Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Saturday raised concern over the current state of the Kenyan economy pointing fingers at President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration.
Raila who spoke during a family function in Bondo appeared bothered by the manner in which the government opted to overstretch the country's public debt.
He cautioned the state against burdening Kenyans with taxes in an effort to service loans whose proceeds he observed were largely being lost to a few corrupt individuals.
The ODM leader called for an urgent conversation offering to advise the Head of State and National Treasury CS Henry Rotich on how the government would utilize available resources to develop the country.
Raila advocated for a halt to further borrowing urging the President to seek tips on how the Coalition Government managed to run the Kenyan economy.
"The public debt can be managed without burdening the citizens with taxes. This is manageable because it was done when we were in the Coalition Government," noted Raila.
He held that the country should not borrow too much for the sake of development but can raise more resources to run its ambitious projects by sealing the existing loopholes that give room for corruption to thrive.
"These debts are already too heavy for Kenyans. It is what is forcing the government to impose taxes on innocent Kenyans and we want the government to find other ways to take care of the existing debts other than introducing more taxes," stated the former Prime Minister.
His remarks came amidst public outcry over the recent introduction of 16% VAT on fuel causing an acute shortage of the commodity across the country.
Traders have taken a cautionary approach in the fuel business in fear of making heavy losses in a go-slow that has nearly paralyzed the country's transport sector.
President Kenyatta is yet to speak on the matter but his Deputy William Ruto while in Nyamira on Saturday stated that the government was seeking a quick remedy to the sudden rise in fuel prices.
