Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has strongly criticized Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio political faction, for making demands of the current Kenyan government.
Gachagua made his remarks in Meru County, stating that Raila has no authority to issue demands to the administration. He questioned Raila’s position and asked who had elected him to make such demands, suggesting that he should wait until 2027 to try and persuade the people to support him.
Raila, on the other hand, called on President William Ruto to withdraw the Finance Bill 2023 and apologize to Kenyans. Speaking at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation, Raila expressed concern over the bill, which has caused anxiety among the Kenyan population. He urged Ruto to show humility by retracting the bill, apologizing to the public, and seeking forgiveness for the distress caused.
Raila also criticized the duplication of roles and responsibilities between the national and county governments, specifically highlighting the Ministry of Health’s consumption of a significant portion of revenue despite health being a devolved function. He advocated for a zero-based budgeting approach that doesn’t rely on previous budgets as a baseline.
Furthermore, Raila called for the elimination of ministerial out-of-station allowances, ministerial house allowances, and domestic allowances for Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries. He proposed freezing these allowances to reduce government expenditure.
Gachagua’s comments dismiss Raila’s demands, asserting that Raila lacks the authority to make such requests. Raila, however, stands firm on his demands, emphasizing the need for the government to address the concerns of the Kenyan people, revise the budget, and eliminate unnecessary allowances. The political exchange reflects the ongoing tensions and divergent perspectives within Kenyan politics.