Piece by: ALLAN KISIA

21 July 2024

• They said fixing the crisis will not be short term measure.

Fixing the country’s problems will be a long-term venture, guests at a special reunion episode of the iconic Crossfire radio show have said.

The guests, former Cabinet minister Mukhisa Kituyi, lawyer Judy Thongori, and Mathare Social Justice Centre activist Wanjira Wanjiru, suggested that President William Ruto can take certain measures to improve things for Kenyans in the short term.

“When an economy is down and battered, you cannot get it out of trouble by raising taxes,” Kituyi stated. He lamented that government leaders have been flaunting their wealth while ordinary Kenyans struggle with the high cost of living.

“We saw Cabinet Secretaries hiring choppers to attend funerals and showing off expensive watches when Kenyans are struggling to put food on the table,” he added.

The episode was hosted by Radio Africa Group's founding Chief Executive Officer Patrick Quarcoo, assisted by Head of Content Paul Ilado. Kituyi cautioned the President against confronting the youth with hostile taxes to fund his programmes.

“The government does not create employment; it creates conditions for employment. This government should be less hostile to enterprises,” he advised.

Thongori recommended austerity measures as the first step in addressing the crisis. “Austerity measures will be the low-hanging fruit that the President can start with,” she said.

Wanjira urged the President to adhere to the rule of law and ensure there is no corruption in the government.

“We want to see leaders resign on the basis of incompetence. On Tuesday, we want the older generation to join us in the streets. We want to see who holds the power, Ruto or Kenyans,” she added.

Wanjira emphasized the importance of implementing Article 43 of the Constitution on social justice. “People are on the streets because they cannot eat, they have no jobs, yet the political class is showing us how much money they have stolen from us,” she stated.

Thongori said lawyers are going to join Gen Z in holding public officers accountable. “What brings tears to my eyes is that we have one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, one which we celebrated in 2010,” she said.

Kituyi advised the President to lower the cost of energy and provide incentives for local production. “Make Kenya the place to go for investors,” he explained.