The video was compiled by a popular Kenyan comedian, Blessed Njugush (@BlessedNjugush on Twitter). I added English captions to cover the Kiswahili bits.
The clips showcase our current president's utterances and promises during the campaign trail. Despite his remarks, in the past two weeks:
He has sponsored a finance bill that would, among other things, increase the taxes paid by Kenyan citizens. This is in addition to the taxes he added last financial year.
He has just commanded the Kenya Defense Forces to patrol the streets tomorrow (Thursday, 27th, 2024) to combat protestors.
His security forces have kidnapped and tortured Kenyans with large online followings. All this without due process.
Remember what he said in the clip?
“If you have good ideas, why do you need blackmail and intimidation?”
Unfortunately for him, he is dealing with a generation that is no longer content to participate in collective amnesia. They are done with pretending he is not doing contrary to what he promised.
Beyond that, it is becoming increasingly clear that his government is misappropriating a lot of funds.
The president keeps coming back to the Kenyan citizens for more taxes, but those in government keep flaunting their wealth—the kind of wealth that does not tally with the salaries they receive.
So tomorrow, Kenyans ride at dawn. Again! Undeterred by the police brutality and a president who called them treasonous for demanding accountability.
As a Kenyan, the past two weeks have been inspiring and heartbreaking—inspiring because I have never seen my country this united, and heart-breaking because reports thus far indicate that at least 17 young Kenyans are dead.
These are unprecedented times, and I am terrified that Kenya will end up worse when all we wanted was better.
Thank you for reading.
If You've Been Wondering What's Going on in Kenya