The Azimio coalition has expressed serious concern regarding the worsening economic crises in Kenya.
Opiyo Wandayi, the National Assembly Minority Leader, speaking on behalf of Azimio on Friday, said that the country was facing a bleak future if the situation is not addressed urgently.
He called for an audit of the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) revenue collection and management systems to identify pilferage, which he cited as the root cause of the crises.
Wandayi alleged that the the government had been unable to meet its basic obligations since December 2022, and the situation had only worsened.
He blamed the government’s incompetence and criminal elements in the KRA for the crises. He also accused the Ruto administration of hiding the true state of the economy from the public.
Wandayi claimed that the Members of Parliament had not been paid their March salaries, except for the security services, which was later refuted by Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale.
Wandayi said that county governments were also struggling to pay salaries, which was posing a significant challenge to service delivery.
Wandayi suggested a parliamentary inquiry into the matter and urged a thorough investigation into the operations of individuals and systems at the National Treasury, the Central Bank of Kenya, and the Kenya Revenue Authority.
He attributed corruption, tribalism, nepotism, incompetence, and theft at critical revenue collection points to wrong spending priorities.
Wandayi urged the government not to blame COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, and the global economic meltdown but instead to address the challenges facing Kenyans.
