President William Ruto recently pointed to the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a significant factor contributing to the high cost of living in Kenya.
This is a shift from his previous stance in early 2022 when he downplayed the impact of the war on the country’s economic situation.
Speaking during a media roundtable at State House Nairobi on Sunday, Ruto acknowledged the challenging circumstances he faced upon assuming office.
He highlighted the confluence of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and climate change-induced drought, which collectively led to a global situation causing increased prices for imported commodities and a heightened demand for the dollar.
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Ruto explained, “The issue of exchange rate is a factor of many aspects.
As you know, I came into office when there was a lot of fluid activity in the space, we had a serious situation caused by Covid, we had a big war in Europe, a huge drought caused by climate change, and all those factors combined to create a situation globally that increased the prices of commodities that we import, and demand for the dollar.”
The roots of this narrative trace back to May 1, 2022, when then-President Uhuru Kenyatta attributed the escalating cost of living in Kenya to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and urged politicians, including Ruto, to refrain from blaming him for the economic challenges.
Ruto, who was a presidential candidate at the time and engaged in a heated campaign to succeed Kenyatta, countered Kenyatta’s accusations.
He dismissed the Ukraine connection and advocated for addressing the cost of living crisis through increased investment in agriculture and the doubling of farm produce.
“This whole story about Ukraine is a lost cause,” asserted Ruto on June 30, rejecting his boss’s remarks.
He emphasized that the key to addressing the cost of living challenge lies in boosting agricultural productivity and pledged support for farmers through fertilizer and seed subsidies to enhance post-harvest management.
President Ruto has shifted his stance on the influence of the Russia-Ukraine war on Kenya’s cost of living, attributing it to a combination of global factors, including the conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change.
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President Ruto Connects Russia-Ukraine War To Kenya’s High Cost Of Living, President Ruto Connects Russia-Ukraine War To Kenya’s High Cost Of Living
