Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked Kenyans to tighten their belts for hard times and expect the economy to improve after two years.
Gachagua said new tax measures proposed in the controversial Finance Bill are the only ways to correct the mess he says was occasioned by the previous regime.
The opposition Azimio coalition has threatened to reject the bill in totality saying it will over burden Kenyans with taxes.
But Gachagua insists the bill is pro-mwananchi and the jobless youths.
The deputy president said Azimio threats, intimidations and demands have no room in the Kenya Kwanza government.
He said it is time Kenyans made tough decisions to correct mistakes of the past.
“The greatness of a leader is to make hard decisions. We found a dilapidated economy and empty coffers and President Ruto must make hard decisions to turn around the economy. The little noise is okay for us and in the next two years, Kenyans will know how we endeared to liberate the country,” Gachagua said.
He was speaking at Three Steers Hotel in Makutano town, Meru county during a coffee stakeholder’s conference.
Governors, Senators, Women Reps, MPs and MCAs and technocrats from 33 coffee-growing counties were present.
Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi said the conference will ensure that views of the farmers will put the government to task to ensure positive reforms.
“Our farmers will get back to where they were in the early 90s. I would want to know where the rains started beating us……I am happy to be here to listen to coffee farmers, leaders of various cooperatives to give us ideas on how we can do better,” Linturi said.
Gachagua reiterated Kenya Kwanza government's commitment to revive the coffee subsector in the country.
“Coffee production is down because farmers were getting nothing. We are all products of the coffee subsector. In high school, head teachers would interview parents and a parent at a position to own coffee, automatically secured admission to the school without a single coin. We went to school through coffee proceeds and if it worked then, it must work now. History will judge you kindly if you come up with pragmatic and put money to farmers’ pockets. Market our coffee and farmers get commensurate returns for farmers and the production will increase,” Gachagua said.
He said it is unacceptable for farmers to live in poverty when the prices of coffee at the international market are good.
“We must rewrite the history of Kenyan coffee, which dates back to 1894. This brand was and still is known across the world by its superior and distinct aroma and flavour. President Ruto and I have zero vested interests beyond saving the farmer. Indeed, coffee is a legacy crop for the Kenya Kwanza administration,” he said.
The deputy president also made a call to legislators to support the government in proposing the laws and policies to address systemic issues in the coffee subsector.
Gachagua said President Ruto’s administration will implement the laws and other policies through the ministries saying that there is no room for brokers.
“Time is over for the cartels in the coffee sector. The farmer must get 90 to 95 per cent of returns from the crop. We will institute radical reforms to achieve this,” the DP said.
Cabinet secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Moses Kuria noted the need to revamp the subsector.
“We must take coffee to the powerful level it was. Before, a membership card of a coffee cooperative society was more credible than a banker’s cheque because coffee had good returns” Kuria said.
Azimio wants Ruto to adopt zero-based budgeting and stop taking on the previous budget as the baseline.
Raila said every budget must start at ground zero where everything has to be justified.
The ODM leader said Ruto should not grow the size of the budget but rather cut it down and live within the means.
"Instead of imposing new taxes, seal the loopholes that lead to loss of revenue," he said.
Raila added that the President should stop non-essential government expenditures including the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries.
He wants Ruto to reduce the size of the government and cut non-essential domestic and international travel.
The opposition boss said Ruto should freeze ministerial out-of-station allowances, ministerial house allowances and domestic allowances for cabinet and principal secretaries.
He said the President should stop corruption and theft of public funds.
"We ask Ruto to humble himself, withdraw this bill, offer an apology and seek forgiveness from Kenyans for the anxiety caused, then begin afresh."