Opposition needs to give Kenya an alternative economic plan

Azimio leader Raila Odinga addresses a gathering at Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi on June 27,2023 during a consultative meeting. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Now that the president has signed the Finance Bill into law, focus has shifted to the demonstrations called by the opposition. For an opposition still smarting from election loss, mass action must be attractive since it taps on widespread disaffection engendered by the hard economic times. This option is however ill-advised for a number of reasons.

To start with, given our past history of violent demonstrations, such a move destabilises the country without addressing the underlying economic problems. Despite our political differences all must recognise that survival of the nation is our collective responsibility and not just the government in power. Our opposition must graduate from throwing stones to offering constructive alternative ideas of how to resolve prevailing economic problems.