While world leaders introduce subsidies to protect from the rising living costs, in his first major policy announcement, Kenya's President Ruto has scrapped a subsidy on petrol which has increased prices to an all-time high.
President Ruto based his election campaign on a populist "Hustler" narrative - promising to improve the lives of ordinary citizens
President Ruto based his election campaign on a populist "Hustler" narrative - promising to improve the lives of ordinary citizens, create jobs and lower the cost of living, while emphasising his own poor background. Economists agree that subsidies are unsustainable for Kenya and are often just an opportunity for people to swindle money but in the short-term, ordinary Kenyans will feel the pain of a 13% increase in the cost of a litre of petrol to $1.49.
Analyst Javas Bigambo agreed, and said Mr Ruto should have taken more time to explain it to Kenyans first, and also to explain how the money would be used elsewhere, in order to garner public support for the move.
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