Answering the hardest questions honestly
What to say about the 2024 protests, the cost of living, the Housing Levy and SHA teething problems — because dodging a fair question loses more votes than answering it.
A supporter who cannot acknowledge a real problem is not believed on anything. The movement's position is that we campaign on the record — including the difficult parts of it.
"Life is still hard."
Agree first. It is. Then give the direction of travel: inflation down from 9.6% to about 4.5%, unga down 23.3%, the shilling recovered from 162 to about 129. Recovery from the deepest cost-of-living crisis in a generation is not instant, and nobody in this movement claims it is finished.
"What about the June 2024 protests?"
Young Kenyans raised legitimate objections to the Finance Bill 2024. The government withdrew the bill in full — a rare thing for any government anywhere to do. Lives were lost, and that is a tragedy the President has publicly acknowledged. The Cabinet was subsequently dissolved and reconstituted, and a broad-based government was formed. The lesson taken was that the public must be brought along before, not after, a policy is legislated.
"Why should I pay the Housing Levy?"
Because 112,405 units are complete or under construction against 8,872 in 2022, and roughly 160,000 people have work because of it. Contributions are refundable with interest if you do not take up a house. You can visit a site and see it.
"SHA doesn't work at my hospital."
Some facilities did have a difficult transition, and that is fair to say. Registration is at 29 million and settlements run at about Sh13 billion a month. If a specific facility turned someone away, report it — the movement escalates such cases rather than denying them.
The principle
Concede what is true. Contest what is false. Never lie to defend a record that does not need lies.