Kenyans were shocked when David Ndii, the chair of President William Ruto’s Council of Economic Advisors, declared his lack of faith in the government.
Ndii was responding to Kenyans’ worries on the administration’s unwillingness to protect customers from exorbitant fuel prices.
On social media, some Kenyans criticized the eminent economist for the government’s decision to raise fuel prices on Thursday, September 14, despite Ruto’s campaign promise to keep petroleum costs low.
To their surprise, Ndii insisted that the country’s debt history and recent oil price shocks were the key reasons why the status quo would endure.
“This expectation that Kenya can abuse credit for a decade and the same people can make consequences go away painlessly just because there was a game of musical chairs we call elections? Are we sober? I told you two years ago Kenya was in receivership. Nothing has changed,” Ndii said in a post on X, formally Twitter, moments after fuel prices in the country crossed the Ksh200 mark.
The economist had no kind words for those who questioned the government’s plan to bring down the cost of living.
“Is the Economic advisor telling Kenyans shouldn’t believe anything the President and his Deputy say? Is that official?” A user using the handle @Muhsin Ali posed.
Responding to the concerned netizen, Ndii flatly said, “I don’t believe politicians, and I don’t trust government. If you do either you are a sucker.”
I don’t believe politicians, and I don’t trust government. If you do either you are a sucker. https://t.co/46Bl92iAQI
— David Ndii (@DavidNdii) September 14, 2023