How DP Ruto’s Economic Bottom Up Mirrors Kibaki’s Legendary Approach!

Kibaki’s economic policies ensured that Kenyans had money in their pockets through extensive interventions in infrastructure, financial markets, and taxation. Ideal economic approach His policies were people-centric and benefitted the ordinary citizens more than businesses and the rich though he had been part of the establishment for most of his career.

Popularly referred to as ‘Kibakinomics’, his policies steered the economy back to a growth trajectory and uplifted the general welfare of Kenyans without indulging in purely populist politics.

The departed leader’s approach to the economy is one thing that the current crop of leadership should emulate. Kibaki even during the 1992 and 1997 elections had a well-articulated approach to fixing the economy which he put first. Ruto's bottom-up model And as Kenya head to the polls on August9, the top presidential contenders are selling their policies but it is Deputy President William Ruto whose economic policies mirror those of the late Kibaki. Ruto, who mourned Kibaki as the best president Kenya has ever had, is selling a ‘bottom up’ economic model which also aims at expanding the tax base and putting money in the pockets of ordinary Kenyans similar to the approach Kibaki undertook.

It’s not any different from Kibaki’s approach which reduced levies on motorcycles and made boda bodas more affordable and popular means of transport.

The “Bottom-up” model targets to promote investments of ordinary Kenyans and empower them financially to enable the country to generate taxes and spur economic growth. 

The model is people-centred and also empowers businesses like the boda bodas and other small-scale traders like your local ‘Mama Mbogas’.

It’s not any different from Kibaki’s approach which reduced levies on motorcycles and made boda bodas more affordable and popular means of transport.

The boda boda industry today employs over one million youths and generates more than 1 billion in revenue daily.

 Ruto has also articulated his economic agenda as reformist and pragmatic, majorly aiming to elevate the social well-being of ordinary Kenyans by empowering businesses as boda bodas. 

The Kenya Kwanza presidential flag bearer comes out as the only candidate whose economic model can fix the current mess and return the country on the path Kibaki left it.

In fact, Ruto recruited the same top brains who helped Kibaki plan and run the economy during his ten-year rule to draft his ‘Hustler Economic strategy’.