President William Ruto needs to convince Kenyans that his Kenya Kwanza government is up to the task, ODM national chairperson John Mbadi has said.
Mbadi spoke a few hours before President William Ruto's State Of the Nation address in Parliament on Thursday.
Speaking in an interview with NTV on Thursday, Mbadi said he has little faith in Ruto
"I have very little faith in President Ruto’s Cabinet. We must find solutions to the challenges facing Kenyans," he said.
He noted that it has been 15 months since Ruto took power and the country can not continue to operate in what he termed as excuses.
“Ruto needs to convince us that his government is up to the task ahead of his address,” Mbadi added.
Ruto is expected to deliver his first-ever State of the Nation address since taking over power in September last year.
The President will address a joint Parliamentary sitting of both the National Assembly and the Senate on Thursday afternoon.
Speakers from both Houses, Moses Wetang'ula (National Assembly) and Amason Kingi (Senate) had called on all members to avail themselves at the Parliament buildings.
The last State of the Nation address was issued by former President Uhuru Kenyatta on November 30, 2021.
Article 132 of the Constitution states that; Once every year, a report, in an address to the nation, on all the measures taken and the progress achieved in the realisation of the national values.
The address comes at a time when there are cries by Kenyans over the skyrocketing cost of living since the Kenya Kwanza administration took over.
The government had already sent a clear message about how it will deal with the cost of living.
“My government will lower the cost of living,” President Ruto said on September 13, 2023, after being sworn in.
A survey conducted in late July by Tifa research firm showed that 79 per cent of those polled thought the ever-rising cost of living was driving the country in the wrong direction.
Kenyans are expecting that the President will address the high cost of living and perhaps give hope on how prices including basic commodities, and fuel will be reduced.