Owino Challenges Opposition to Present Alternative Agenda Beyond ‘Ruto Must Go

By Faith wanza mueni 

Photo: government spokesperson Charles Owino

Government Spokesperson Charles Owino has challenged opposition leaders to move beyond calls for President William Ruto to leave office and tell Kenyans what they would do differently if elected.

Owino said the Opposition was an important component of a democratic government and should provide Kenyans with alternative policies and solutions instead of concentrating on criticism of the administration.

Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi, Owino urged Kenyans and the media to ask hard questions of both the Government and Opposition, saying political leaders must be held accountable for their promises and proposed policies.

“We must have government at every time. We must have opposition at every time. But you must ask us hard questions,” Owino said.

He challenged opposition leaders, particularly those seeking to mobilise young people, to explain their plans for the country beyond the 2027 elections.

“The President must go. We know the President must go at one time. Whether one term or two terms, he must go because that is what our Constitution has provided. But what are you laying for these young people who are coming up? What are you going to do better?” he posed.

Owino also urged Kenyans to examine political manifestos before making judgments on the performance of leaders, particularly President Ruto's 2022 campaign pledges.

He cited commitments made by the President in areas including agriculture, affordable housing, universal healthcare, support for micro, small and medium enterprises and the digital superhighway.

The Government spokesperson said Kenyans should interrogate claims that the administration had done nothing by comparing such assertions with verifiable facts.

He cited fertiliser prices as one of the areas where he said the Government had made progress, noting that the price had reduced from about Sh7,000 to Sh2,500, with a further reduction to Sh2,000 expected.

Owino also pointed to the registration of more than 7.1 million Kenyans on digital platforms as part of efforts to improve access to government services and reduce opportunities for corruption.

He said claims concerning the cost of living and government performance should similarly be subjected to factual scrutiny.

On the country's debt situation, Owino acknowledged that the Government inherited significant debt but said Kenya had experienced several challenges that contributed to increased borrowing.

He cited the COVID-19 pandemic, drought and the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war, which disrupted global supply chains and affected the cost and availability of commodities such as fertiliser and wheat.

“We had COVID-19. Nothing was going on. Our hotels were closed. Our transport system was closed. We had drought,” Owino said.

He said the Government had nevertheless continued implementing programmes aimed at improving the economy and service delivery.

On education, Owino said the Government had released Sh307.5 billion in capitation to schools to support learning during the current academic year.

He said Sh18 billion had been released during the third term, while Sh245.3 billion was released before the opening of the second term and another Sh44.2 billion allocated in January.

Owino further said the allocation to the Ministry of Education had increased from Sh500 billion in 2022 to Sh784.5 billion in the current financial year.

The Government spokesperson also said more than 100,000 teachers had been recruited over the past three years, with another 20,000 expected to be hired, while more than 25,000 classrooms had been constructed.

On affordable housing, Owino said efforts initiated under previous administrations had faced legal challenges, slowing implementation of the programme.

He said the Government was now engaging Kenyans in the “Beyond Vision 2030” conversation to establish the country's development priorities after the current national development framework.

Owino said the country would have two transition years between 2027 and 2030 following the completion of Medium-Term Plan Four, urging Kenyans to participate by presenting ideas, alternatives and proposals for the country's future.

He also called for responsible use of constitutional freedoms, particularly freedom of expression, warning against the spread of misinformation, disinformation and fake news.

Owino said the rapid growth of social media and increased access to smartphones had made it easier for false information to spread and influence public decision-making.

“We cannot afford to spread rumours and say things that don't add up,” he said.

He urged the Government, media and members of the public to work together to promote national cohesion and responsible public discourse.

Owino further called on Kenyans to respect the presidency as an institution, saying political differences should not result in abuse of the Head of State.

He also urged journalists and the public to verify claims before sharing them, saying national debates should be anchored on facts and data.

“We must collaborate all our sentiments with facts and with data. If we don't do that, then we are going to fail on our responsibility,” Owino said.

He challenged young Kenyans to take an active role in shaping the country's future while using their constitutional freedoms responsibly and demanding accountability from both sides of the political divide.