The Chairperson of the presidential Council of Economic Advisers, David Ndii on Thursday, July 13, chided the opposition's anti-government protests, stating that they will not reverse the recent policies which have triggered a new wave of demos.
Ndii ridiculed Azimio La Umoja Coalition, telling the leaders to either overthrow the government if they are able to or wait for the 2027 Elections.
"We are not budging. Overthrow the government if you are able, otherwise wait for elections," he stated.
"We contested and won the election on a platform of upsetting the status quo. I would be very alarmed if the status quo was not upset. Bring it on."
Ndii's comment was in response to a Kenyan who questioned the economic thinking behind recent policies which appears to have given the opposition fuel to their quest against President William Ruto.
The Kenyan argued that the civil disobedience witnessed across the country due to the mass protests had shaken the country to its core. He noted that the protests should be a wake-up call to the Kenya Kwanza administration to listen to Kenyans' pleas.
"Yesterday’s (Wednesday) civil disobedience across the country was a shocker to the country’s leadership including Raila Odinga. The people are tired. Economic advisors to the President, it’s time to show your worth," he pointed out.
The Finance Act, which has since been suspended by the High Court, proposed a raft of new taxes that would have seen employees’ payslips shrink and the cost of some commodities like fuel spike beyond the reach of many ordinary Kenyans.
Kenyans' discontentment with the rising cost of living and Kenya Kwanza's push for the new taxes have given the opposition fodder, leading to the mass protests witnessed on Wednesday, July 12, across 25 counties.
Economic experts have faulted Ruto for introducing new taxes instead of cutting wastages in government and reducing spending. The new taxes come on the back of a tough economic environment, pushing Kenyans further into poverty.
"My position of two months ago remains. This is the most aggressive and insensitive Finance Act ever in Kenya. The President was told squeezing water out of stones aka taxing folks to death is the only alternative to incurring more debt. He was sold a revenue problem! Counterproductive," Wehliye Mohammed, an economics expert, explained.
Opposition chief Raila Odinga now wants Ruto to repeal the Act and remove all the new taxes and levies including the controversial Housing Fund.
