Kamukunji declaration: Azimio lists 11 demands Ruto should fulfill by January 2023

Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition has listed 11 demands that President William Ruto's regime should fulfill by January 2023.

Through National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, Azimio said Ruto's government has failed to fulfill its promises so far and Kenyans are hurting.

"We are convinced that we are witnessing the emergence of a most uncaring, uncharitable, and cold-hearted regime in the history of our country.

"We are witnessing a lack of empathy, a coldness, and arrogance that are at odds with the times.

"Consequently, there is a need for Ruto regime to be put under intense scrutiny and pressure by Kenyans and be forced to return to the people’s agenda, which the regime has discarded," Wandayi said during Azimio consultative forum with supporters at Kamukunji Grounds on Wednesday, December 7.

The coalition wants the cost of living brought down as promised by the Kenya Kwanza alliance during the campaign period.

"The Ruto administration be pressured to institute measures to reduce cost of basic commodities, particularly by restoring subsidies to unga, fuel, school fees and electricity beginning January 2023 failure to which Kenyans will be free to take such steps as they may deem fit to ease the burden of the yoke upon their shoulders," Wandayi stated.

Azimio further took issue with the reintroduction of high school fees saying Kenyans were not stable economically to sustain any increase in the cost of basic education.

"In particular, the Ruto regime must restore the school fees subsidy that saw the ministry reduce fees in all secondary schools and special needs schools.

"Ruto needs to understand that while his fortunes may have changed for the better, for a majority of parents if not all, the economic situation has become worse or remained the same," he added.

At the same time, Raila's coalition wants cash transfers to the elderly to be restored.

"The Ruto regime be made to immediately restore and enhance the subsidies in the area of social safety in the form of cash transfer to the elderly, pesa ya wazee and Linda Mama that covered maternal issues for economically disadvantaged mothers which have since been withdrawn.

"The Ruto regime be pressured and be made to institute discipline, order, and clarity in its ranks so that Kenyans can have clarity on critical policy issues failure to which Kenyans will be at liberty to disobey the incoherent roadside declarations being issued by his incompetent officers," Wandayi stated.

Azimio on IEBC

The coalition also took issue with the manner in which Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) four commissioners were treated during the disciplinary process in Parliament.

"The Ruto regime be pressed to embrace the rule of law, and embark on an inclusive and consultative process of reconstituting the IEBC failure to which Kenyans will be free to resort to other measures that will enable them to attain this goal.

"In strict adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law, Ruto be pressed to take steps to ensure that the composition of the civil service reflects the ethnic, regional, religious and gender diversity of our land and that it rewards competence and is free of tribalism, favouritism and nepotism and in compliance with the Integrity provisions of the constitution," they said.

The coalition also wants the reinstatement of the Kazi Mtaani program and Hustler Fund be constituted in line with the rule of law, correct legislation, and without illegal threats to the youths who tap into it.

"Ruto be compelled to permanently discard any ideas and plans to bring GM crops and seeds to Kenya because of the grave danger they pose our health, environment and seeds.

"The administration must adhere to the rule of law and constitutional provisions on public participation and enactment of relevant legislation.

"We repeat that the only reason Africans have not starved to extinction is our indigenous seeds which any mother with a jembe and a piece of land can proceed to plant and replant season after season and get a little food for the night.

"If we were to wait for seeds from Europe and the Americas every season, we would be long gone," the coalition stated.