Ruto takes a dig at Mbadi, Wandayi over pointless 2023 maize flour protest
President William Ruto, on a light note, has accused Energy CS James Opiyo Wandayi and National Treasury CS John Mbadi how they wasted time protesting against the high price of maize flour in 2023.
Speaking shortly after John Mbadi, Opiyo Wandayi, and himself had a dance to Prince Indah’s “Osiepe Dagi” song in Migori on Thursday, August 14, 2025, Ruto said there was no way the price of food could be reduced by subsidising consumption.
Ruto recalls protest days
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The President told the crowd, “Mimi nataka niwaeleze mambo ya kilimo mahali imefika. Pale 2022, bei ya unga ilikua Ksh240, pale 2022 bei ya kahawa ilikua Ksh60. Tulikua na matatizo mengi ya food security.
“Mliona ata watu wengine walikua uko barabarani wakifanya maandamano na sufuria kwa kichwa kwa sababu ya unga. Kwani nyinyi ni wageni Kenya, si mlikueko?
“Ata mimi nimeona hapa kuna watu wengine walikua wanafanya hiyo maandamano. Njia ya kupunguza njaa Kenya, si kufanya subsidy ya consumption, hapana. Njia ya uunguza gharama ya unga ni kwenda kwa mkulima.”
He said the only sustainable way to lower food prices is to invest in production and support farmers, not by short-term subsidies that deplete public funds without solving underlying challenges.
Azimio protests and arrests
Ruto’s lighthearted jab referred to the Azimio protests of 2023 that saw several opposition leaders and their supporters wear sufurias on their heads to symbolise the hunger crisis and high cost of living.
Among those in the streets at the time was then Ugunja MP James Opiyo Wandayi, who, along with other leaders, was arrested during the demonstrations.
The President noted that some of those who participated in the protests are now key members of his government, emphasising that Kenya’s political landscape changes quickly and that yesterday’s rivals can become today’s allies.
His comments drew laughter and applause from the audience, many of whom remembered the dramatic scenes from 2023.
As he concluded, Ruto reiterated that his administration is focusing on agricultural reforms to ensure food security and reduce dependence on imports.
He said that while protests may draw attention to problems, only practical solutions in production can deliver long-term change for ordinary Kenyans.
