Ruto asks Kenyans to prepare for tougher economic times
National
By
David Njaaga
| Jan 30, 2023
President William Ruto has asked Kenyans to prepare for tougher economic times as the government works on modalities to reduce the high cost of living.
Speaking during the opening of four-day MPs post-election seminar in Mombasa on Monday, Ruto said he was aware of the difficulties most Kenyans were undergoing to put food on the table.
Ruto further attributed the high cost of living to misplaced priorities by the previous regime.
"It is true. We have a serious situation of cost of living. We didn't get here overnight. We got here because of a serious of decisions that were not made in the right direction," Ruto said.
"We will not get out of this situation by magic. We will get out of it by clear plans and interventions," he added.
Ruto urged legislators to work together and come up with modalities to minimise non-essential spending.
"I ask you to be understanding and to work with what is possible," he said.
In his previous meeting with journalists at State House in Nairobi Ruto highlighted the government's efforts to reduce the cost of food, including revoking maize subsidies, importing 1.5 million bags of fertilizers, and stopping cartels and brokers that inflate prices.
He also announced plans to import over 10 million bags of maize and make use of public land to produce food.
"We must work methodically to solve the current high cost of food. It will take time to revert this crisis of a packet of maize flour costing Sh230," he said.