Sankok says teachers salaries should be lowered

East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament David Sankok has declared that he will lead farmers in protests.

He castigated the move by President William Ruto’s government to lower the cost of farm produce such as maize.

“I will lead farmers for counter demonstrations because we will not allow farm produce to be sold at lower prices,” said Sankok

“The price of unga, beans, meat, milk, eggs is farmers’ salaries. Farmers will only allow their salary to come down if salaries of teachers, doctors, MCAs, MPs and all civil servants are brought at the same proportion.”

A section of netizens have supported the MP saying producers are often forgotten by the government.

“For sure Raila cares about consumers and not producers. We support sankok,” says X (formerly Twitter) Felix Koech.

A section of Kenyans have however condemned this move strongly with some resulting to banter to drive their point home.

Political commentator Gabriel Oguda said, “Huyu akipigwa teargas moja si…wacha tu. (If this one is teargassed…let me not speak).

“A terrible joke taken too far’,” wrote Amwoga Khalwale.

Ruto promises to address high cost of living

President Ruto promised to address the high cost of living and the issue of publicn debt in the country.

The president made the remarks during the State of the Nation address on Thursday, November 9, where he promised to ensure Kenyans can afford decent meals.

“The cost of living is a reality experienced by households which can be addressed through practical action and effective measures.”

“I am committed to put the shame of hunger behind us once and for all,” said President Ruto.

At the same time, the Head of State noted that his government was planning to pay $300 million Eurobond debt in December 2023.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula (right) welcomes President William Ruto at parliament on November 9, 2023 for the State of the Nation address. Photo/National Assembly/Twitter.

“Next month in December we will be able to settle the first $300 million installment of the US dollars 2 billion Eurobond debt that falls due next year.”

“I can now confirm with confidence that we will and we shall pay the debt that has become a source of much concern to citizens, markets and our partners,” said Ruto.

He also explained that Kenya was liaising with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, the Africa Development Bank to implement the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation plan.

At the same time, the president admitted that there has been wastage of public resources on unnecessary expenditures.

“We must admit that as a country we had been living large and way beyond our means.”

“The time has come to retire the false comforts and illusionary benefits of wasteful expenditure and counterproductive subsidies on consumption by which we dug ourselves deeper into the hole of avoidable debt,” he said.

Members of Parliament stand in honour of President William Ruto before the State of The Nation address on November 9, 2023. PHOTO: National Assembly/ Twitter — Members of *Parliament stand in honour of President William Ruto before the State of The Nation address on November 9, 2023. PHOTO: National Assembly/ Twitter*

Additionally, the president explained that the Kenya Kwanza government has made encouraging progress in a positive direction to transform the economy for the benefit of all Kenyans.