Kenyans are raising their voices through the #NJAARevolution from around the country decrying the rising cost of living which is leaving most of them hungry. This is a movement that is trending on Twitter expressing Kenyans’ thoughts on high cost of food.
Kenyans have been posting photos of their fellow citizens with placards seeking the government to lower the cost of food prices. This includes posts with a list of the essential foods that are needed in almost every household, named, “ Mwananchi Budget”. The list includes prices of of unga (maize flour), milk, bread, sugar, gas and kerosene.
The Article 43 Committee has been holding Community Dialogues across the country in various areas including Kajiado and the Coastal Region. Their main aim to rally people towards food sovereignty in the country.
The committee formed the #NJAARevolution from Article 43 of the Kenyan Constitution 2010, of the Economic and Social Rights. According to section 1 (c), every person has the right to be free from hunger, and to have adequate food of acceptable quality. This regime do far however, is limiting Kenyans from attaining their full right due to high cost of living and increased taxes.
Taxpayers’ Money
This comes at a time when King Charles III and Queen Camilla pay a visit to Kenya as the first Commonwealth country destination. During this visit, the State has invested millions of Shillings just for the accommodation of the Royals. Among the unnecessary expenses include, placing a red carpet in the middle of a national park that the majesties visited.
Kenyans have criticized this action wildly terming it as an embarrassment to our country. According to them, the royals have previously visited jungles and country homes where they have had to walk on dust.
Among the cries being spoken by Kenyans during the #NJAARevolution are heavy taxation being placed on the middle class and not the rich (1per cent). A photo of a placard on X (formerly known as Twitter) read ‘ Tax the Rich, Punda Amechoka’. With the current taxes being imposed on almost everything, the middle class and ‘mama mbogas’ are the ones suffering the most in these times.
The cost of Maize Flour has gone to an all time high, making Kenyans unable to afford a meal that was once the cheapest meal to have. Aside from that, the cost of cooking oil is rising by the day, toughening the possibility of making cooked food in homesteads. In addition to that, basic commodities such as sugar, have become unaffordable for the common mwananchi, with a Kilogram of Sugar retailing at approximately Ksh 220.
Farming in Kenya
Most farmers are also running away from subsistence farming due to the high cost of living. They are however focusing their efforts on cash crop farming with an aim to sell food products for them to earn a basic living. Despite venturing into this avenue, the earning from the cash crop farming is not enough to sustain families in this economy.
High Cost of Living has push farmers to focus on cash crops or commercial agriculture instead of subsistence farming.@Article43Rights @WomenHRDs@UhaiWetu @kilimoKE#LandFoodAndFreedom#NJAARevolution#FOODSovereigntyNOW pic.twitter.com/P43KPKMKHu
— Ste’phano+254???????? (@Stephenstephano) November 2, 2023
Some of the protesters question whether the state will keep on blaming the wars happening in the Global North or they will own up to the harms existing. One of the X users wondered whether increasing the Value Added Tax on fuel was a consequence of the war or just a decision made by the state.
With the uproar that has been created of the Royals’ visit to Kenya, most of the Kenyans seem disinterested with the visit itself. Some question whether the King and Queen would somehow come and their apology would alleviate the high cost of living from the Kenyan mwananchi.
Kenyans are Desperate
Kenyans are at a desperate point where they are alsomst willing to do anything just to access food, shelter and clothing. The government however, is ignorant of these please and increases taxation on almost everything. The cost of fuel keeps increasing daily and they refuse to lower the VAT on fuel. They are still increasing the cost on basic commodities and blaming the consequences on it being global issue.
Ekuru Aukot asked the government ina statement on X to find alternative solutions to collect revenue other than increased taxation. According to his statement, increased taxation has created a high cost of living situation, making Kenyans poorer. He equaly mentioned that businesses are collapsing and enterprises shutting down due to high taxation, which is affecting the common Mwananachi.
It is the hope of Kenyans that the state will heed to their cries with the #NJAARevolution and find a solution to the problem.
Read Also: Why Heavy Taxation is Making Kenyans Poor
