Protests over-taxation and excessive corruption in Kenya. PHOTO/BBC

Dear President William Ruto,

As we stand at this critical juncture in our nation’s journey, I am compelled to address you not only as the head of state but as a steward of the aspirations and trust of the Kenyan people.

The current uproar surrounding the Finance Bill 2024/2025 serves as a poignant reminder of the profound responsibilities entrusted to leadership during times of crisis and discontent.

Throughout history, leaders have faced defining moments where their decisions have shaped the destiny of their nations. From the annals of governance, we draw lessons that resonate deeply today.

Leaders like Nelson Mandela, who embraced reconciliation over retaliation, and Mahatma Gandhi, whose commitment to non-violence transcended mere political strategy, exemplify the transformative power of principled leadership.

However, history also warns us of the pitfalls of leadership blinded by hubris and disconnected from the pulse of its people. The downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte due to his overconfidence, and the tragic trajectory of leaders like Muammar Gaddafi and Robert Mugabe, stand as stark reminders of the perils of ignoring the voices and needs of the populace.

Mr President, you have been elected by the people of Kenya, entrusted with a sacred duty to govern in their best interests. The demands echoing across the nation for responsible governance, equitable policies, and an end to corruption must not fall on deaf ears. It is incumbent upon you to heed these calls, to listen intently, and to act decisively.

Moreover, biblical narratives offer timeless insights into leadership and governance. King Saul’s downfall, triggered by disobedience and arrogance, mirrors the dangers of straying from divine and moral guidance.

Likewise, King David’s lapses into sin and excess serve as cautionary tales of how power, when unchecked by humility and ethical principles, can sow the seeds of decline.

In the context of contemporary challenges facing Kenya, from economic reforms to fiscal prudence, the principles of stewardship and servant leadership must guide our path forward.

The expectations of Kenyans are clear and urgent: fiscal stimulus to revive our economy, structural reforms to foster growth and innovation, and a robust commitment to accountability and transparency in governance.

Today the country has reached a tipping point as Kenyans have now crossed the Rubicon and are now demanding for responsible leadership, equity, a stop to looting of their hard earned taxes.

It is just a matter of hours before MPs go through the third reading of the of the controversial Finance Bill 2024/2025 after considering amendments to the controversial clauses that have enraged Kenyans resulting in the demands for its total rejection and the subsequent nationwide protests.

This is going to be defining moment for this country and the buck stops with you. You are the head of state and you can convince the MPs to do what is right. Reports of MPs receiving bribes of up to Sh 2 million to support the bill if are true then you will end up on the wrong side of history.

Mr President, Kenyans are crying out to you to listen to them and address their grievances as far as the Finance Bill2024/2025 is concerned because they know you are in a position to do that.

Your Excellency, this Tuesday we have woken up to a cloud of uncertainty and despair hovering over our future because of a few unpopular decisions made under your watch.

Since you took over power from former President Uhuru Kenyatta, you have been talking down to Kenyans as if their opinions does not matter in how this country is governed and no wonder word on the streets suggests that nobody advises you as you are your own advisor and if there is advice you listens to is that from International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and the US government.

President Ruto, let me remind you that Kenya is a sovereign state and the powers you wield today are delegated authority from Kenyans who voted for you and employed you as their president. At least have respect to your employer.

Young Kenyans take to the streets to protest against over-taxation and excessive corruption. PHOTO/James Wakibia/ZUMA PRESS/picture alliance.

Away from the protests being led by Generation Z, Kenyans are asking you to do the following things for them if you really love this country and its people;

Fiscal Stimulus: Implement government spending programs aimed at stimulating economic activity. This can include infrastructure projects, social welfare programs, and direct financial aid to citizens.

Monetary Easing: Reduce interest rates and increase the money supply to encourage borrowing and investment. Ask the Central Banks of Kenya to engage in quantitative easing to inject liquidity into the financial system.

Structural Reforms: Implement reforms to improve the efficiency and productivity of the economy. This can involve deregulation, labour market reforms, and policies to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.

Tax Reforms: Adjust tax policies to incentivize investment and consumption. This can include reducing taxes, providing tax breaks for small businesses, and implementing progressive taxation to ensure equitable distribution of wealth.

Debt Restructuring: Negotiate with creditors to restructure national debt, potentially extending repayment terms, reducing interest rates, or even obtaining debt relief to reduce the fiscal burden.

Attract Foreign Investment: Create a favourable investment climate by ensuring political stability, improving infrastructure, and offering incentives such as tax breaks and streamlined regulatory processes to attract foreign direct investment (FDI).

Support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Provide financial support, such as grants and low-interest loans, to SMEs which are crucial for job creation and economic diversification.

Avail Social Safety Nets: Avail and expand unemployment benefits, food assistance programs, and other social safety nets to protect the most vulnerable populations and maintain consumer demand.

Fourth Industrial Revolution: Invest in education and vocational training to improve the skillset of the workforce to power the Fourth Industrial Revolution that is being powered by data and artificial intelligence. This can help reduce unemployment and prepare the workforce for emerging industries and technologies.

Kenyans also want you to stop excessive borrowing and create a very friendly tax regime that would allow businesses to thrive and expand, and thereby creating jobs and hence resulting in the government collecting more taxes.

They also want you to do away with wasteful consumption and comfort expenditure in the public service, including unnecessary foreign trips and conspicuous consumption by individual state and public officers and their ministries and departments and rally the entire population of Kenya behind you in achieving this and lead by example.

They are also saying you should also climb down on your new found love for expensive things that include custom made cars, designer suits, watches, shoes, luxury jets and related extravagance that does not add value to your role as the head of state.

Move with speed and drop the image of being a stooge of the West and embrace revolutionary leadership that is defined by sacrifice, humility and selflessness for the good of the people, rather than your current leadership of display of excessive power, glory and selfish primitive accumulation at the expense the people.

Your Excellency, if you are not aware, let me inform you that we are in a situation in this country where people close to you are stealing public money with impunity through among others, bungled, skewed and overpriced tendering processes and still have the audacity to display the gains of such theft to the public through clearly abnormal contribution at fundraisers.

They are also buying extra ordinarily expensive movable and immovable assets across the country and elsewhere around the world in display of power, achievement, influence and greatness – vomiting this theft on the face of the poor whom the money is supposed to help. Very unfortunate!

Kenyans want you to take drastic action against busy-bodies involved in this runaway and maddening excessive accumulation of ill-gotten wealth from their taxes by effecting a reorganization of your government.

The people are now questioning the role of your Presidential Council of Economic Advisors led by David Ndii, and think it is not giving you the right advice and subsequently demand that you disband it.

Protests over-taxation and excessive corruption in Kenya continues. PHOTO/BBC

Kenyans were very happy when set up this Council that was designed like the Presidential Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) in the United States which  serves several key roles that includes: providing economic analysis and advice to the President on a wide range of economic issues, analysing economic data and trends,  conducting economic research, preparing economic forecasts. We have not seen any single report from this Ndii led Council that is gobbling billions of shillings from Kenyan tax payers.

Mr President, I want to remind you that history has many examples of world leaders whose failures in leadership were attributed to arrogance and not listening to their electorate or advisors.

Such leaders include; Napoleon Bonaparte, whose downfall was partly attributed to his overconfidence and refusal to heed warnings from his advisors,  Adolf Hitler whose leadership of Nazi Germany was marked by extreme arrogance and a belief in his own ideology above all else, here in Africa, we had Muammar Gaddafi, the former President of Libya, who ruled with an authoritarian grip for decades and also Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe who started with promise but devolved into economic ruin and political repression.

These leaders’ failures underscore the importance of humility and the importance of leaders like you to listen to advisors, and responding to the needs and issues raised by the electorate in effective governance.

Mr President and since you are a highly religious person or so you look, let me also give you examples of leaders from the Bible who failed after assuming excessive powers and disobeying God.

Such leaders included King Saul who was anointed as the first king of Israel by the prophet Samuel. However, he disobeyed God’s command by offering a sacrifice himself instead of waiting for Samuel, leading to his downfall (1 Samuel 13-15).

King David, despite being a man after God’s own heart, fell into sin when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged for her husband Uriah’s death. This abuse of power led to consequences within his own family and kingdom (2 Samuel 11-12).

King Solomon started his reign with wisdom and God’s favour, but he accumulated excessive wealth, horses, and foreign wives against God’s commands. These actions ultimately led him away from God in his later years (1 Kings 11).

We also have emperors whose kingdoms collapsed, at least in part, due to their own greed and arrogance and they include Nero (Roman Emperor, AD 54-68): Whose reign was marked by lavish spending on personal indulgences, building projects, and extravagant gifts to allies and the public. He was notorious for his cruelty, executing perceived enemies and even his own mother. His arrogance alienated the elected leaders and the elite, contributing to his downfall and the civil war that followed after his suicide.

Caligula (Roman Emperor, AD 37-41): believed himself to be divine and demanded worship from his subjects. He squandered vast sums on personal projects and demanded exorbitant taxes, leading to widespread discontent among the populace and elites. His capricious behaviour and cruelty towards nobles and elected leaders eventually led to a conspiracy to assassinate him.

In neighbouring Ethiopia, we had Haile Selassie (Emperor of Ethiopia, 1930-1974): Despite initial reforms, Haile Selassie’s later rule was marred by corruption and nepotism among his family and close associates. He maintained an aloof and detached attitude towards the growing social and political discontent, which eventually led to widespread unrest and revolution.

President Ruto, I have given you all these examples to illustrate to you how personal flaws such as greed and arrogance contributed to the downfall of empires and kingdoms throughout history.

Once more, I just want to remind you that Kenya is bigger than all of us and you have an opportunity to do what is right to make this country great again.

Furthermore, the extravagant displays of wealth and opulence by public officials, which exacerbate the trust deficit between leadership and citizens, must be swiftly addressed.

As custodians of public resources, we are duty-bound to prioritize the common good over personal indulgence, to champion austerity in governance, and to cultivate a culture of service above self.

Mr President, Kenya stands at a crossroads where the choices made today will reverberate through generations. Your leadership in these pivotal times can either inspire a legacy of prosperity and unity or perpetuate discord and disillusionment.

The responsibility is yours to forge a path that honours the hopes and aspirations of every Kenyan, ensuring that no voice is marginalized and no grievance ignored.

Mr President, I urge you, to embrace the wisdom of history, the guidance of moral imperatives, and the urgency of the present moment. Let your legacy be one of transformative leadership that places the welfare of Kenyans at its core, setting aside personal interests for the collective good of our beloved nation.

Yours sincerely,

Patrick Mayoyo

Director Editorial Innovations

EYEWITNESS MEDIA GROUP LTD