Stop blame game: Uhuru warns government over rising cost of living, tribal politics

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday sharply criticised President William Ruto’s administration, urging it to listen to Kenyans’ grievances instead of engaging in political distractions.

Addressing Kiambu Jubilee delegates, Uhuru said, “I warned you,” decrying what he described as the country’s slide into tribal politics, mudslinging and tone-deaf leadership. He blamed the government for fuelling dangerous political passions.

The former president urged the Kenya Kwanza leadership to listen to public concerns and avoid what he termed red-herring distractions such as tribal rhetoric, saying attention should instead be focused on the “elephant in the room” — the high cost of living, worsened by the recent rise in fuel prices.

“The issue is simple. Kenyans are strained and salaries can no longer sustain them. That is the concern of Kenyans. If you people want help, say so and we shall offer help. But instead of addressing the issue, they (Kenya Kwanza) are busy pointing fingers at individuals,” Uhuru said.

Uhuru advised Jubilee Party leadership and aspirants to desist from exchanging insults or responding to political barbs, and instead focus on consolidating their grassroots support.

He also criticised Ruto’s 2022 campaign slogan, which leaned on the “dynasty versus hustler” narrative and gave rise to the bottom-up economic model, saying it had failed to deliver.

“How has the dynasty and hustler narrative helped this nation? They are now selling the tribal card. How will this help us as a nation? It will give us nothing apart from problems. Let us remain focused on improving the economy. We must support each other,” Uhuru said.

The former president reminded delegates that he had warned them about the political direction the country was taking during the last General Election, but they ignored him.

“You insulted me and told me that you knew and understood what you were doing. Eventually, you elected praise-and-worship men and women whose job is to sing praises to the current leadership while forgetting their mandate to work for you. You must now reflect after seeing the effects of your decision,” Uhuru said.

The former president told the delegates that while it is normal for politicians to distribute money during campaign periods, voters should remain alert on election day, saying it is the day that determines the country’s destiny.

Targeting Central Kenya

He also joined other leaders in condemning Omar Hassan over remarks perceived to target the Central Kenya region along tribal lines.

He noted that all Kenyans belong to the country regardless of ethnicity and said there was no justification for leaders to sow tribal divisions among communities.

In remarks apparently directed at Hassan, Uhuru said it was shameful for leaders to make inflammatory ethnic statements in public. 

“We have seen some people standing before their leaders and shamelessly targeting a community while their leader just sits there and does not stop such rhetoric,” he said.

He warned that failure to contain divisive politics could plunge the country into instability similar to the 2007/2008 post-election violence.

“The tribal animosity witnessed in 2007 started in this manner, and I am putting the security apparatus of this nation on notice not to entertain this kind of politics. We need to sell our agenda and manifesto to the people, not conflict,” Uhuru said.

The former president cited Kiambu as an example of a cosmopolitan county inhabited by people from almost all Kenyan communities, living together peacefully.

“People in Kiambu have elected leaders from outside their community to positions such as MCAs and other political offices. Every Kenyan must feel free to work and live anywhere in this country. We must reject this kind of backward politics,” the former president said.

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, while addressing delegates, said Uhuru had summoned security chiefs and instructed them to ensure a peaceful transfer of power after the 2022 elections because he had learnt the importance of orderly transitions from former President Mwai Kibaki.

“You said that you would hand over the mantle peacefully regardless of who won, and indeed you did. We were commended for that act. Today, however, there is too much pride. Retirement should not be treated like house arrest. We must be a civilised nation and behave as such. We are tired of these constant threats. A former president has a right to speak,” Matiang’i said.

He added that Uhuru’s name had become a punching bag for critics. “When people fail in their mandate, their main occupation becomes insulting and blaming others because of their own ineptitude,” he said.

He dismissed the accusations as ‘nonsense’, saying Jubilee stood for issue-based politics but that leaders aligned to the government were pushing them to the edge. He said Uhuru was a respected statesman and urged politicians to desist from dragging him into their political disputes.