Relief food drive in Garissa turns political as leaders tout economic gains under Ruto
GARISSA — What began as a food distribution event in drought-stricken Balambala swiftly became a political rallying point for President William Ruto’s administration.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, flanked by area MPs and county leaders, used the platform to deliver a clear message: the economy is on the mend, and critics are out of touch.
“President Ruto has pulled this country back from the brink,” Ruku told the crowd on Thursday, standing beside heaps of relief rice and beans. “Prices of basic goods have dropped. Inflation has fallen from nearly 10 percent to just under four. That’s not failure that’s progress.”
Ruku’s remarks come amid growing discontent over the cost of living, with opposition leaders accusing the government of economic mismanagement and failing to shield low-income families from hardship.
But the Cabinet Secretary pushed back strongly. “When the President took office, a packet of maize flour was out of reach for many. Today, we’ve seen those prices come down. The same with cooking oil and fuel,” he said. “Our farmers are earning more, too coffee and tea prices are up.”
The inflation rate, which had spiked to 9.6 percent in 2023, dropped to 3.8 percent in early 2025, according to the Central Bank of Kenya. Fuel prices, once above Sh200 a litre, have also eased. But some economists caution that while these figures suggest improvement, many households are yet to feel the relief.
Garissa Woman Representative Udgoon Siyaad dismissed opposition claims as fear-mongering, particularly those suggesting unrest if Ruto secures a second term.
“That’s dangerous talk,” she said. “Claiming there’ll be bloodshed if he wins is not only irresponsible, it’s a clear sign of desperation. The ground isn’t just one region we’re all listening to our people.”
Siyaad added that leaders aligned with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) were also “in touch with the grassroots”, countering opposition rhetoric that they alone speak for ordinary Kenyans.
Balambala MP Shurie Omar took the moment to make a case for politicians in the Cabinet, arguing that elected leaders bring more practical experience to government than technocrats. “We know what it means to deliver,” he said. “When the time comes, let the President appoint those who have proven themselves.”
During the event, the delegation distributed 300 bags of rice and 250 bags of beans, along with other essentials, to vulnerable families in the area a region still grappling with the effects of prolonged drought.
While the relief was welcomed, for many in the crowd, the bigger question remains unanswered: will the economic gains touted by the government be felt beyond the statistics?
For now, the administration insists the tide is turning. Whether Kenyans agree will be tested not just at the marketplace but at the ballot box in 2027.
