Reuben Kigame has said delayed salaries of public servants should act as a warning to leaders on the need to address the relevant issues facing Kenyans.
According to the former presidential candidate, the delays will allow leaders to experience the tough conditions Kenyans are forced to operate in with low or no salaries.
Kigame opined that it is time leaders shift their focus to addressing matters affecting Kenyans and avoid engaging in too much politics.
While speaking during an interview with Spice FM, Kigame said it is time leaders who were elected delivered on their campaign promises.
“If we concentrated less on political rhetoric then we would have achieved more. In fact, so have we accepted the talk-talk and not do-do culture that every parliamentarian knows when they go into government all they are going to do is earn, talk, and increase their salary,” he said.
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“Now it’s catching up with them that they themselves are not even paid and on one hand I’m saying, ‘feel what we feel out here when we go without salaries’ so that they know it is important to lead and not politicking.” Kigame added.
Furthermore, Kagame said that the behavior of diving into political campaigns immediately after an election is over has become of age. As such, he added that leaders should embrace a culture of dispensing services to those who elected them to power.
“The day I will see us moving from an election and work before we have another campaign, I will be a very happy person. But the politicians we have that you have to remain relevant so you must keep talking,” he said.
Kagame’s sentiments come following deputy president Rigathi Gachagua’s announcement that the government is facing financial challenges, hence, maiming the salaries of public servants.
According to the deputy president, some of the government loans had matured last week, forcing it to pay the debt.
“It is true we are having challenges in paying salaries, giving money to governors. Because the handshake gov’t ripped this country, they borrowed money left right and Centre. Because we are a responsible government, we must pay this money,” he said.
“What we collected the last two weeks was sufficient to pay the loans. What we are collecting this week will pay salaries and other requirements,” Gachagua added.
