies, insisting that they were not only costly but prone to abuse.