STATE OF THE NATION SPEECH STATEMENT BY KALONZO MUSYOKA FOR THE PEOPLE’S LOYAL OPPOSTION
1. The fight for the Constitution of Kenya 2010, enacted 14 years ago, required a great deal of sacrifice just like the struggle for
Independence 61 years ago. Many Kenyans were arrested without
a trial. Others were imprisoned under false pretences. Many more
were tortured and wounded. Worse, others paid the ultimate price
and lost their lives.
2. The silver lining was the promise of a new nation that would live up to our national anthem’s creed: justice is our shield and defender, and we live in unity, peace, and liberty, with plenty found in our borders.
3. “All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya,” opens Article One of the Constitution for clarity. Furthermore, Chapter Four of the Bill of Rights and Chapter Six’s clauses on Leadership and Integrity both ensure this sovereignty. Article 10 of the Constitution’s National Values and Principles of Governance also addresses the issue.
4. Accordingly, Article 132 of the Constitution requires, among other
things, that the President of the Republic of Kenya address a special
session of Parliament once a year. In this address, the president is
expected to report on a number of very critical issues. Among these
are measures taken to address the national ideals enshrined in
Article 10 of the Constitution, as well as progress made in meeting
Kenya’s international obligations.
5. The president is expected to focus on promoting national unity,
power sharing, democracy, public participation, human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusivity, equality, human rights, non-
discrimination, protection of marginalized groups, good governance, integrity, transparency, accountability, and
sustainable development.
6. As the People’s Loyal Opposition, we believe that protecting these ideals and principles is a constitutional requirement. They are NON-
NEGOTIABLE. The government does not provide them to Kenyans; rather, it is responsible for ensuring that they are faithfully followed.
7. This year’s State of the Nation Address was delivered to the joint Houses of the National Assembly and the Senate on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
8. It will be an address that will have kept the president’s speechwritersup for many nights, since even the most casual observer of the country’s social, economic, and civic scenes will attest to the sorry state of affairs in all three areas. It will definitely be interesting to hear and read how they try to hide the truth that Kenyans are tired of the self-serving and rigid administration that listens to no one, respects no one, and keeps none of its numerous promises.
9. The People’s Loyal Opposition believe that, Kenyans will once
again be subjected to half-truths and outright lies tomorrow. They
will hear new rafts of meaningless promises about new projects that
the Kenya Kwanza dictatorship claims will begin shortly. They will be informed of billions of shillings “set aside from the empty coffers” for these fictitious initiatives. They will hear new falsehoods about the manifestly failing Social Health Authority (SHA)/ Social Health
Insurance Fund (SHIF) programme, which was designed to replace
the now-defunct 58-year-old National Health Insurance Fund
(NHIF). More lies will be spread concerning agricultural and food
production, the so-called affordable housing scheme, and, of course, the non-performing Hustler Fund.
10. Kenyans will also hear imaginary success stories about the
economy, the national debt, and support for devolution. The failing
competency-based curriculum (CBC) for schools will also be praised. In his typical style, the president will paint a rosy picture of
a country that is at odds with reality.
11. When you listen to this Ruto administration, you usually get the
impression that it is feasible for a country to function exceptionally
well, to be quite wealthy, without the people doing well at all, or to
experience even the most basic of the extreme prosperity that the
government discusses. This is all the outcome of the government’s
disregard for the people and the truth. They feel that Kenyans are
so gullible that they are unable to detect falsehoods.
12. As a result, we the People’s Loyal Opposition, have chosen to
portray the actual situation of the Kenyan nation. When a few sectors are honestly examined, a pretty dismal picture emerges. It
depicts a state that is brittle and on the verge of collapse.
13. DEMOCRACY, GOOD GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY, AND
ACCOUNTABILITY: The country has reached an all-time low in this
area. The Kenya Kwanza Executive set out from the start to capture
Parliament. The raid on the Jubilee Party in 2022 was the beginning
point. Today, Parliament has lost its spirit of representing the people.
With a few outstanding conscientious members, the remainder
have been driven to the point where they no longer care that they
are responsible for crafting laws for the people and keeping
supervision over the Executive.
14. The National Assembly and the Senate, both answer to the
whims of the Executive, have a few proven legislators willing to go
against the Executive’s plans. These representatives of the people,
face reprisal, such as exclusion from parliamentary committees and
leadership positions, as well as various types of pressure and intimidation. This is not the democracy that Kenyans fought for. If
the people’s representatives are caged, there will be no transparency or accountability. If this tendency continues to be under a one-man rule-by-decree. We cannot accept this. Those pressing President Ruto to think this way are deceiving him, as are those dreaming of a term extension.
15. SHARING AND DEVOLUTION OF POWER: Devolution is
experiencing serious threats at the behest of the Kenya Kwanza
regime. The stalemate between the Senate and the National Assembly over the allocation of money between the National and
Devolved Governments is extremely unfortunate. It is difficult to
comprehend why there is a deadlock in a problem whose answer
is plainly enshrined in the Constitution. The hand of the Executive is
evident, as is its intention to deprive the counties of funds through
pointless gerrymandering of the two Houses of Parliament.
16. The objective is, without a doubt, to kill devolution. Those in
power today never believed in devolution during the campaign for
the Constitution of Kenya (2010). Now that they are in power, they
see the chance to kill devolution altogether. Kenyans must stand
up to protect devolution. Moreover, there have been unnecessary
delays in the disbursement of devolved funds, even where there is
no contention, and the funds are clearly there, as we know.
17. The National Treasury continues to disseminate misleading
information concerning “funds that have already been released to
the counties” while knowing that none have been disbursed. It is
deplorable that the Minister in Charge of the Treasury will arrange
a news conference to give Kenyans obvious lies about the country’s
financial situation, as well as to print deliberate falsehoods
concerning cash disbursement.
18. TAXATION, CORRUPTION AND THE HIGH COST OF LIVING: This regime has become dishonourable by ignoring the people’s plight.
As Kenyans suffer under the weight of the world’s highest taxes
without service, Ruto leads one of the most luxurious and
ostentatious governments, whose members continue to flaunt their
questionable wealth even after the recent Gen-Z protests.
19. In the circumstances, it would seem that the main reason
Kenyans are so heavily taxed is the need to fund corruption and a
few peoples luxurious and ostentatious lifestyles. This must stop. The
People’s Loyal Opposition strongly believes that it is immoral to tax
Kenyans to the extent that this government is doing, without
showing anything useful for the proceeds of this taxation.
20. We are keenly monitoring the situation, particularly the
dubious contracts taken up by the Kenya Kwanza with shady offshore firms. We are aware of Adani’s deals at the Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport and other airports, as well as their involvement in the SHA confusion and energy sector, all of which have entrenched local interests. Other questionable deals have entered the government’s ICT and data sectors. We are watching you.
21. HEALTH: The health-care system is a complete mess. Public
hospitals are grinding to a halt. Indeed, even private hospitals have
been affected. The SHA/SHIF agenda, as well as other related
schemes inside the Ministry of Health, may prove to be the most
serious scandal in Kenya Kwanza’s regime. From the beginning, this
project was fraught with questions that even senior Ministry of
Health officials could not address. They carry the odour of
corruption.
22. Regardless, SHA/SHIF has been forced down our throats. A
more listening government would have begun by piloting the new
scheme in a few counties, before rolling it out. Instead, Kenyans are
collapsing and succumbing to death every day, because they are
unable to get treatment in hospitals. SHA/SHIF has turned out to be
a massive failure. Of more concern, once again, is that the Adani
Group has been featured.
23. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SUFFICIENCY: Kenya Kwanza
identified food production and self-sufficiency (and agriculture in
general) as one of its four vital pillars of development. Unfortunately, this administration is deliberately and systematically destroying agriculture and food production.
24. Kenyans are all too familiar with the fake fertiliser scandal that
erupted earlier this year whereby the Ministry of Agriculture
supervised the selling of stones and other harmful materials to
Kenyan farmers in the guise of fertiliser. As a result, Kenya
experienced widespread crop failure. It however appears that this
was the objective all along, especially given that 2025 will be a year
of famine. The intention is now obvious: to lift maize import
restrictions and allow vested interests to bring in offshore maize.
25. EDUCATION: Regarding CBC, the current pupil-teacher ratio
of 60:1 is one of the highest in the world, substantially exceeding the
recommended 40:1 and significantly exceeding the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
recommended ratio of 25:1. This sector is in disorder, compounded
by a lack of classrooms and necessary instructional materials. The
fact that there is misunderstanding about where Grade Nine
students should matriculate demonstrates a lack of preparation
and management.
26. Additionally, university education at public universities is in
shambles. The KK regime cannot even uphold the collective
bargaining agreements it has struck with the remaining few
university presidents. For weeks, there has been no learning. Worse,
the government openly broadcasts misinformation about an agreement it has with the dons. This document is in the public
domain. The facts are quite clear. It’s unfortunate that the rest of
the world is watching us and will soon begin to question the quality
of the graduates we produce, especially since most teachers are
currently on strike. Why can’t this regime meet its responsibilities to
the dons?
27. Furthermore, Moi University and The University of Nairobi are
both dealing with major challenges. Moi is embroiled in corruption
scandals, while The University of Nairobi has been plagued by
ongoing leadership crises. Kenya Kwanza should allow public universities to flourish without government interference,
micromanagement, or arm-twisting.
28. RECONSTITUTE THE IEBC: The People’s Loyal Opposition
believes that the formation of an Independent Electoral Boundaries
Commission (IEBC) that has the trust of the people of Kenya is the
most important component in preserving our democracy. Thus, the
state-organised appeal against the reconstitution of the 9-member
Selection Panel should be firmly opposed.
29. This delaying tactic in order to prevent Kenyans from having a
valid IEBC that will conduct by-elections for vacant national and
county seats, as well as assist disenfranchised Kenyans in recalling their representatives and calling subsequent by-elections—that will
change the composition of Majority and Minority parties across the
country—is the most visible example of the dictatorship we are
living under. We demand that all injunctions and appeals against
the IEBC Selection Panel be discontinued and that it be
reconstituted promptly. Our country cannot afford to proceed
without the IEBC.
30. HUMAN DIGNITY, EQUITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, INCLUSIVENESS:
These critical considerations are highlighted in Kenya’s Constitution
(2010). It is obvious that hungry and destitute individuals have no
dignity and that the Kenya Kwanza Government is now a
government of tenders and rent seekers. The commonly praised
public-private partnerships lack equity and social justice and some
of the partnerships formed under the guise of secrecy, more than
hint to dark personal interests held by very top members of
government. This regime must come upfront about this.
31. HUMAN RIGHTS: Kenya has experienced some of the most
severe human rights violations in its history under this administration.
Dissent and free expression have been criminalised. Youth have
been abducted and disappeared indefinitely under what appear
to be alternate informal police systems, under the supervision of
those in the state, or near the centre of power. This cannot
continue. We will not allow the country to descend into anarchy,
and as the People’s Loyal Opposition, we aim to halt it this
oppressive practice.
32. Independent voices are vital in any democracy. Free media,
for example, is one of the most visible emblems of free and
independent voices in a democracy. Apart from the recurrent
intimidation of journalists on duty, the Kenya Kwanza government
has an arm-twisting policy towards the media.
33. Last year, a peculiarly punitive decision was made to
withdraw state advertising from media outlets that the state regards
as not toeing its line. Furthermore, there has been a purposeful
refusal to pay for services previously delivered. This crippling of the
media is undemocratic. It is simultaneously undemocratic and
inhumane and has resulted in widespread job losses and family distress. We demand a reversal of this barbaric and undemocratic
decision.
34. Other free voices that have recently been under attack, such
as the Church, should be allowed alone to conduct their work,
which may occasionally entail criticising the current government.
We have seen attempts to suppress them through intimidation and
donations to ‘harambees’. We have seen the Church refund back
these donations. This is the real spirit of fighting corruption in this
country, and in line with the aspirations of GenZote of transparency
and accountability. The Kenya Kwanza regime should cease their
obvious of leveraging their political positions and offices for political
gain.
35. In conclusion, the country is in a bad situation. The malaise is
pervasive. From agriculture to transportation to health to education
to energy, poorly thought-out policies created for self- or vested
interests have brought our great nation to its knees. There have
been tremendous layoffs and unemployment, and uncertainty and
misery are the norm. This is the real state of the nation; a failing
nation, not the purple prose you will be subjected to in Parliament
tomorrow.
Thank you and God Bless Kenya.
