By Josephine Karoki- Reporting from the UAE.

What transpired at a recent public meeting attended by President William Ruto was not only embarrassing but deeply troubling. Alice Nganga, while addressing the crowd, allegedly paraded women she claimed were from the Africa Inland Church (AIPCIA) to cheer the President, despite the fact that they were neither commissioned nor recognized within the church hierarchy. If true, this was not merely political enthusiasm; it was deception dressed up as faith. The use of religious imagery and fake representation to manufacture political support is a dangerous and unethical practice that cheapens both politics and religion.

Equally disturbing was Nganga’s advice to the President that the solution to Kenya’s infrastructure challenges lies in selling all government-owned parastatals in order to build roads. This statement reflects either a fundamental misunderstanding of public finance or a deliberate attempt to mislead Kenyans. Roads are built through budgetary allocations funded by taxpayers. Kenyans already pay taxes for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security. Selling national assets to perform basic government functions is not innovation; it is desperation.

Kenya has had three Presidents before William Ruto, and none pursued the wholesale sale of public enterprises with such enthusiasm. The repeated claim that Kenya can become “a Singapore” by selling off its assets is both intellectually lazy and economically dishonest. Singapore did not develop by auctioning national treasures to plug budget holes. It built strong institutions, invested in human capital, and maintained disciplined fiscal planning. Kenya currently lacks a clear, coherent development blueprint that explains how asset sales translate into long-term prosperity.

Safaricom stands as a prime example of what is at stake. It is not just another parastatal; it is a Kenyan success story, partly owned by millions of citizens through shares and admired globally for its revolutionary M-Pesa platform. Any government intention to offload shares must first prioritize ordinary Kenyans, not foreign interests or politically connected entities. Safaricom’s technology was built by and for Kenyans, and its value extends far beyond short-term fiscal relief.

Finally, Nganga’s narrow focus on upgrading roads in her own constituency reveals a troubling strain of political selfishness. Taxes are paid by Kenyans across the country. Regions such as western Kenya, which have suffered historical neglect, deserve equal if not greater priority in infrastructure development. Leadership demands national vision, not parochial lobbying at public rallies.

Kenyans deserve honesty, accountability, and leaders who respect both their intelligence and their sacrifices. Political theatrics, economic shortcuts, and manufactured applause only deepen public mistrust, and that is a price this country can no longer afford.

Power belongs to the people. The people of Kenya are wenye nchi, MEANING the true owners of the nation of Kenya, and without them, there is no one to rule, no one to tax, and no one to vote. Strip away the people, and power collapses into nothing. Leadership is not inherited, hired, or staged at rallies; it is borrowed from the people and must be exercised in their interest. Any leader who forgets this fundamental truth is merely occupying office, not governing a nation.