Ole Sapit to Ruto: We Knew Most of Your Promises Were Unrealistic; Admit

President William Ruto (right) and ACK Archbishop display a t-shirt after a meeting at State House on March 16, 2023.
President William Ruto (right) and ACK Archbishop display a t-shirt after a meeting at State House on March 16, 2023.
Photo
PCS

The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya Jackson Ole Sapit, on Thursday, May 25, told President William Ruto that his 2022 campaign pledges were unrealistic.

Sapit warned the Head of State that he risks losing Kenyans' confidence and faith in his words if he continues to make promises yet not fulfilling the most urgent ones.

"I know you made heavy promises during campaigns, and we knew that most of them we unrealistic. Those promises portrayed Kenya as a little even immediately after the elections.

Provost Sammy Wainaina (far left), Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit and clergy members welcome former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Margaret Kenyatta anfd Raila
Provost Sammy Wainaina (far left), Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, and clergy members pose for a photo with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, ex-First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, and Azimio Chief Raila Odinga after a church service in 2021.
All Saints Cathedral

"It is the moment to face the truth! Just come out and tell Kenyans that the promises we made were unrealistic, and now let's go to prioritization," Ole Sapit stated.

Ole Sapit explained that Ruto could be putting too much pressure on the nation by trying to look different from the nature of politicians across the world.

"Identify the national priorities in a manner that would offer solutions to the most pressing needs of the country.

"Should you try to push so hard to achieve what you promised yet we all know that we don't the resources to deliver, then you are going to break everybody's back," Sapi noted.

Sapit's warning came at a time the Kenya Kwanza regime was under pressure to honour pledges amid a struggling economy that saw the prices of essential commodities skyrocket. 

For instance, the housing fund, which is closer to becoming law, has caused widespread condemnation among Kenyans across the country. 

"You will also break your back while trying to achieve what you know so well have will be impossible in the short term. Let us humble ourselves and face the truth and re-schedule the promises.

"When the promises we make cannot give us the right results, then we should stop and ask ourselves how to move on from where we are," Sapit stated. 

President Ruto's key election pledges leading to the August 2022 Presidential candidates included a reduction of the cost of living in the first 100 days in office.

Ruto explained that he would invest in agriculture and increase food production locally in order to create a surplus system that would be sold cheaply.

To achieve this, Ruto's administration ratified a fertiliser subsidy that allowed farmers to buy a 50kg-bag at Ksh3,500 down from over Ksh6,000. The president argued that the approach would lover cost of production and increase yields. 

President Ruto also pledged to create one million jobs per year by investing in manufacturing and infrastructure, including the Affordable Housing Programme.

 

President William Ruto on a car in Kiambu County during campaigns in 2022
President William Ruto on a car in Kiambu County during campaigns in 2022
Photo
UDA