Senior Economist David Ndii has rubbished off chances of him working for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration as Finance Cabinet Secretary.
Ndii’s declaration comes a day after the arrest of Treasury CS Henry Rotich.
Rotich, if he won’t resign, could probably be fired by Uhuru after DPP Noordin Haji linked him directly to the alleged loss of more that 19Billion meant for the construction of Kimwarer and Arror dams in Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
Earlier In April, President Uhuru said that he will only sack those prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“I must, however, caution that the pursuit of the corrupt will be undertaken strictly within the remits of the law, and not through vigilante justice and pitchfork protest. Though media narratives rally our resolve as they should, our actions will not be based on condemnation before one has been heard. The cornerstone of our democracy is the rule of law, and the principle of due process is a critical anchor.” President Kenyatta said.
“It is not enough to merely jail and fine those who have looted our public coffers. The wealth they stole from Kenyans must be returned to its owners, the People of Kenya with the clear message being that Corruption does not pay,” President Uhuru added.
CS Rotich was today arraigned in court alongside PS Kamau Thugge, in what is believed to be a move that could lead Cabinet reshuffle.
With that out, David Ndii, one of loyal supporters and strategist of the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has once again turned down requests and suggestions to take over the leadership of the Treasury.
According to Ndii, Uhuru’s regime and reign is and will always remain illegitimate.
Ndii posted this on his verified Twitter account.
Public Notice I’m not available to work for Uhuru Kenyatta’s corrupt illegitimate govt. Those thinking corruption/ economy can be fixed in Treasury are gravely mistaken. National crisis will persist until a financial implosion or Jubilee is out of power whichever comes first. https://t.co/CITItnPmEr
“Public Notice: I’m not available to work for Uhuru Kenyatta’s corrupt illegitimate govt. Those thinking corruption/ economy can be fixed in Treasury are gravely mistaken. National crisis will persist until a financial implosion or Jubilee is out of power whichever comes first,”
David Ndii was responding to a tweet that had proposed him for the Treasury job.
The handshake is working and am fronting @DavidNdii as our next CS Treasury…the president needs an honest gentleman who knows and understands economics…..we can't borrow to prosperity.
Maize scandals surrounding DP Ruto seems like are here to haunt him forever.
In an explosive political storm started by three Rift Valley MPs, Deputy President William Ruto has been accused of owning a 500,000-acre maize farm in the Republic of Congo.
The controversial Jubilee lawmakers claimed that Ruto has been discouraging famers from planting Maize.
The move is said to be positioning Ruto as the Principal and only maize supplier to the scandal-ridden NCPB.
Joshua Kutuny, Cherangany MP , Alfred Keter of Nandi Hill and Silas Tiren of Moiben alleged that Ruto has been encouraging farmers to substitute maize farming with avocado and macadamia.
“You can’t be telling us to plant avocados, plant macadamia but you are not telling us what happened to maize…Now you have gone even to Congo. You are growing 500,000 acres of maize,” Keter told a local press.
Kutuny asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be open on the backdoor deals that he alleged that Ruto had signed with the Denis Nguesso on behalf of the government.
In September last year, DP Ruto traveled to Brazzaville with a large delegation and held talks with the country’s top leaders.
Ruto’s website says DP was in Congo Brazaville for an official visit and was received at the Maya International Airport by Prime Minister Clement Mouamba.
According to the government, Ruto’s tour was aimed at promoting cooperation between the two countries in various fields of interest.
Statements sent to media houses say that the two countries agreed to cooperate in political consultations, economics, trade and investment, agriculture, science and technology, culture and arts.
Ruto accompanied Mining and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary John Munyes, Governor Kahiga Mutahi of Nyeri and Governor Granton Samboja of Taita Taveta. Also in delegation wasTrade Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo.
It has been alleged that Ruto used this State sponsored trip to seal his maize deals in Congo.
“Part of his mission to Congo recently was to sign the deal to start maize farming there. He wants local farmers to do avocado to occasion a maize shortage in the country so that his maize from Brazzaville can gets its way to the local market,” Kutuny stated.
When local press reached DP’s office for comment, the DP’s communication director David Mugonyi said, “I will not respond to nonsense.”
Rift Valley is the biggest maize producer in country but poor pricing and infiltration by maize cartels threaten the region’s economic mainstay.
The Jubilee legislators have asked the DPP Noordin Haji to crack the whip on Ruto and other influential officers based at Harambee House Annex.
“Farmers, you must know this: most of our problems involving maize and fertilizer have been brought about the Deputy President and his office. We want his office investigated,” Keter said.
Our constitution does not insulate the Deputy President or any other leader from criminal or civil prosecution while still in office.
On Ruto’s defense, there is also no law that bars anyone or any leader from farming outside the country and importing the produce to Kenya.
“We want the DPP to investigate Ruto over maize. Every time the government releases money to NCPB to pay farmers, he calls all managers and instructs them who to pay and who not to pay,” Keter said.
Maize scandal has had many accomplices including Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe and top NCPB officials who all are currently facing charges of fraud in the payment of traders instead of genuine farmers.
The Jubilee MPs from the maize growing rift valley have rubbished DP’s early 2022 campaigns saying that Ruto stands no chance to succeed Uhuru.
Ruto has banked everything he has on his Rift Valley backyard to take him to State House but the criticism from within and parallel critics from Kanu’s Gideon Moi has already started threatening his grip.
“We don’t want the 2022 talk. In fact, he has already lost. There is no direction. You are going nowhere,” Keter commented on Ruto’s bid.
“Lifestyle audit should continue. They should not come here to fundraise for us. Farmers here don’t want fundraisers. They want good pricing for their maize, better pricing for tea and milk and hospitals and roads built,” Keter said.
Their pressure seems to be bearing fruits. Last week, Mwangi Kiunjuri was forced to suspend Sh2,300 price tag for a 90kg bag of maize and called for further consultation following protests from farmers.
According to Keter and the team, farmers must be paid at least Sh3,600 for every bag of maize.
Keter also dismissed claims by the government that there was a bumper harvest last year.
President Uhuru has on various occasions, fired warnings at Kiunjuri over the massive irregular payments made to maize cartels through NCPB.
“I promise you, Kiunjuri, and I swear before God, try that again and you’ll see what will happen to you. Sisi hatutaki mchezo tena,” President Kenyatta ranted during the Nairobi International Trade Fair that was held on 4th September last year.
Alexandra Phillips, the former head of media for Ukip and a vocal member of Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party has admitted to have secretly worked for Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ms Phillips made the admission to Channel 4 News after initially denying any involvement with Cambridge analytica and SCL that was used to mudslign Raila.
According to Channel 4 News, Ms Phillips accepted after a recording of an interview from 2017 surfaced online in which Alexandra confirms she had been employed by Cambridge Analytica to work for Uhuru Kenyatta, the current President of Kenya.
According to a statement released to International media, Ms Phillips admitted to have worked for SCL, Cambridge Analytica’s parent company, on President Kenyatta’s successful re-election campaign.
Cambridge Analytica Bosses were filmed by undercover investigators last year exposing the disgraced data firm’s dirty tricks and influencing elections globally.
Analytica Bosses were caught on camera chest thumbing about their smear campaigns, bribing politicians, putting unattributable and untraceable propaganda on the Internet Search engines in a bid to sway campaigns for their political clients.
In 2017, Kenyan election contest between Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta was full of misinformation and massive fake news were spread across the country via the Internet and on smartphones.
Cambridge Analytica’s SCL, which was working as Uhuru’s campaign team smeared Raila Odinga with a series of viral videos which were notoriously depicting apocalyptic scenes for Kikuyu’s if, at all, Raila was to win the election.
The notorious Cambridge Analytica have been facing accusation from every country they’ve worked for or with and have been unsuccessfully denying their involvement with the content, and any role in negative political campaigns in Kenya.
Ms Phillips, in the past interview, had initially denied working for Cambridge Analytica nor being in contacy or knowing anyone on their political campaign team.
“I didn’t work for them at all. That’s libellous. I’m being very serious now. You’re actually propagating a load of misinformation that’s been put online… based on nothing.” Ms Phillips said in an interview.
“If you want to talk about the Cambridge Analytica campaign, speak to them, not me. I don’t know them. I really don’t know the people.” she insisted.
Ms Phillips had also threatened investigator that she will sue them.
“And if you use this online, it’s going to be very difficult, OK… And actually, please don’t pursue that because there’s going to be a lot of things that might be happening over the next weeks, months, which is going to make life very difficult. I’m being serious. I’ve never been employed by Cambridge Analytica in my life.” She ranted on an interview.
However, an audio recording in possession of Channel 4 News has Alexandra admitting she was secretly employed by Cambridge Analytica to work for President Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party which was alleged to have swayed and rigged the elections in favour of Uhuru.
She’s recorded saying “I’ve not been able to speak to you because I’ve been under my contract which finished yesterday. So now I’m able to talk. But whilst I’m under contract with Cambridge Analytica, if they’d found that I’d spoken to a journalist about them, then, you know what I mean non-disclosure agreements and all the rest of i… I wasn’t working for Jubilee I was employed by Cambridge Analytica who had the contract with Jubilee.”
“I was brought on as a political communications consultant for the Kenya project. I’d be writing the president’s speeches and his talking points for rallies and State House statements. I trained their communications team; they’re all sort of journalists who came together to create a press office. So I had to train them up and daily management of that communications team.” She added
SCL’s contract with Jubilee was so sensitive such that Ms Phillips was told to always say she’s working as an air hostess if anyone would ever ask what she was doing in Kenya.
Ms Phillips had also claimed SCL’s contract with Jubilee was worth £300,000 a month and would add up to a total of around $6 million for the contract
“The $6m they got me and another chap who are two of the best in the business at doing this kind of stuff, and paid us nowhere near that much, my friend. The only thing that appals me about Cambridge Analytica was when I realised essentially how much of a money-making exercise they are.” Ms Phillips said.
Ms Phillips issued a statement last night admitting Cambridge’s involvement in Swaying voters and rigging for Jubilee’s candidate while distancing herself from SCL’s under deals.
“In Kenya, I worked as a freelance contractor focusing on speechwriting with the team of President Kenyatta, who is a great ally of the UK. The campaigns I worked on promoted peace and national unity in a country that I love dearly.” Read part of Ms Phillips statement.
“This work was sub-contracted out to me by SCL, which went on to become a different company. Out of respect for those whom I served, I will continue to respect the confidentiality agreements that I signed upon accepting the role in Kenya.” She insisted.
Alexandra also insisted that she will not be bullied by agenda-driven and guilt-by-association reporting that has vilified her name.
Deputy President William Ruto and his allies have turned their ‘guns’ to Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju and want to see him out.
Ruto’s allies have accused Tuju of working and sharing Jubilee’s political strategy with Former Prime minister Raila Odinga.
On his defense, The former Rarieda MP, Raphael Tuju rubbished Ruto’s accusations saying that he is simply working to deliver on President Kenyatta’s Agenda.
In an interview with a local press, Tuju said Ruto and his allies should follow party regulations if they have enough evidence to eject him.
“There is a laid down procedure of how to remove someone from office. Those with issues should at least file them with the party then allow me to defend myself,” Tuju said.
According to Tuju, he was in Siaya county over the weekend to commission development projects on behalf of Uhuru and had nothing to do with Raila.
“I received a phone call from the President asking me to go and represent him. The only thing I did was to read the speech from the President. Now they want to impeach me because of that?” Tuju asked while on an interview with a local press.
“Initially it was Interior CS Fred Matiang’i who was to go but some changes were made. I was facilitated by State House.” Tuju added.
“The projects were in Siaya county, Rarieda constituency and therefore the host senator and area MP would automatically attend” Tuju said.
On Ruto’s side, his political allies have vowed to eject Tuju.
Faith Gitau, Nyandarua Woman Representative said Tuju is operating under instructions of ‘anti-Ruto’ figures in government and allegedly being used to undermine Ruto’s 2022 Presidential race.
“He has no business being in our party if he has joined forces with the opposition to undermine the DP who is also our deputy party leader,” Ms Gitau told a local press.
Another Ruto’s ally John Waluke, the current Sirisia member of Parliament has accused Tuju of taking advantage of the handshake between Uhuru and Raila to undermine Ruto.
“Raila is an opportunist who is working closely with Tuju to wreck Jubilee. We will not allow this to happen, we know how we campaigned for Jubilee to form the government and the parties that were merged,” Waluke said.
Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara said that Tuju is is compromised and can no longer be trusted as SG.
“If he is now comfortable working with Raila after the handshake, then he should just quit rather than advance his political agenda using his position in the party by sharing our strategy to please Raila,” Ms Kihara said.
“Tuju should stop undermining the unity of our party from within,” said Kapondi.
“It is very unfortunate that the Secretary General of Jubilee can talk and plan how to incite communities. This is unbelievable,” said Pukose.
“You cannot be a Secretary General of a party that formed the Government and you are engaging in divisive politics. I tell Raphael Tuju that if you want to engage in divisive politics, you are in the wrong place,” said Didmus Barasa.
Kapseret MP and the self proclaimed Ruto’s Spokesman Oscar Sudi, accused Tuju and former Vice Chairman David Murathe of having become a liability to Jubilee Party.
“Tuju and Murathe are rejects who should be removed from the party through elections,” Sudi told a local press.
“We brought Tuju into Jubilee, not because he had any support, but because we wanted to create a national face for the party. He is now baggage and should be removed,” Sudi added.
On Saturday, DP Ruto shared a tweet accusing Tuju of turning into a Raila strategist ahead of 2022 Presidential polls.
So our democracy is so liberal that the SG of the ruling party has become the chief strategist of the opposition!! Maajabu
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) July 14, 2019
During the memorial service of the late Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore held at At All Saints Cathedral on Thursday, President Uhuru Kenyatta said he was disappointed he did not get time to return to Collymore’s house to collect his ‘special gift’.
President Johnie Walker
Directors Blend Whisky is the gift the late Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore was to give President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Uhuru told former presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth and the rest of the Boys Club that they will have to pay for the gift given by Collymore because it wasn’t theirs.
“I was supposed to have gone back to collect my gift reserved for a special friend from Bob and so Peter Kenneth, Oigara and crew, you will pay. That did not belong to you.” Said the President.
According to the Directors blend whiskey marker website, Diageo, the whiskey edition was released in 2010 and was exclusively for Diageo directors.
The special drink is bottled with six different labels, and pairs are printed the same.
Uhuru’s whiskey bottle was labeled number 138.
According to the marker, The Johnie walker Directors Blend is best served directly from the freezer and has notes of caramelised sugar and vanilla, fresh red berries with a touch of orchard fruit .
“When you sip it ,you will feel a fruity, creamy palate taste ,then as you swallow a creamy notes of caramel, manuka honey and a hint of very refined wood smoke.” reads part of Diageo’s review statement.
A shot sip of Directors Blend ends with allspice and nutmeg taste.
Directors Blend whiskey is packaged in 750 ml bottle that retails at Ksh460,000.
It has an alcoholic content volume 46 per cent.
Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth revealed in his tribute during Bob’s memorial service that Collymore went into his Whiskey Cabinet and opened a very special reserved blended whiskey that he had saved many years for a ‘Very Special guest’.
The late Bob requested Kenneth and his friends from the boys club be his Special guests since
the special guest (President Kenyatta) didn’t turn up for the gift.
Bob’s Boys’ Club consists of his close friends and Business partners.
Bob Collymore’s Club members
Jeff Koinange- Media Personality
Joshua Oigara – Group CEO KCB
Peter Kenneth – Businessman/ Politician
Bharat Thakrar -CEO, Scan Group
Lamin Manjang – MD, Standard Chartered Bank, Lagos.
Deputy President William Ruto and his allies call to President Kenyatta to convene a Jubilee party meeting have fallen into deaf ears.
Kanze Dena, the State house spokesperson on Tuesday said President Kenyatta is only focused on the development agenda of his administration and not politics.
“The question on Jubilee meeting is political. And like my boss has said before, we are not going to delve into political issues,” said Kanze Dena during Tuesday’s press briefing.
“If, at all, the party calls a meeting, then it will happen,” said the head of Presidential Strategic Communication Unit (PSCU).
This has thrown DP Ruto’s led Tanga tanga movement into confusion, with members saying time was running out for Jubilee that is almost collapsing.
Tanga tanga movement is worried about the Uhuru’s union with Raila and his party, ODM.
On Sunday, Dr Ruto added his voice to his movements distress calls for the Jubilee party to put its house in order.
Tangatanga movement have been pressuring Uhuru to convene a meeting to discuss a host of issues affecting the Party and specifically Ruto.
Tanga tanga allied legislators have accused Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju, of taking sides and working with Dr Ruto’s ‘enemies’.
Ruto led Tanga tanga movement was made to counter the March 2018 handshake between Mr Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga and strategize Ruto’s 2022 succession plans.
Fying squad have recovered and returned President Museveni’s car that was stolen seven months ago by Kenyans.
Museveni had contacted Uhuru informing him about his Black Toyota Kluger that was stolen from his fleet in November.
Investigators of this site have been informed that Uhuru Kenyatta was forced to dispatch the flying squads after ordinary Police failed to ensure that the car is recovered.
The Kenyan flying squad took the matter traced the car and found it in Gilgil. Flying squad trailed the carjackers for weeks and laid a trap at the Gilgil weighing bridge.
But someone from the public or their deep informers in the forces tipped the suspected car thieves that they were being trailed. They packed the car few meters before the weighing Bridge and vanished without leaving any trace of evidence in and on the vehicle.
The car was recovered with South Sudanese Number Plates; SSD 598M.
The vehicle currently at Nairobi flying squad offices, underwent further investigation and comparison of the chases and the numbers.
The dusting of the vehicle didn’t reveal any traces of finger prints. Meaning those who have been using the car for months now are deep in the web of carjacking mastermind.
The car was verified and chases matched with the documents and Kenya flying squad Commander handed over the vehicle to a team that had been sent by Museveni.
Uganda’s Presidential Press Secretary, Don Wanyama thanked Kenyan Flying Squad officer, John Njoroge through official post on Museveni’s social media sites.
One of Museveni’s site that Wanyama handle posted “Our machine is back, it has been a long chase, 8 months to be exact,”
This is not the first time these inter border car thieves are hitting the lime light. In September 2014, President Uhuru Kenyatta lost his chase car, a BMW.
The BMW had it’s tracking system vandalized and the vehicle transported to Uganda for a black market trade in.
It took the intervention of Museveni and Uganda Police forces with help of their Kenyan Cyber-crime CID department to recover the BMW.
Mid August last year, a Black V8 was also stolen from Kenya’s State House. The V8 was stolen from Uhuru Kenyatta’s Presidential convoy fleets.
Flying squad traced the car intercepted it at Boma N’gombe, Kilimanjaro with the help of Tanzania Police.
The Black V8 original plates ~KCP 184R, had been replaced with fake plates bearing the number T954 DEQ.
These State carjackers seem to be enjoying a blanket of cover from State personnel and some getting advised about every safety measure they should take to avoid arrest or being identified by the Police.
Raila Odinga, who still holds that he’s the Chief Opposition Leader’s role in Jubilee has increased worries from DP Ruto’s camp.
Raila’s puzzling protocol has been increased by the President with everything passing through DP Ruto’s nose.
Mr Odinga is an African Union’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development with full delegated authority by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Hon. Raila Odinga holds meetings with cabinet secretaries, launches government public projects and Offers State cleared consultations to the President.
Last week, Raila represented Kenya in a conference on Infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative in Ethiopia.
He jetted back in the Country on Friday and was given a Presidential escort and security to Kiambu County where he was scheduled to Officially officiate the ground breaking of the Tatu Tech City.
Raila was received by Kiambu’s top government security personnel and Wilson Wanyanga, the Kiambu County Commissioner.
The recent Presidential escort and Security detail being offered to Mr. Odinga has increased discomfort from DP Ruto and his allies.
According to Ruto allies, and majority of Rift Valley MPs, Raila has been given an upper protocol in government than Ruto.
The MPs have accused Raila of using his current position to blackmail the public in his power trapping scheme.
The Rift Valley MPs complains were echoed by the self proclaimed Ruto spokesman Oscar Sudi.
Sudi says the President has downgraded Ruto and his constitutional responsibilities and privileges given to Raila.
This is not the first time DP Ruto’s camp is feeling left out in Jubilee’s government rather degraded by President Kenyatta.
In January this year, DP Ruto was forced to have a closed door meeting with President Kenyatta in Mombasa after the President transferred most vital Ruto’s constitutional powers and responsibilities to Fred Matiangi, the Interior Cabinet Secretary.
On Raila’s defense, his spokesman Dennis Onyango, said that former Prime Minister is not a government employee.
Onyango said that Raila is only helping the country heal and get past the bitter divisions that had shredded peaceful coexistence.
According to Dennis Onyango, Raila is outlining the issues the government should keep working on to sustain coexistence in the country.
However, according to Rift Valley MPs, Raila Odinga, the Opposition leader who turned out to be Chief government policy supporter and influencer elevated protocol by government and increased security details and deep State role remains a threat to the existence of Jubilee and DP Ruto’s political cause.
Former Starehe MP Maina Kamanda finally clears the air about Handshake.
The Jubilee’s nominated MP has said that President Uhuru’s impeachment plans were underway.
With all the talk now resurfacing of what the handshake did, is doing or not doing lays unanswered questions.
If The handshake was the only thing that saved President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was planning the impeachment.
President Uhuru could have been impeached if it were not for his 'handshake' with opposition leader Raila Odinga – Nominated MP Maina Kamanda pic.twitter.com/JYiqPM1T1y
Was that the only thing that the Handshake was all about?
How exactly did the handshake save Uhuru’s regime?
So many people, some who had believed in change by revolution in order to reclaim Kenya, were made to look like a confused society.
The handshake portrayed our political carelessness. Self love political agendas. Political hopelessness. It left many Kenyans puzzled because it is a ‘Political magic.’
Handshake still looks like a shallow thought-out political cheat game.
The Government of Kenya is still spending our taxes in running the same loosely thought out political cheat game.
Handshake was an idea to create a political auction. The masterminds failed in setting up the right time before its launching.
A rushed idea that is now being dangled around the people to make it viable.
There’s still increased corruption. There’s a political calm down because the handshake slowed everything down. The handshake has made political demonstrations uncouth.
There’s still over borrowing. There’s still political rivalry. There’s still tribe orientation in our current political set up.
On 28th November 2018, too sweet deal and an overwhelming show it was during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Inauguration Ceremony at Kasarani Stadium when he offered hand of fellowship, Open arms with warmth and bleeding & hypocritic Heart of Hospitality to you.
Kenyatta took the oath which was administered by the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Anne Amadi, Chief Justice David Maraga pledging to abide the Constitution, Rule of Law and do Justice to All
His administration offered you Free Visa on arrival if you’re an East African Outcast and Just your National Identity Card to cross the border if you’re an East African. He gave you authority and Freedom, once stepping on Kenyan Soil you’re fully son and daughter of the soil; free to settle, marry, buy lands, build Real Estates, build malls, die and get buried in Kenyan soil like any other Kenyan would be. This is brotherliness, we agree and aim is to revive the dimmed Economy.
But threats and turmoil you’re bringing to our land has surpassed your Value to our Nation Building. Offer made was personal affair, if not then just few individuals decision and not peasants who are sovereign wish.
You celebrated this decision more than We Kenyans ought to have celebrated it. Which should raise concerns, lots of it. Majority intentions might be of Goodwill but the minority intentions are more lethal in this case because their doings will be contagious. Inshort terrorism alert! Drug Barons alert! Land Cartels alert! All of the Minority population immigrants know they’re coming to a land and home which is still struggling to barrow through poverty, a developing state and you’ll use Money to lure majority individuals in the country to join terrorist groups, work for drug barons in drug dealing, blow out money to peasants to squander their land and build Real Estates, Malls because President Uhuru authorised you to do so.
Without fear or favour. As those yearning for a better Kenya, New Dawn, by all means possible we shall regulate rate of Whites fleeing inn. We’re not ready for white settlement again schemes, that era was over and long gone. Besides White Supremacy, Black supremacy shall also be regulated.
We were certained by such a decision that shadowed our safety measures and our Future as a nation so he can please you. This is the same individual(Uhuru Kenyatta) who’ve been trying and struggling to justify his legitimacy as the Head of State. This is the same individual who have borrowed bonds and funds than any other Nation and than previous regimes he inherited from and more than that, has overstreched World Bank, GDP threshold. Kenyan Economy have worsened to the extent government bribes World Poll firms to rank Kenya top in the Economy index ranking but at home blames opposition brigade for Economy sabotage, imports Mexican yellow maize meant for Dairy cows to feed her citizens yet we boast of being Home and Origin of Agriculture, Calls upon USaid during Drought epidermic yet there is annual budget allocation for such Contingency.
From this position, there’s no hospitality whatsoever Kenyan government is offering you. They aim to use you as a spanner tool to fix Economy thereafter sideline this bullshit. It’s a wrap not a Resort or lodging.
We are woke today, and so you are. Especially to the harmful minority intending to shake Kenyan structure Must be warned.
We can revive the economy on our own, the problem is in top Leadership of the Country. You can jet in, fly in, ship in but won’t make change. So far the Country is Insecure and we won’t allow you to worsen the situation.
Before i wind up, Kenya is not a dumping site Mr.President.
Kenya Must Be Safe for Kenyans first, before it’s safe you. Same applies to your Nationality, your nation must be safe you first before Kenyans feel safe in it.
Hours back, Jubilee was walking shoulders high after launching the biggest infrastructural development since independence, despite integrity questions, SGR is, without a doubt, a major step forward. The launch that dominated the media headlines from Mombasa to Shanghai gave Jubilee a sense of legitimacy with high political scoring it came with.
As Kenya marked its 54th year since attaining full independence, the government through its policy of holding national holidays across the country as opposed to traditional Nairobi, took it’s way to Nyeri. Lately, national events as Madaraka have been turned into political campaign platforms and I expected nothing different, the same speeches of outlining accomplishments of the government the only difference is the template. For that reason, I didn’t see anything worthy watching the event on TV until online outburst that prompted me to watch it online. Unexpectedly yet unsurprising, opposition leader and NASA Presidential candidate Raila was invited to the function. This here was set to be an interesting day.
The event started off with a clearly biased and sycophantic prayer from a Catholic bishop who went out of line praising jubilee achievements while at the same time delivering accusatory venom on the opposition. Instead of preaching love and peace he chose to serve his own interest.
Moments later as the event was building up, the set up was slowly melting from a national event into the local community’s event. From the choice of masters of ceremony to other speakers opting to publicly address in Kikuyu language turned the whole thing ugly. While it is understandable for using local dialect to be in sync with the locals, it was ours out of order. This wasn’t any other event but a national event held in Kikuyu land. It had to happen under elements of national unity and that included usage of Kiswahili and English only. But the organizers had their own interests to serve. Many Kenyans following the event across the country were left out as the event was reduced to a community ritual passage.
Raila Odinga at the Madaraka day event in Nyeri.
That wasn’t the end of blunders, the organizers had more botch job to perform. Speakers after the other, deliberately or rather uniformly failed to recognize the presence of Raila Odinga who by stature is a national leader with a tremendous influence. Odinga was denied a chance to address the nation which was in all senses done in bad taste. It doesn’t add up that presidential protocol saw it important inviting Raila to the faction but denying him a chance to speak. This is easily read as a political calculation that was aimed at humiliating Raila and undermining his strength. It is a political season and there’s nothing wrong playing it, however, this was not any other event but a national holiday. The same way people look at Uhuru as their leader is the same as Raila with his massive following. Sidelining of Raila has perfectly boomeranged on the organizers. The event has been left with a hate and tribalistic tag.
Both the President and his Deputy followed the suit of rest when they took to the podium, completely ignoring to recognize the presence of Raila in the event and even after the end of the function, didn’t bother to shake hands as it has been ritual on such occasions. It was hard listening to the President’s speech emphasizing on peace, love, and unity the greatest pillars of our existence yet in action they were publicly displaying, hatred, discrimination and turned a national event into a community event.
If the two took the water they were preaching instead of wine, it would have been such a beautiful show of unity in a highly polarized country especially with the elections, to see both the three have cordial engagements even for the camera. The event has done more damage to cohesion than good. It wouldn’t have cost a muscle if Raila was given a second to even cough, it wouldn’t have dethroned the duo of the simply recognized the presence of Raila who represents interests of many Kenyans. But again here we have a government that has perfected the art of ignoring things from corruption to now ignoring people at events. We wouldn’t have a debate of they didn’t invite him. The struggles of freedom fighters to have a united country without hatred and discrimination amongst ourselves has been shitted on by the covfefe boys. While in ordinary cases we would’ve seen a walk out, it is admirable how Raila calmly handled the situation without a drop of drama and allowed the humiliation script to run smoothly. But there’s someone we call karma, she barely forgets.
Happy Madaraka Day ladies and gentlemen. Let’s hope to have a better one next year because of this, was a hot mess. Too many childish behaviours can somebody grow up please.
The President will today launch one of the biggest if not the biggest infrastructural project completed under jubilee, the completion of the first phase of SGR that is Mombasa- Kisumu that was built at a cost of 400B. The project has been marred by controversy from inception with procurement scandals, project overquoting amongst the many of issues raised. This is that project that has turned many into billionaires overnight.
What was promised
Anyway, as it has been, integrity questions are always shutdown with blind patriotism and you risk being labeled a nuisance, enemy of progress when you just complain even at the moments where you need to shut up and eat what you’re served. It is considered unpatriotic to raise your voice in negatively on SGR right now even though you’ll be paying back the loan. As a law abiding citizen, I’ll forget about everything and simply enjoy the Chinese themed launch of our SGR by the President.
What has been delivered
I decided to forget that the Sh400B worth compared to refurbishing the current meter gauge railway that would have cost Sh20 billion, that an upgraded meter gauge line would have given a similar performance as the SGR. I will forget about how we were promised bullet design electric trains only to be served with colonial era diesel locomotives that will be going at 80KM/hr to replace current cargo trains going at 60km/hr because that’s such a huge milestone.
I choose to forget the fact that to access the SGR I’ll have to take a Taxi or a matatu to Syokimau where the Nairobi terminus is, it would cost me an average of 1500 for taxi to Syokimau and 900 for an economy ticket to Mombasa where I’ll have to take again another taxi from Mariakani where the Mombasa terminus is to the CBD which is another 1000. A sum up of entire trip would come to Sh.3,400 on an economy class. For the same amount, I can afford one of the local flights to Mombasa and a VIP ticket on the luxurious busses to Mombasa. But forget you read this, just another of that pettiness.
SGR hostesses doing their Chinese language homework.
I’ll definitely forget that the returns of SGR to service the loans will take the time to materialize and that the burden is on the heavily burdened taxpayer to repay. With the first phase confirmed an entry of Sh400B to the debt bucket and 2 more phases (Nairobi- Natasha and Naivasha-Kisumu) putting it past 1Trillion mark, Kenya’s debt standing at Sh.4.5T an all times high and spending 50% of GDP paying loans off.
The Nairobi-Mombasa line cost about US$5.6m/km, for example, whereas the international norm is about US$2m/km and Ethiopia’s cost is about US$4.8m/km. In addition, Ethiopia is laid a more expensive electrified, double-track line, whereas Kenya’s railway is single-track and rely on diesel locomotives. Moreover, the terrain in Ethiopia is more challenging, and Kenya is also paying far more than Ethiopia for a similar array of rolling stock. I have to forget all that and just enjoy the diesel locomotives, I’m patriotic.
The SGR hostesses under Chinese influence and control
I’ll forget to ask why Kenya opted for a single-sourced deal rather than an open tender, which may have proved cheaper, and whether government-to-government deals are exempt from the provisions of public procurement legislation. I’ll forget about the fact that SGR is funded by loan from China, construction tender win by China, maintenance, and even the hostesses are forced to learn Chinese language and in a uniform without Kenyan theme, but you must agree I’m just being petty, let’s just enjoy the new trains as much as we will enjoy paying the loans.
As I wait for my moment to take off with the train I’m having more to forget about, abiding by The moral patriotism set standards of don’t ask , don’t tell, an America military gay policy.
Being a political season in a highly contested election, candidates are putting up the best teams, arsenal and sharpest strategies to woo and win hearts of the 19M IEBC registered voters. With barely two months to the 8th Aug date with electorates, jubilee and NASA are not taking anything into chances as they go full offensive to gather as many votes and win as many hearts.
While Jubilee won the election in 2013 campaigning on the youthful, new leadership and the ICC factor that brought together President Uhuru and his Deputy William Ruto, the cards have had to change four years later into power in popularizing their campaign. Jubilee is using the development platform as their core campaign material, greatly infrastructural projects. Jubilee hopes through the GoK Delivers campaign, the structures they’ve laid in their tenure will earn them another term in office.
Within the years of Jubilee rule, the state of Kenyan economy has become a center of focus with GDP showing positive index yet apparatus showing otherwise. Kenya thanks to jubilee now has record 4.5T public debt with inflation rate extremely high. Unemployment rate according to multiple sources now stands at 46% a disturbing figure given the fact that the youths make up to 67% of the 45M population. Corruption has been Jubilee’s greatest disgrace with an unimaginable amount of public funds stolen without repercussions. The cost of living has sailed from worse to worst under the last years of Jubilee administration leaving it with an ogre image.
A cartoon illustrating the state of nation on maize fiasco.
NASA is capitalizing on the failures of Jubilee in their pursuit of Statehouse occupation. Cost of living being high influenced the Unga revolution given the high prices of flour. Being a staple food to many, Unga was definitely going to be a winning campaign agenda for NASA. On realizing they were losing the scoring and NASA having an upper hand, jubilee swiftly moved in with ‘help’ to lower the maize prices through subsidy to millers. Unga prices would then drastically drop from 170 to 90 following GoK’s 6B subsidy which in essence is another burden to the taxpayer who’ll foot the bill. The Unga price reduction took off the greatest campaign asset from NASA with Jubilee now coming in as the. While the whole thing is surrounded with controversy gave crystal clear fingerprints of artificial food shortage with highly placed state officials as the chief architects, one thing is pretty obvious that food shortage is and was meant to be a campaign material for both camps.
It is not a coincidence that farmers were supplied with fake fertilizer and seeds that failed leading to drop in yield. It’s not a miracle that after DP Ruto, Agriculture CS Bett gave food security affirmation in January saying the Strategic Grains Reserve had enough maize to sustain the population only for same maize to disappear mysteriously creating a void in supply. It is not a miracle that the very day KRA have notice of tax exemption on maize a mysterious shop vessel supposedly full with maize left Durban for Mombasa and it is not a miracle that the very day that the maize was offloaded from the shop in Mombasa, it was milled, packed full with GoK subsidy stamp and supplied the very day. What I’m saying is the system is self-exposing, powerful individuals we’re yet to establish drained the Strategic Grains Reserve took maize and hid in some ship in the High seas waiting for the subsidy and tax exemption announcement to ‘import’ that maize from Mexico. Good security is government’s priority, A lapse in The system is directly linked to them.
Jubilee castigated the opposition for taking advantage of the food shortage to campaign against them calling it bloodsucking. However, a surface level investigation by Kenya Insights has unearthed how Jubilee using sophisticated propaganda tactics by Cambridge Analytica, are now fully and milking dry the situation in a well executed Google Search Algorithms manipulation. You’ll also realize the Unga released are packaged with GoK stamp a subliminal message meant to sell jubilee agenda as the rescue agent while it is pretty clear they’re fully to blame for creating the current situation thanks to rampant corruption and incompetent leadership.
Kenya Insights has discovered that A Google Search for the word ‘Unga’ will bring you a paid ad of an article from the Standard newspaper with a tweaked headline portraying President as the savior in the Unga quagmire. It is unclear yet of Standard Group is part of this campaign since their article is the one promoted to appear on Google Search pages. The sole message here is to paint Uhuru as stainless as possible and show how caring he is by reducing the price of Unga. It is worth mentioning that, the subsidy of 6B on maize is not a gift from the government, this a fresh debt to the already 4.5T. What this means, You and I will pay for that 6B.
We noticed that when you search for anything on Google and add ‘Unga in the search, the promoted standard newspaper article pops the top on every chat. What this strategy says is that looking for anything touching on Unga will first lead you to a praise and worship article on Uhuru and how he’s the one who has saved Kenya from starvation. You by now can tell jubilee is using the Unga topic to campaign heavily online. Google is the biggest search tool and.most visited in Kenya. By investing in the big data analytics, Jubilee knows a good number of people accessing Google will be reached.
Cambridge Analytica, the propaganda firm that jubilee hired for its digital wizardry, ìs famed for secretly influencing the outcome of Brexit and US presidential election. Politically motivated third parties including the “alt-right”, a far-right movement in the US, use a variety of techniques to trick the algorithm and push propaganda and misinformation higher up Google’s search rankings.
These insidious manipulations – both by Google and by third parties trying to game the system – impact how users of the search engine perceive the world, even influencing the way they vote. This has led some researchers to study Google’s role in the US presidential election.
Robert Epstein, a computer scientist from the American Institute for Behavioral Research and Technology spent four years trying to reverse engineer Google’s search algorithms. He believes, based on systematic research, that Google has the power to rig elections through something he calls the search engine manipulation effect (SEME).
Epstein conducted five experiments in two countries to find that biased rankings in search results can shift the opinions of undecided voters. If Google tweaks its algorithm to show more positive search results for a candidate, the searcher may form a more positive opinion of that candidate.
In September 2016, Epstein released findings, published through Russian news agency Sputnik News, that indicated Google had suppressed negative autocomplete search results relating to Hillary Clinton. This is the exact situation in Kenya right now, we searched for ‘Raila Unga’ and the results was intriguing. We discovered that unlike normal Google run that puts latest articles on top results, searching for Raila Unga brought articles from 2010,2011…and strangely enough, all the articles are on Raila negatively with links from the past linking him with maize scandal. You add Uhuru for us all on top search and Raila’s connection with maize cartel and realize this is a well coordinated digital campaign warfare. We also noticed foreign investors owned need website Tuko as consistently appearing going to affirm our sources that they’re also part of the propaganda team. They command impressive traffic reason they were roped in.
Then there’s the secret recipe of factors that feed into the algorithm Google uses to determine a web page’s importance – embedded with the biases of the humans who programmed it. These factors include how many and which other websites link to a page, how much traffic it receives, and how often a page is updated. People who are very active politically are typically the most partisan, which means that extremist views peddled actively on blogs and fringe media sites get elevated in the search ranking.
These platforms are structured in such a way that they are allowing and enabling – consciously or unconsciously – more extreme views to dominate. Appearing on the first page of Google search results can give websites with questionable editorial principles undue authority and traffic. These two manipulations can work together to have an enormous impact on people without their knowledge that they are being manipulated, and our research shows that very clearly. Virtually no one is aware of bias in search suggestions or rankings.
Twitter Kenya recently brought down their (TwitterKe) handle following persistent allegations that the San Francisco-based company was working with the Kenyan government to censor on trending topics that were castigating the authority. While Twitter has been accused elsewhere of employing such tactics, nothing straight can be said in this line.
All said, the new phase of political wars is on social media and perception is everything in winning votes, any side despising their opponent’s jabs is only doing so at own peril. Michael of Prison used a spoon to break prison walks literally, every jab counts that’s what I’m saying. Propaganda is part of politics If you’re targeted you neutralize with truth in a prompt well-structured communication system. We’re tired of dropping same bars so for obvious reasons some people won’t be mentioned here today.
Today, it is exactly 75 days to the election date, you’ll be treated to truths, half-truths, and blatant lies. What the digital mercenaries are doing for jubilee is toxic to the targeted but a job is well done to the client who is taking over digital space to tear down Raila and his character painting him a violent, failure and a never accept defeat person. While we all hold our own perceptions to these, the character assassination continues. Lastly, it is shameful that after creating this crisis, the state still has the nerves to milk the situation dry, maximizing on digital campaigns. Normally when Google Search Algorithms lapse is revealed they rush to adjust and by the time you end reading this article, with the little secret exposed, you might find out a change in the search results.
Politics is science meaning finer details can’t be viewed with naked eyes. It needs deeper analysis to understand the unwritten aspects adequately. Communication is one thing, strategic, effective communication is everything. It is for this simple reason that even African dictators have resorted to services of international communication consultancy firms to help them control masses and eventually retain power. In recent elections where the opposition has been uprooting till death do us apart Presidents, have a strategic communication system to attribute their successes to.
In politics, perception is critical and how you build that iS entirely up to you, but you must make a narrative to serve your agenda. Psychological manipulation, building perceptions is why explicitly or perceived rogue leaders get overwhelming support, look at Sonko and the support he’s commanding despite negative publicity. Unity and Ruto had serious crimes hanging over their heads but used the loophole of psychological twisting to build a favorable perception that they were innocent and only being sacrificed by Raila to be crucified in public land.
While the reality and culpability to the alleged crimes remain open book, the duo manipulated facts and changed perceptions that would later cost the favorable Raila a win in the election.
Propaganda is a traditional take on trade in politics that has worked for systems worldwide. The effectiveness of a well-choreographed propaganda can’t be put any better. Politics is not a game for the Saints, and that’s the unwritten truth, you either get your hands dirty or find yourself in the cold.
Jubilee unlike 2013 where they ran on a youthful new leadership euphoria and ICC bond, have totally lost leverage and despite the fact that we’re less than 100 days to the general elections are yet to settle on a central campaign platform. Jubilee has tried to use development as their campaign agenda capitalizing especially on infrastructure, going as far as launching a portal to sell their record including massive mainstream media hyping of same records but this has proven to be a task to sell. Cost of living has disturbingly shot up in the last four years that it becomes nearly impossible to convince the poor mwananchi who’s spending more to put enough food on the table that the country has developed.
Development and improvement of the economy to the normal mwananchi who survive on hand to mouth basis is not the SGR or any other infrastructural development but the table, if they can’t feel it in the household, then everything else is music to a dead ear.
The effectiveness of building perceptions has seen opposition squarely paint jubilee as a corrupt government given unending scandals; they ensured all fraud schemes were exposed and this is the ugly stain that Jubilee has struggled to remove in vain. Economic ratings rank Kenya as steadily rising with impressive GDP, but the apparatus speaks a different reality. Cost of living in Kenya has shot up to ridiculous levels, companies have either been downsizing or leaving Kenya because of the extreme business environment, the unemployment rate has hit an all-time high of 46%. This is the loophole and advantage that NASA has jumped into promising magic of resetting Kenya to default settings of affordable life.
President Kenyatta receives Gitobu Imanyara as a Jubilee partner.
The high cost of living remained NASA’s greatest bargaining power and campaign platform until Jubilee saw a lapse in their communication system and rushed in to spoil the party, convening a special Parliament meeting to discuss how to lower food prices with a supplementary budget to the same. NASA had a golden opportunity to maximize and milk this failure on the government entirely but has failed to capitalize on Jubilee’s failures. It takes prompt and flawless media strategic position to build a narrative around this and change perceptions. This was the opportunity to expose the poor governance in Jubilee which is to blame for the state the country is in. This was the time to task Jubilee to explain to Kenyans why they didn’t put in place effective food security measures.
It is also the time NASA would be making Jubilee lose weight explaining where the 15B allocated to Galana Kulalu irrigation project that was meant to answer to food shortage go; it failed terribly. It is also the time Jubilee would be tasked to answer as to why drought eradication can’t include water harvesting even as we have heavy rains. Kenya can’t run on 90s management yet we expect change, effective governance would have factored in that by now. Also, an opportune time to ask why to take fertilizer supplied to farmers turned out to be fake and infectious leading to drop on corruption. A subsidy from the government, who supplied farmers with plastic fertilizer.
The Kibandas don’t serve the extra ugali piece(sosa) anymore, and this is where that juacali artisan is directly affected, maize prices had shot up more than double amount from when Jubilee took power, during campaigns, Ruto is quoted promising for unga prices to go down on taking office, this would’ve have been perfect time to replay him the videos and ask what happened. Prices of domestic goods have altogether shot up, and this is why it was such a great campaign platform that Jubilee couldn’t allow to go, it is felt in all households.
While Jubilee’s move to help reduce the cost of essential commodities is a great move as regular mwananchi will get a reprieve, It exposes the put out of touch nature of the government, everything happened under their watch, unconcerned until reality hit that it was being used as campaign platform against them. The sudden concern for the affordable cost of living is, therefore, more plastic than silicon on those glands.
NASA took their time to fully capitalize on this either because they didn’t have in place any plan, nI communication strategy or sheer incompetence by existing team or perhaps somebody thought miracles would happen as in Prophet Owuor crusades. The communication lapse gave Jubilee time to re-strategize in responding the failures. This is the price to pay for poor strategizing.
Jubilee has an endless list of failures, and this doesn’t necessarily guarantee that Kenyans will reject them and that’s why they’re on a positive perception building overdrive How this is done, simple, media takeover. Jubilee is running ads and commanding maximum mainstream media coverage. You control the media you control the masses.
Jubilee has also revamped their online army even though most are malnourished with pending payments. Latest project ‘The Real Raila’ which is a direct demonizing campaign on Raila, is heavily funded by Google, Twitter, Facebook sponsored posts. The project which has been exposed to have a base in Statehouse under Dennis Itumbi watch is running ads daily spending millions.
Unlike Jubilee’s 36bloggers who’ve in their ineffective online campaigns have displayed ignorance and out of touch with everything, NASA online soldiers evidently show articulation and grasp with typical issues. A well-managed communication system ought to take advantage of this to run a coordinated, effective online battle without which it is chasing the wind. NASA must keep in mind they’re not dealing with the common political outfit, Jubilee has invested in propaganda arsenal which can only be squashed with timely communication, giving a false narrative to travel won’t take it back if the war is online, counter with a well motivated and competent team same to mainstream. Media create agendas that switch perceptions.
In 2013 September, five months after Jubilee took over power, effective September 2nd, 2013, among other products the prices of milk, newspapers, textbooks, fertilizers, and mobile phone handsets went up as a result of implementing the new VAT Act 2013.
The previously VAT exempted commodities were now subjected to 16% VAT. Under that new law by Jubilee, the 12% rate for electricity, as well as the electricity exemption for certain households, was also repealed.
Also, according to that law, effective 1 September 2016 (last year) certain petroleum products became taxable with 16% VAT. The changes have led to a strong impact on Kenyans increasing the overall costs of living. According to William Ruto (in 2013), the purpose of the drastic VAT change was to generate revenue for the nation’s development agenda.
The money was scheduled to go into public constructions including road and rail system improvements. It should also help the public hospitals. This was in 2013, fast forward to 2017. Kenyans are feeling the pinch. The cost of essential commodities is beyond the roof, but Jubilee is blaming the cost of living on drought. It is fallacious for Jubilee today, to claim that it is doing all it can to reduce the cost of living.
Desperate moments call for desperate measures, the former chief executive of the Committee of Experts; Dr. Ekuro Aukot was once a relevant man who enjoyed the limelight. Those days are gone, and he is the exact opposite now. Am told he is going to vie for the presidency in Thirdway Alliance Kenya; a movement he purports to be representing a better alternative to rescue Kenya from tribalism and poor leadership.
Dr. Ekuro is a respected academician who can do something better, not representing himself as a busy body desperate for a government job. There is no place for the third force in the current political layout, in politics, you are either for or against something. You can’t challenge the government and the opposition at the same time. That is total confusion.
These are futile attempts that were once harbored by the likes of Raila’s sycophant James Orengo, Martha Karua, Koigi wa Mwere and so on. These individuals had their dreams crushed by politicians who had deep pockets and ability to mobilize their tribes to rally behind them. Ekuro should not flatter himself thinking that the times have changed and Kenyans have learnt.
Kenyans never learn, especially if your intention is to desperately criticize the government and opposition to get a job. It’s no secret this guy applied to be appointed a cabinet secretary, why then should he turn to campaign through his Twitter handle to discredit the same administration he wanted to sever in? What changed and what difference would he bring in case his midday dreams came true?
Characters like him are known, trying so hard to be political saints, but they represent nothing fresh other their names. This guy cannot decline cabinet appointment neither can he decline to be ODM/Cord’s legal adviser. He is not any different from the guy from Emunyulia (Baraka Muluka) who does nothing other than criticizing his former boss, Raila Odinga.
Muluka is so desperate for a government job to the extent of dreaming of President Uhuru passing by his village and have his elders request the president to appoint their son (Muluka) to work in his administration. ‘Kizuri chajiuza, kibaya chajitangaza’ the Swahilis say. PLO Lumumba tried this, spoke all the vocs, got tired and hid, Tony Gachoka was on a mouth running spree; spoke every political nonsense for and against both sides of the political divides. He got no job and went underground.
Ekuro should identify what he stands for, the sad story he is telling of being a son of a nomad from Turkana is not any from that told by the hustler, DP William Ruto. No one pays attention to that. And is he joining politics because some folks have been in the game for a minute? It’s your relevance that will determine your longevity.
Enough said third force has no place in the current politics, even Ababu who had or has similar dreams got lost in the air and landed in the arms of an old granny Dr. Julia Ojiambo to bring ‘change.’ The battle lines have been drawn, and the 2017 polls are going to be a two-horse race between President Kenyatta and the Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.
That’s the sad fact, even ANC Leader Musalia Mudavadi who finished third in previous general elections is already indicating his willingness to join hands with Cord. If you can’t beat them you join them, Musalia is former Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of Kenya, who is Ekuro? He is a political nobody who has never beaten even a village elder in a political contest. What has he to unseat Uhuru or end Raila’s long time in politics?
The frontier market of Kenya isn’t often on U.S. or European investors’ radar. It should be. It offers a timely reminder of financial markets’ complacency about the risk of populism; and the attractiveness of bashing banks to win votes.
East Africa’s most advanced economy has introduced a law setting a cap on commercial lending rates and a floor on deposit payout rates, an instant squeeze on margins that sent shares of Kenyan banks to their lowest in years. Investors were clearly unprepared for a measure designed to make banks poorer — or less greedy, depending on your point of view — in the face of what Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta described as ordinary citizens’ frustrations about the cost of credit and earnings from deposits.
Kenya Crush
Bank stocks have plunged since the announcement of a law to cap lending interest rates
Source: Bloomberg
There’s no denying Kenyan banks make rich returns. The country’s largest bank by assets, KCB, has a return on equity of 24.7 percent, according to Bloomberg data, while rivals Cooperative Bank and Equity Group are on 24.5 percent and 26.9 percent respectively. That’s not just leagues ahead of the 5-7 percent ROE at Europe’s biggest banks, it beats the 15-18 percent at South Africa’s top lenders. Market concentration may have something to do with it: Kenya’s seven biggest lenders (there are about 43 in total) hold 80 percent of the banking system’s cash.
But capping interest rates risks damaging the Kenyan economy and stunting credit growth, a danger not lost on officials at the country’s central bank and finance ministry, who opposed the measure. If banks stop catering to anyone but the safest credit risk, it may encourage shadow banks or dodgy lenders to step in. If smaller banks find it harder to make ends meet, they may get bought up, making those dominant banks even bigger. And the new loan cap, at 4 percentage points above the base central bank rate, sets a potentially “unreasonable” ceiling for Kenya’s risk premium, according to investment firm Cytonn.
So why take such a chance? Well, next year’s election and a bank-bashing law may be just the ticket to win votes. Some analysts reckon it’s a purely populist move.
Yet the sell-off of Kenyan bank stocks over the past month suggests markets weren’t adequately prepared for this risk, with the chorus of credible dissenting voices perhaps lulling investors. And while it’s easy to dismiss this as the kind of problem specific to emerging markets, there are echoes of the anti-elite vibe in Europe and the U.S.
Championing the banks, in particular, isn’t much of a vote winner. The U.S. election has put the restoration of Glass-Steagall back on the table, with Republicans calling for big banks to be broken up. British chancellor Philip Hammond is trying to put a protective arm around the City of London by exploring continued access to Europe’s single market, but he’s clashing with the crowd-pleasing instincts of the “three Brexiteers”, Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis.
There’s still hope that pragmatism will prevail. Calls for a restoration of Glass-Steagall look like posturing, while Moody’s reckons that even if the U.K. quit the single market, its finance firms could probably still do plenty of business in the EU.
Yet the Kenya experience shows the potential for nasty surprises in a populist age, whether self-harming or not. Don’t forget that Brexit itself caught investors on the hop.
As the dust settles on the implementation of new laws on loans and deposits interest rates, the focus is now shifting towards areas that may not have been addressed explicitly or sufficient in the law, that has received praises from the mwananchi and sharp criticism from economists on its long-term effect on the economy, and that’s the Mobile money space.
Since a mid-last week, M-Shwari (a product of CBA and Safaricom) has come under attack from the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) as well as competitors, who claim that the product should be subjected to the Kenya Banking (Amendment) Act, 2016.
COFEK argued, “The law is clear that it applies to all loans. Whether offered directly or indirectly, any loan from a licensee of the Central Bank of Kenya via an agent and or mobile phone or any other technology is not exempt from the 4 per cent over and above the Central Bank Rate.” Launched in November 2012, Mswari set the pace for mobile loans attarcting others.
In seeking expert analysis on the Mshwari facts as policy of Kenya Insights, material available indicate that, there is no interest levied on M-Shwari loans. The only cost to the borrower is a one-off facilitation fee of 7.5%, charged at disbursement. Time value of money: Tenor of M-Shwari loans is 30 days only, as compared to competing products have longer tenors.
Interest and Fees/Charges are two different types of revenue.
Facility fees in the case for M-Shwari is return the lender earns from the activity of arranging credit. Fees are charged as either absolute amounts or relative amounts. Given the short-term nature of the credit (30 days) and the fact that a customer can payback sooner (at any time within the 30 days), it is more appropriate to levy a fee over interest.
Interest on the other hand follows the concept of time value of money and earns the lender an increasing return over time, for as long as the loan is outstanding. As such, interest is quoted per defined period either as per annum (over 12 months) or per month, etc. M-Shwari loans are levied a fee against the amount disbursed, irrespective of the repayment duration.
If COFEK’s position was to carry the day, we are likely to witness the following scenarios; Erosion of gains in Financial Inclusion- this is because it is the low income earners who usually use M-Shwari on a regular basis for economic gain. If M-Shwari is not viable for business, the bank may be forced to do away with it thereby reversing the gains that have positioned Kenya where it is.
Experts are warning that we would be facing an Economic slowdown/ exclusion- Many traders will be unable to access the more expensive lending products leading to the death of a number of businesses. High cost of credit- Alternative products are more expensive and this includes loan sharks. Failure to repay the loan on time, has very adverse repercussions. Tax Implications- CBA pays taxes on income from M-Shwari. Loan sharks and other competing products do not pay taxes.
Among these areas is mobile savings and lending, as well as discussions on who will lead in the efforts to amend the law and what will be reviewed therein. As the President said when signing the law, “We will implement the new law, noting the difficulties that it would present, which include credit becoming unavailable to some consumers and the possible emergence of unregulated informal and exploitative lending mechanisms.” It is not in doubt that the cracks are already emerging.
Quick Statistics
• Over 420,000 loan applications are made every day
• Over 70,000 loans are processed daily on M-Shwari.
• Majority of the loans are repaid within 30 days.
• Average loan amount is Kes. 3,200.
• Current NPL is by far, much lower by average than the ones you would find in commercial banks
• CBA has increased the interest rate on deposits made to M-Shwari accounts- in line with The Banking (Amendment) Act, 2016
• Close to 16 million customers on M-Shwari have made CBA the biggest bank by customer numbers
• Many small businessmen use M-Shwari as their working capital- with some borrowing and repaying up to 7 times a day.
• CBA has similar propositions to M-Shwari the E.A. region and plans are afoot to extend the footprint to other markets in the African continent. In Tanzania, CBA partners with Vodacom to offer M-Pawa (5 million customers), whilst in Uganda the bank has partnered with MTN to offer the recently launched MoKash.
Like in the media, who opposed digital migration, the banking players in Kenya have also been hesitant on adopting the new changes so it really shouldn’t come as a surprise when they pull dark innuendos but one thing we can’t deny is the fact that mobile loans has been to the advantage of the mwananchi who can now sit at the comfort of their homes and get a quick loan at the touch of a button a break from the traditional tedious ordeal in securing a loan from the Banks.
President Uhuru and DP Ruto when they officially unveiled the new Jubilee Party in Kasarani
The national campaigns for 2017 elections officially kicked off on Saturday when ODM declared Raila as their unanimous Candidate for the presidential race and Jubilee Party killing affiliate parties into one in what was a glamour filled ceremony.
It was dance and jubilation at the well attended merger ceremony at Kasarani Stadium, more than forty defectors from opposition parties were unveiled and Jubilee aspirants took the platform to strengthen their bid. Billions splashed on the event that has major ssideshow of delegates complaining over unpaid alllowances and it being slashed from the promised Sh20,000 to Sh,3,000 to even worst cases delegates from rural being stranded.
Now that the party mode is off, time for a reality check. The merger coincided with coming into law legislation that restricts party hoping. Knowing the voting patterns, next elections will still remain a two horse race between now unveiled Jubilee Party and CORD. Candidates who will win the party tickets in respective strongholds during the nominations will have the upperhand in the General elections. The nominations in respective party’s strongholds doubles as the final election, Party advantage is key in the end ballot.
With affiliate parties now swalloed into one Jubilee Party, the nominations is a do or die for everyone. The Politicians pictured dancing and shouting their lungs out in not during the merger, could go into deep depression any minute. In the previous election where the coalitions left open for affiliate parties to nominate candidates individually, disgruntled aspirants took advantage and jumped into an affiliate party within their coalition after nomination spat out. This time things will be different, in the case of Jubilee, there won’t be any open affiliate party to run into, Party hoping also restricted by law. In street language they say sh*t about to get real.
Jubilee Party nominations are slotted for next year May,within the next remaining months, major fallouts and realignment should be anticipated. Candidates have to seriously consolidate and not make a guess about everything, this is no gambling, you lose out on the nominations, you wait for another shot in 2022, knowing the huge power appetite for the incumbents and new entrants, Plan Bs should or rather already in place.
Serious fallout in Jubilee strongholds, inevitable as the nominations will be a do or die foreach candidate. Take for an example Kiambu County where Kingpins Kabogo and Waititu are battling it out,Nairobi we have Sonko,Wanjiru,Sakaja,Waweru and Wamalwa both strong Jubilee aspirants fighting it out for the ticket, not unless a boardroom deal is inked to accommodate everyone, expect sizable noise.
We’re looking at a wave of independent candidates ahead of 2017 and scheming new parties cashing in on the developing events. In the last elections, Kalembe Ndile’s TIP maximised on the nominations fallout by selling certificates to disgruntled candidates.
Other possible scenerios ahead; there will be voter apathy in the general election because those defeated in nomination will not care to campaign for anyone hence their supporters will see no reason to go and vote. It will be the end of the road for many politicians especially if you have been a governor and now you lose in nomination. Expect candidates to spend heavily on the nomination. In worst case scenarios, look out for political assassinations as the last resort to remove stumbling blocks. Perhaps it now makes sense why Kabogo is moving around in an armoured car as if he’s in Afghanistan.
Expect 80% of sitting MPs,Governors to be sent home, this from historical voting patterns. Politicians faced with possible extinction and fallout in Jubilee Party but until then…ile le le yo
President Uhuru and DP William Ruto at State house after announcing the mega merger.
By Nicholas Olambo
As the distance to next year’s polls get shorter political realignments characterize every move as a preparation to emerge victorious. If the current showbiz is anything to go by then jubilee beats cord hands down. Cord is a jaundiced version of what Jubilee is now.
The electorate is being blinded by the flashy style of the ruling coalition but is the move really to unite the country? If you ask me, I will tell you no. The political outfits in this country are tribal just like the voting patterns.
If ODM for instance is still regarded as a Luo party despite having numerous elected leaders across the country from, Nyanza, Nairobi, North Eastern, Rift Valley and Coast. The mega merger of jubilee coalition’s affiliate parties is nothing different from what it was before; the idea is still based on the ‘tyranny of the numbers’ myth. In fact nothing has changed, and despite the showbiz, status quo will still remain in voting patterns.
From 2002 parties that win elections in this country don’t reach the next elections before camouflaging into a different thing. Kibaki came into power with NARC ticket but later changed into PNU to defend his seat in 2007 then threw PNU away after ‘winning’the disputed polls. PNU was formed to neutralize NARC which was a coalition of many parties and definitely had many demands, all of which President Kibaki could not meet.
The likes of Noah Wekesa kept disturbing Kibaki to have their pre-poll promises met but when the party was changed promises were forgotten with the old party.
The same is the case here; President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto cannot meet all demands by different affiliate parties that made Jubilee coalition. This move therefore is to neutralize coalition partners and their demands. The baggage cannot be carried into the next term or as he leads. It’s a Macheavillian tactic: you must destroy those who helped you get the power. ‘Men should either be generously treated or destroyed, because they revenge for slight injuries – for heavy ones they cannot’.
Neutralization is the best and silent way of destroying the affiliate parties that helped Kenyatta ascend to power in 2013. Power is not about groups or movements if you ask me, power is about individuals. Kibaki tried it by reducing Raila Odinga to a mere roads minister in 2003 but failed, Odinga became his fierce rival in 2007 polls. The affiliate partners of jubilee also know how they rank in terms of party strength from top to the bottom.
It’s all rosy, hype and showbiz at the moment but things will unravel in the aftermath of 2017 polls. Severe injuries will be realized, Uhuru may choose to support Ruto or not and party will not be of significance after winning re-election. Kibaki had no use of PNU after his controversial re-election. History repeats itself and its right before the eyes of the electorate.
