KONGAMANO LA MAPINDUZI CONDEMNS GOVERNMENT ’s ANTI-PEOPLE POLICIES, CALLS FOR NATIONAL ACTION.

BY NJOKI KARANJA. 

Kongamano la Mapinduzi (KLM), a prominent Kenyan political movement, has issued a damning statement regarding the ongoing political and economic crises facing the country. In their latest press release, KLM highlighted the persistent struggles of the Kenyan populace under the Kenya Kwanza government, with an emphasis on the administration’s regressive policies, economic mismanagement, and increasing state repression.

The statement begins by revisiting the public outcry in June 2024, when widespread protests forced the government to retract the controversial Finance Bill 2024. The bill, which sought to impose taxes on essential items like maize flour, cooking oil, and menstrual health products, sparked massive resistance. However, KLM claims that the government has since found ways to reintroduce these punitive measures through various legislative loopholes, contributing to the already unbearable cost of living.

“The government continues to sneak in sections of the Finance Bill through new laws, effectively burdening the Kenyan people while failing to invest in crucial sectors such as healthcare and education,” the statement reads. KLM also denounced the government’s recent use of taxpayer funds, such as the 10 billion shillings allocated to support Raila Odinga’s African Union Chair campaign, which was reportedly done without the consent of the Kenyan public.

Further criticism was leveled at the government’s legislative agenda, which KLM described as “anti-people and anti-life.” In particular, the Land Amendment Bill 2024 and the Seed and Plant Act were singled out for their harmful impact on farmers and citizens' rights. These measures, along with bills restricting assembly and free speech, reflect what KLM views as a broader authoritarian agenda that stifles democratic freedoms.

KLM also slammed the newly introduced Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which was meant to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). The statement accuses SHIF of worsening access to healthcare for millions of Kenyans, particularly those needing critical services such as dialysis and surgery, which were previously covered by the NHIF.

The press release further pointed to the alarming rise in abductions and enforced disappearances since the June protests, with reports of unmarked vehicles allegedly linked to the National Intelligence Service (NIS) involved in these activities. KLM expressed concern over the return of "the law of the jungle," reminiscent of the lawlessness seen in the 1980s and 1990s.

One of the most chilling elements in the statement was the reference to the “#KwareTheAftermath” report, which documents the recent discovery of bodies dumped near Kware Police Station in Mukuru, Nairobi. The report also highlighted the failure of local institutions, including religious organizations, in addressing the needs of victims' families. Additionally, KLM decried the disturbing rise in femicide, with 97 documented cases in the past three months alone.

“The political elite continues to prioritize their own interests, engaging in divisive ethnic politics and settling personal scores