Vihiga leaders dismiss Jubilee's efforts to lower cost of living

Vihiga Senator George Khaniri arrives at a function in Chavavo, Mungoma ward, together with other aspirants in Amani National Congress party, to drum up support for the party. [Eric Lungai, Standard]

Vihiga leaders have dismissed the Jubilee government’s efforts to lower the cost of living for Kenyans by importing maize.

The leaders said poor governance had taken a toll on Kenyans and would be difficult to tame with only two months to the General Election.

Senator George Khaniri and MPs Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga) and Alfred Agoi (Sabatia) said the recent trip by Deputy President William Ruto to Western region should not be taken seriously.

“When our people are suffering because of the rise in the cost of living due to glaring corruption in the Government, then Mr Ruto comes around telling us they are trying to make the lives of Kenyans better. It beats logic,” said Mr Khaniri during a rally hosted by Amani National Congress party in Chavavo.

CRITICISE GOVERNMENT

While on a tour of the region at the weekend, Mr Ruto claimed Opposition leaders were happy when Kenyans suffered since they only wanted to harp on about such issues to criticise the Government.

But Khaniri dismissed the DP’s sentiments, saying everyone in the country, even Jubilee Party supporters, were suffering because of the high cost of living occasioned by poor leadership.

“The Jubilee government has had scandal after scandal... Now they are denying that Kenyans are suffering,” he said.

“Most of those who are not experiencing the suffering of Kenyans have billions of shillings stashed away, and that is why they do not feel the pinch of the high cost of living.”

Speaking separately, Mr Chanzu said the maize being imported would flood the local market and affect farmers when they started harvesting their crop.

MORE DISASTROUS

The leaders said only the National Super Alliance (NASA) had the interests of the people at heart, and Kenyans should be wise enough to vote Jubilee out.

“It has been a tough four years for the people of Kenya at the hands of the Jubilee administration. No one wants them to return to power because that would be even more disastrous,” Mr Agoi said.

He said NASA was determined to win the election and its first assignment would be to fight the corruption that has stood in the way of development.

The leaders urged residents to vote for NASA and not fall prey to Jubilee’s antics.