Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot on Wednesday acknowledged that the current state of the nation requires deep reflection and change of attitude by the leaders.
Speaking during a special sitting by the Senate to discuss the state of the nation following the passing of Finance Bill 2024 and the resultant protests that have led to disorder in the country, Cheruiyot owned up that the economic situation in Kenya has become so unbearable to the ordinary citizens yet actions by elected leaders have left a lot to be desired.
“As leaders, we have lost touch with reality. We have to lead the country in making the right decisions so that we don’t lose our country,” he said
Cheruiyot says the anger expressed by Kenyans in the streets over the last couple of weeks bring to the fore the extent things have gone bad in the country, especially for ordinary citizens. He says overhaul is needed to save the country from sinking.
“The country is complaining of a broken system, that nothing works. That this is a rigged economy where only those with proximity to power are able to enjoy living in the country. We are being asked to fix it,” said the Kericho Senator
“I’d wish personally, as a leader and somebody who God has granted the opportunity to serve in a position of responsibility in this country, to tender my unreserved apology to the country, to either by commission or omission everything that has contributed into getting us into the mess and the place that we are in,” he pleaded
The outspoken Senator said he had reflected deeply on recent events and asked himself very serious questions, putting himself in the position of an ordinary citizen and whether he should have done better.
He said those elected to represent the interests of Kenyans ought to feel “deeply embarrassed” that it has taken young children to point to them that they are naked leaders, noting the state of affairs in the country “is extremely troubling,”
He admits that issues raised by Kenyans can no longer be glossed over as has been the case for many years.
“Kenyans are asking, while you guys (leaders) are okay, what about us the ordinary people and our kids?” he averred
“Our young people have spectacularly painted the picture of our reality of what it means to live in Kenya,” he averred
In a passionate plea to fellow Senators, Cheruiyot charged that leaders must openly deliberate on the issues considered pertinent by Kenyans and seek to find long term solutions to them.
“I realized that we are in extraordinary times and ordinary solutions that we have proposed in the past cannot work this time. Unless we are serious, genuine, honest, or mean it, let’s not begin this conversation,” he said
Cheruiyot disclosed that Senators, both from the Majority and Minority side, retreated to an undisclosed location on Tuesday, and took time to conduct a reality check. This according to Cheruiyot informed the motion and the special sitting.
