In a fervent address, John Paul Mwirigi, Member of Parliament for Igembe South, has denounced the ongoing protests against the Finance Bill, urging President William Ruto to reject further demands from demonstrators.
Over the past few weeks, a series of protests erupted initially to oppose the Finance Bill, with protesters urging President Ruto to refuse to sign it into law. Responding to the public outcry, the president sent a memorandum to the National Assembly, withdrawing the entire bill. However, the demonstrations persisted, evolving to demand the dissolution of the cabinet. President Ruto complied with these demands as well, yet the protests continued, now calling for his resignation.
Mwirigi expressed his concern that the real issue lies deeper than the Finance Bill or the cabinet. He alleged that certain individuals with a thirst for power are organizing and manipulating the protests for their selfish benefit, exploiting innocent young Kenyans and turning them into tools for their inferior agenda. Mwirigi noted that many of these young people are unaware of the true motives behind the demonstrations. He observed that a significant number of those mobilizing protests on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) do not even reside in Kenya. Their primary goal, according to Mwirigi, is to see President Ruto fail despite his efforts to streamline the economy and put Kenya on a path to prosperity.
Highlighting President Ruto’s achievements, he pointed to the significant strides made in stabilizing the economy, with this financial year poised to be a turning point. He accused the disruptors of being threatened by the president’s success and being determined to see him fail. The Member of Parliament emphasized that these individuals do not wish to see Kenya flourish under Ruto’s leadership.
In defense of the president, Mwirigi lauded the job creation policies and programs introduced by Ruto, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, water, mining, and pollution. He argued that the president’s efforts are being opposed by those who do not want hardworking Kenyans to benefit from government policies.
The law maker called on President Ruto to reclaim Kenya from anarchy and set the country on a trajectory to prosperity. He urged the president not to succumb to further demands, stating that some have mistaken Ruto’s kindness for weakness. Mwirigi affirmed his unwavering support for the president and urged all leaders to unite and act decisively to deliver on the promises made during the 2022 election campaign.
As a legislator, Mwirigi expressed readiness to vet and appoint the new cabinet nominated by the president to facilitate effective governance. He emphasized the importance of giving the president the time and space to lead, noting that Ruto’s performance in his 20 months in office has proven doubters wrong, especially in managing debt and strengthening the currency.
Igembe South MP condemned the calls for President Ruto’s resignation as neither possible nor justifiable. He urged Kenyans to rally behind the president for the sake of the nation’s future and warned against the real cowards who refuse to give the president a chance to deliver on his promises.
“By the year 2027, Kenyans will judge us based on our performance, it is time to rally behind him for the sake of our nation’s future,” Mwirigi stated