Kenya: Uhuru Kenyatta announces measures against inflation before the presidential election

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, during a speech during an Igad summit in Nairobi, July 5, 2022. AFP - TONY KARUMBA

Text by: RFI Follow

3 mins

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta spoke to the press on Wednesday July 20 to discuss the soaring cost of living, a major concern for Kenyans ahead of the August 9 elections.

Commodity prices keep rising due to drought, Covid-19 and war in Ukraine.

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With our correspondent in Nairobi,

The two-kilo packet of corn flour had risen to more than 1.60 euros – a record – but it will now be sold at 80 cents.

President Uhuru Kenyatta announced fiscal measures on Wednesday to halve its price.

Corn flour, which is used to cook ugali, the white paste that accompanies most Kenyan meals, has also dominated his speech.

The Head of State pointed out that his price tended to increase before each election, citing the 2013 and 2017 polls. He then asked a question: " 

 »

The outgoing president notably accused some millers or corn sellers of keeping stocks to control prices, participating in their soaring.

Then criticized politicians for instrumentalizing the economic crisis for electoral purposes.

While the campaign is in full swing, he wanted to send them a message:

To politicize the pain of the most vulnerable without offering them solutions is to make fun of the lifestyles of the very people whose votes you seek.

The collaboration between the actors of the economic sector and the political class must be done for the benefit of the citizens of our republic.

And if it brings misery, like the rise in the price of corn at each election, it is up to the voters to put an end to it.

President Kenyatta also made sure to defend his economic record: he notably recalled the tax breaks put in place during the Covid-19 crisis or the government-funded fuel subsidies.

Uhuru Kenyatta cannot stand again this year because he has already served two terms, but he has shown his support for the candidate invested by his party, his

.

The latter faces three other candidates, including the current vice-president, William Ruto.

■ William Ruto accused of wanting to settle scores with Uhuru Kenyatta

In Kenya, William Ruto, the vice-president candidate for

on August 9, granted an interview to RFI on Thursday July 21.

Two issues mark the current campaign: state revenues which are at half mast and the fight against corruption which seems to be unable to succeed while many dignitaries and politicians in power are in the line of fire.

William Ruto is accused by his adversaries of wanting to settle accounts with the outgoing president with the firm intention of prosecuting him for corruption if he is elected.

The coalition candidate denies this, but intends to reform the anti-corruption system.

William Ruto, Kenyan presidential candidate, says he does not want to settle accounts with the president

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• Kenya

• Uhuru Kenyatta