This new year, President William Ruto promises to reduce the runaway cost of living. He has laid all his hopes on increased food production that he says will see food prices drop, declaring triumphantly on Jamhuri Day "The rains are finally here."

Ruto's solution is to subsidise fertiliser costs, which he says will lead to cheaper agricultural production. But those lower prices will have to wait until October which will mark the one year, President Ruto said he needed to lower the cost of living. In the intervening months, however, life is set to get much harder, courtesy of the president's publicly stated dislike for consumption subsidies.

Starting today, you will pay 15 per cent more for electricity following the president's move to end electricity subsidies. Just recently, he ended subsidies on kerosene and diesel. The net effect will be higher cost of energy, which will undoubtedly hit the most vulnerable homes, many of which depend on kerosene for cooking and lighting.