A tale of Bungoma mud houses and jigger-infested feet of rich Mt Kenya residents

Many people have wondered why President William Ruto appears to be out of touch with reality. A bigger percentage of what he enumerates as his government's achievements are abstract. The reason is that his advisors feed him misinformation and shield him from the truth.

The Social Health Authority, for instance, is comatose, but leaders close to the President swear it is the best thing that has ever happened in Kenya. However, their propensity to leave Kenya for treatment in India, South Africa or maternity services in developed countries with advanced, dependable healthcare systems is where the rubber meets the road.

In January, nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege was shocked to see so many mud houses in Bungoma when she attended the burial of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula’s mother. Comparatively, she said the people of Central Kenya enjoy higher standards of life because of their choice of economic activities. 

When Ms Chege visited Kisumu in March this year, she was surprised to find there was no clean water and the reason, she learnt, was that the people have never supported the government and have always been in the Opposition. With Mt Kenya region having a rethink about supporting Dr Ruto in 2027 after the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Sabina is worried that her people in Central could suffer withdrawal of development projects if they joined the Opposition. 

What her fear tells us about our leaders is that they are deficient in both social and emotional intelligence. Hubris conspires with lack of comprehension to rob them of a clear vision for the country. Even more worrying is that these leaders appear vindictive and consciously drive the divisions that deny Kenyans the fruits of national cohesion and equitable development. 

It does not register with them that every adult Kenyan pays taxes to the government, part of which go to development. If taxation doesn't discriminate on the basis of political party affiliation, why should the distribution of development projects be?

The tendency to beg for development projects in political rallies and the fawning deportment that our leaders wear as a badge of honour depict a country being mismanaged by lack of strategic planning, a country where the whims of an individual carry more weight than the laws of the country. 

The perception Chege created about Central Kenya enjoying higher standards of living, while buoyed by statistics over time, attempted to conceal a side of the region that does not reflect a higher standard of living. She conveniently forgot that many people in Central Kenya live in poorly constructed timber houses structurally inferior to mud-walled houses.

She forgot to mention that illicit brews have turned many men in parts of central Kenya into vegetables and increasing crime rates. The womenfolk, not once, not twice, have demonstrated in different parts of the region because their men have failed in their duties. The women have on occasions invaded illicit brew dens to flush out their inebriated husbands and sons. 

Chege forgot to talk about the menace of jiggers in parts of central, which is attributed to high poverty levels and negates her claim to people enjoying higher standards of life. Our diversity speaks of different cultures, belief systems and challenges, a fact most leaders miss. 

Crops grown in the Mt Kenya region cannot be used as a standard for wealth creation. Climatic conditions dictate what economic activities every geographical location engages in. You cannot grow coffee or tea in Northern Kenya. Conversely, Central Kenya may not be good for camel rearing. In Western and Nyanza where sugar cane does well, political mismanagement has resulted in the death of the sugar sector. Western, too, was good for coffee and tea growing, but not anymore.

Most leaders are selfish, clueless and live a lie. If they had the courage to speak the truth to power, it would force action to be taken and Kenya would be on a higher development pedestal than where it is now. It's a shame that in 2025, we are still grappling with the same challenges we had in 1963.