We demand answers on fuel shortage

Leaders of Kenya Kwanza Alliance have sought an immediate explanation from President Uhuru Kenyatta over the current shortage of fuel in the country.

Accusing the President and his government of being behind the shortage that has seen the pump prices hiked to an high of over Sh240 per litre in some parts of the country, Amani National Congress Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi questioned why there is shortage in the country yet the neighboring country of Uganda is operating normal.

Noting that the fuel used in Uganda passes through Kenya, Mudavadi said it beats logic why Kenyans are suffering at the pump.

“We want an explanation from the President as to what is happening with the current fuel crisis. Is someone hoarding to create temporary shortage so as to hike the prices and get money for Azimio campaigns?” posed Mudavadi in Bukalama, Nambale constituency of Busia County.

Accompanied by Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula, former Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba, Kakamega senator and governor aspirant Cleophas Malala, former Sports CS Rashid Echesa and a host of other leaders, Mudavadi noted that with fuel shortage, farmers stand to suffer more during the on-going planting season.

Mudavadi questioned why the government is not using the Fuel Stabilization Fund to help lower the pump price.

“We recently saw the fertilizer money diverted to security, which eventually get its way to the Azimio campaigns. Has the Fuel Stabilization Fund also been diverted to security?” asked the Kenya Kwanza principal.

The govt should tap into the Fuel Stabilization Fund to cushion Kenyans at the pump.

Recently, we saw the govt divert funds for fertilizer to security.

Is the same being done to the fuel fund? Truth is, the diverted funds are used in Azimio campaigns while Kenyans suffer. pic.twitter.com/R9GH5VLuek

— Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) March 29, 2022

The Amani leader regretted that the ministers of Agriculture and Finance are all quite while Kenyans continue to suffer, wondering if they are hiding the truth from Kenyans.

“The shortage will directly affect the farmers and ultimately make our country food insecure. We also demand an answer for the continued rise in food prices and fertilizer despite the fact that money budgeted for subsidy was diverted to other things,” said Mudavadi at the meeting attended by aspirants, opinion leaders and delegates drawn from parties making up the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

“This is the planting season and if there is no fuel and fertilizer, then how will the country be food secure?” posed Mudavadi.

Mr Wetang’ula urged the Busia people to strengthen parties of the region making up the Kenya Kwanza.

He accused the Azimio la Kenya leader Raila Odinga of not appreciating support from people of western despite having stood with him over the years he has vied for the presidency.

He regretted that the only thanks Raila has given the community is abusing it’s leaders and engineering their downfall from parliamentary leadership.

“If you want to know that Raila does not value our people, just ask yourself since he entered the government through the handshake, what has he brought to the community? He has taken over Sh250 billion to his people. All the Cabinet slots he was given, he fronted people from his backyard,” said Wetang’ula.

The Bungoma senator urged the people of Busia not to let the Luhya nation down, assuring them that the Kenya Kwanza alliance is well poised to form the 5th government of Kenya and the community interests are well represented.

Wetang’ula urged President Uhuru to stop shielding Raila and let him run the campaigns on his own so that his competitors can hit him well ‘where it matters’.

Ababu urged the Luhya people to stand behind Kenya kwanza accusing ODM of treating the western community as second class voting citizens.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Ababu hit out at Raila, accusing him of disregarding the community and only sees its value when it comes to elections

“Wetang’ula in the last elections went around the region and the country campaigning for Raila and the only thanks they gave him was to dislodge him from Leader of Minority seat. As if that was not enough, they tried to take away his party. This is not the person to work with,” he said.

The former Budalang’i MP noted that ODM party has in the past treated the Luhya nation with a lot of contempt to the extend of toppling MPs of the region from leadership positions in Parliament.

Ababu applauded the coming together of Mudavadi and Wetang’ula and their resolve to work together and support one of their own to deputize William Ruto in the August elections.

“From the north to the south, east to the west, Kenya Kwanza has taken root and we in Luhya nation will be part of the next government. In this Kenya Kwanza alliance, our share is in it and it is solidly guarded by Wetang’ula and Mudavadi. Let’s remain united and ensure Kenya Kwanza forms the next government after August 9th,” said Ababu.

Formers Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa accused Uhuru Kenyatta of amassing wealth at the expense of building the economy and addressing the plight of Kenyans.

He said many Kenyans have been pushed to the poverty line due to high level of corruption and the appetite for loans that end up in individual off-shore accounts.

“When we form this government, I will ask Ruto, Musalia and Wetang’ula to ensure that there is equality in employment across the country,” said Mr. Rashid.

Mr Malala asked the Luhya community to accept being led by Mudavadi and Wetang’ula and follow the direction they show.

He took issue with Raila abuses on Mudavadi, accusing him of being thankless for the sacrifice the Luhya leaders have made for him.

“Musalia and Wetang’ula have stood by Raila. Campaigned for him and even dropped their political ambitions just for him to make it State House, but in return, he thanks Mudavadi by calling him a barking dog when he (Mudavadi) questions the high cost of living,” said Malala.

Senator Malala termed the Raila abuses on Mudavadi as akin to abusing the Luhya people who have bestowed the ANC leader as their leader.

Malala disclosed that in Kenya Kwanza, Mudavadi and Wetang’ula have negotiated for 30 per cent of the government with a number of Cabinet and principal secretaries slots.

He noted that for the 30 per cent slots to be realized, the community must stand behind the two leaders and together, vote for the Kenya Kwanza alliance candidates.

“For us to make it and get what we have negotiated for, we must make use of our numbers and vote in the Kenya Kwanza leaders,” he said.