By Bonface Mulyungi

Opposition MPs have defended retired President Uhuru Kenyatta following attacks from the UDA party, which accused him of failing Kenyans during his tenure in office.

The legislators, drawn from UDA, Wiper and Jubilee parties and operating under the United Alternative Government banner, accused President William Ruto of running out of options to improve the lives of Kenyans and revive the struggling economy.

The 27 MPs were responding to a letter authored by UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar and Chairperson Cecily Mbarire, which described the retired president’s administration as a failure.

“The letter issued by UDA was insulting, reckless and uncalled for. It was a form of panic. It is an admission that they have run out of options,” stated Naivasha MP Jane Kihara.

The lawmakers argued that President Ruto should focus on addressing the challenges facing Kenyans instead of engaging in political exchanges with his predecessor.

“Kenyans did not elect you, Mr President, to write letters to Uhuru Kenyatta. They elected you to lower the cost of living,” stated Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua.

The opposition leaders further told President Ruto that he was an integral part of the administration that his party is now criticising.

“If there was failure, Ruto was Deputy President. If there was corruption, Ruto was Deputy President. You cannot sit at a table for ten years and after that say you were just passing by the kitchen,” stated Nyali lawmaker Mohamed Ali.

The MPs accused President Ruto of failing to stabilise the economy and instead increasing the country’s borrowing burden.

“You cannot accuse the past administration of borrowing, yet you continue to borrow,” stated Jubilee’s Jeremiah Kioni. 

Ali also criticised the government’s communication strategy, saying ordinary Kenyans were more concerned about economic realities than political rhetoric.

“A mother in the market does not feed her children with propaganda. A patient in hospital does not survive on press statements,” he stated.

The leaders further accused the government of neglecting the concerns of Kenyans over high taxation and the rising cost of living.

“Taxation has gone up, fuel prices are no longer affordable, uncertainty in healthcare and growing public frustration and police excesses have become the order of the day,” stated Ali.

Meanwhile, the opposition announced that it will field a single candidate to face the UDA candidate in the upcoming Ol Kalou by-election scheduled for July 16.