Kericho Senator and Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has revealed that he was once a simsim seller before he was elected to the Kenyan Parliament at 29 years old in 2016.
During his address at the Senate on Wednesday, July 3, Cheruiyot shared that he did not come from a wealthy family and empathizes with Kenyans who have been protesting against the government.
He questioned whether the leaders consider the lives of ordinary citizens’ children, given their own comfortable and affluent situations and urged them to uphold integrity and serve the people diligently by practicing empathy.
“I didn’t grow up as a child of privilege for your information. I’m 38 years old and came to Parliament aged 29. The first 29 years of my life spent in Eastlands deep in the slums. I have sold simsim like these kids you see on the streets,” he said.
“And many times, when I see them, I reflect, and I roll down my screen and share with them because they are complementing what their parents are doing and this is what took them to the streets. I know how it feels. Why is it when we’re granted an opportunity to serve, we don’t make it better?”
Aaron Cheruiyot Speaks About His Thoughts of Quitting, Issues Apology
He further stated that leaders have lost touch with reality, further issuing an apology to Kenyans for any of his utterances that contributed to the unrests.
“I would wish to tender my unreserved apology to the country for either by omission or commission for everything that I have contributed to getting us into this place or mess that we have created,” he remarked.
He said the protests have painted a reality of what it feels like to live in Kenya.
“We’re deeply embarrassed that it has taken young children to point to us that we’re naked as leaders,” he stated.
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Cheruiyot said he reflected on what he could have done better as a leader.
He recalled moments when he considered quitting his position during the protests but ultimately decided to address and resolve the issues they had created in the country.
“There were days in the night that I contemplated even quitting and said perhaps others can do it. But this is not the time to quit, because quitting doesn’t solve, it doesn’t get us out of the hole that we already are in,” Cheruiyot said.
“I have reflected deeply the last few days, looked through my journey as an individual and asked myself very serious questions. I tried to wear the shoes of the ordinary citizens and how they feel at this particular moment about me as a person and retrace my steps. I asked myself, what is it that perhaps I should have done better?”
Majority Leader Urges MPs to Oppose Salary Hikes
The Majority Leader also urged the MPs to reject the proposal by the Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on salary increment for State officials.
“SRC has been silent during these protests. They have to speak and tell us what is it that we do to reduce the wage bill from 46 per cent to mandatory 35 per cent. If it means taking a pay cut, we as members of parliament have been told that we will never do it. We don’t have an option, we must do it,” he said.
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“The yearly increment that is being discussed, I saw it being reported or misreported that we are now going to earn more; SRC continues to be silent about it. We must make a resolution and say that we reject even that one in light of the financial situation.”
Cheruiyot also described corruption as a national disaster and called on all politicians to refrain from dishing out money in fundraisings and other public events.
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