Blame Uhuru! How Ruto’s regime turned former administration into a punching bag
Sixteen months into office, President William Ruto’s administration continues to accuse the previous regime led by former president Uhuru Kenyatta, and to some extent opposition leader Raila Odinga, for the challenges facing the country.
This blame-shifting trend extends across various areas, encompassing economic challenges, political obstacles, and beyond.
Below are key areas where the Kenya Kwanza government has placed blame on Uhuru’s regime.
Economic challenges
Multiple times, senior figures in President Ruto’s government have blamed the past government for the economic hardships, and especially the high cost of living.
The President and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua have for instance accused former president Kenyatta of borrowing heavily from local and international lenders and failing to properly utilise the funds.
”We were in a situation where we have debts that we have to pay and this has slowed down development. We have scaled down on the borrowing and remain committed to paying the debts,” said Ruto in August 2023.
Corruption allegations
Accusations of corruption with little or no repercussions have dogged the Kenyan political scene for the better part of the last three decades.
In recent times, President Ruto’s regime consistently blames the previous government, of which he was an integral part, for alleged corruption scandals, citing financial mismanagement and lack of accountability. In one instance, the Deputy President accused figures in Uhuru’s regime, whom he did not name, ‘of carting away monies in sacks from the Central Bank’. No one has ever been arrested or questioned about this crime.
Infrastructure development
Recently, Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen blamed the past regime for the infrastructural challenges experienced at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The airport has experienced frequent power outages and a leaking roof, issues the senior government officials say are a result of poor work.
“I have seen some people castigating him (Murkomen) on what he said about what happened at JKIA, but that is the truth,” Gachagua stated.
“People in this country are allergic to the truth. And quite a number have a problem with me, but there is nothing they can do because the truth is the truth,” he added.
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