Deputy President Rigathi on Kenyan Economy
It’s been exactly three weeks since Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alongside his boss President William Ruto was sworn in. Deputy President Rigathi has portrayed an arid picture of today’s Kenya’s economy. Speaking during a recent interview, DP Rigathi stated that the situation is terrible but there is hope the current storm will pass.
“Tumekosa maneno ya Foreign Exchange hata jana pale katika benki kuu hakukuwa na zile pesa za kigeni za kutosha kuagiza mafuta kutoka nchi za nje,” Deputy President Rigathi said.
(The Country’s financial situation is so bad that the country does not have enough foreign exchange reserves in the central bank to import oil from foreign countries)
The Deputy President expressed hope that the situation would be settled. The DP also stated that the government’s top priority is to use the available resources to increase food production in the country. He held responsible the current situation on the previous administration. Deputy President Rigathi claimed that the situation happened three months before the current government took over.
“Why there was a forex problem is because of state capture. There was a lot of interest in banks where very senior people in government own certain banks and they got involved in this forex business” the Deputy President said.
In accordance with Rigathi’s statement, the situation has also been worsened by a couple of other elements including unpaid bills adding up to five hundred billion Kenyan shillings.
Deputy President Rigathi said that the government halted the fuel subsidy program due to lack of cash in the government. The DP further stated that if the subsidies would not have come to an end it would have brought the Kenya’s economy to its knees in the long run.
“Kama tungeendelea nchi ingekuja kuzorota na kuangamia na tungekuja kusimama.. tushindwe kulipa mishahara, kununua mafuta.. chakula ..ningetaka kuwaambia wakenya kwamba hali ni ngumu lakini iko matumaini,” DP Gachagua added.
The Deputy President also conveyed a message of hope, that the current situation will be resolved using the available resources.
