Thika Town Today

As citizens, we get so irritated when we see a police officer take that 50 bob from a matatu driver or a government officer taking a bribe from a private citizen to offer a services they are paid to do or even that person who bribes a “soldier” to jump the queue in the banking hall. 

At that particular moment, we view those people as very evil and as our real enemies. But in the real sense, they mirror what 99% of us would do if the mantle was bestowed on us. The truth is, it hurts us so much because at that particular moment, we are not the beneficiaries of the act. What hurts us most is because someone else is benefiting and not me.

When we look at all these people, we tend to talk so ill about them as though they were aliens, or a breed from another planet and not part of us. These are our brothers and sisters for crying out loud. They are us and a reflection of exactly who we are. 

Dishonesty is deeply rooted into our Kenyan DNA. In the society we live in, we must know of that shopkeeper who always cheats on the weights or the quality of the items they sell. We might know of that butcher who sells meat gotten from suspected sources including slaughtering dogs or cats. We also know of that matatu crew who will hike fares just because of a few drops of rain and so on. 

This is the kind of society we are living in. People are so dishonest and can do anything to earn money, even if it means killing a fellow human being with our greed. These are the same people running public office, private companies, in business and even in religious setups. 

But have you ever asked yourself what corruption does to our own economy and our own lives?

Businesses are unlikely to thrive in corrupt contexts. Practices such as fraud, bribery, extortion and embezzlement poison the business environment and corrode economies from within. Corruption is toxic to business. 

By investing the wrong way, investors actually harm the communities they serve. Investors who thrive in corrupt deals actually kill genuine businesses because such shortcuts evade certain costs that give them advantage over the genuine players. The genuine players are therefore unable to compete in the price offers thus forcing them out of business.

The misuse of an office for private gain leads to the needless inflation of production costs and thus greater operational inefficiency. Another problematic scenario occurs when government officials harass firms with costly "official" requests. Once businesses are locked in that hopeless situation, they tend to comply by way of offering kickbacks or bribes that comes in many shapes and forms. These outlays inflate labour and operational costs and in turn, create a less favorable business climate and ultimately serves as a serious drag on a nation's wealth.

When someone misappropriates money, say for a road, they eventually make the cost of production so high and eventually the cost of living since the ripple effect trickles down to the consumer.

People who misappropriate money meant for the health sector directly affect the general health of the people and in the long run, affects productivity and wealth creation.

In a nutshell, the impact of corruption on cost of doing business is extremely massive.  The problem is taking a toll on the business climate, national debt and public service delivery. Corruption inhibits private investment, reduces economic growth, increases the cost of doing business and can lead to political instability. 

The government weak implementation of the law meant to eliminate corruption is also wanting. However, a corrupt-free Kenya starts with me.

There has been a lot of talk about Kenya’s national debt and if it is ok or healthy for the government to keep borrowing.

Before we discuss this, let’s first try and understand what Public Debt or National Debt is. Public debt is money borrowed by countries to get extra funds to invest in their economic growth. 

There is nothing wrong for countries to borrow money for investment. However, there is an absolute limit to the amount of debt that a government can borrow. If it exceeds that limit, the government will default. This risk is measured by comparing the debt to the country's total economic output, known as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The debt-to-GDP ratio gives an indication of how likely the country can pay off its debt.

When such debt approaches a critical level and a country starts experiencing trouble paying off external debts, creditors start demanding higher interest rates when lending.

Kenya’s public debt burden currently stands at about seven trillion Kenya shillings. The country’s National Debt to GDP Ratio now stands at 55.50%

Japan has the highest national debt in the world at 234.18% of its GDP, followed by Greece at 181.78%. The US national debt stands at 106.70% of its GDP.

Germany’s debt ratio is currently at 59.81% compared to China’s at  54.44%.

Russia’s debt ratio is one of the lowest in the world at 13.79% of its GDP.

Within our region, Sudan has the highest at 177.87% of its GDP, followed by Eretria at 127.34%, Burundi 63.54% Rwanda 50.00% Uganda 44.81%, South Sudan 37.81% Tanzania 36.57%

By comparing what a country owes with what it produces, the debt-to-GDP ratio reliably indicates that particular country’s ability to pay back its debts. 

A study by the World Bank found that countries whose debt-to-GDP ratios exceed 77% for prolonged periods, experience significant slowdowns in economic growth. Every percentage point of debt above this level costs countries 1.7% in economic growth. This phenomenon is even more pronounced in emerging markets, where each additional percentage point of debt over 64%, annually slows growth by 2%.

In conclusion, there is nothing wrong for a country to borrow money for investment but it becomes a concern if it borrows to repay loans. In the latter, there is no generation of new wealth and the country may not be able to repay its loans in future.

There is no politician who really loves an independent electorate, one who will never come to them for handouts or for petty assistance. Politicians thrive in deficiency and will always work behind the scenes to ensure that their electorate always have something to cry home about so that they (the politicians) will rush to them as the “savior”.

For instance, why would government offer bursaries to poor parents instead of channeling that money directly to learning institutions and ensuring that education is absolutely free? To put this in a language that you can understand; This is government giving you government money (bursary) to pay government fees. It doesn’t make sense.

But the politicians would prefer the status quo since it benefits them politically. Yes. They would want desperate parents to throng their offices to beg for bursaries so that once given, they will go home doing the “Firirinda” dance in praise of this politician and claiming that, were it not for the politician, their children would not have gone back to school.

That is dragging our people into mental slavery. Simply infecting our people with this deadly virus known as “Politically Dependency Syndrome”.

On a different perspective, I feel that bursaries should be done away with and instead, the government should come up with policies to economically empower the people. Instead of giving the person bursary, why don’t you empower them to have money into their pockets and then ask them to pay for their own school fees? They say, “Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime.

But doing so is working your way to losing a massive voting bloc. Politicians survive through the creation of a desperate society who believes that politicians are gods and have answers to all their immediate problems.

That is reason people adore politicians who feed them on handouts and goodies that only last for hours.

If you critically analyse the kind of programmes that politicians initiate within their jurisdictions, you will realise that most of them are skewed towards enclosing the beneficiaries into some cocoons where will merry-go-round the same economic status forever.  Very few politicians work on programmes that completely transform their people into full economic freedom and if they do, these programmes only benefit those very close to them, for obvious reasons, their own political expediency and not for the good of the entire society.

That is why you will see politicians using a lot of money to offer their people with free water in bowsers instead of drilling a borehole for them or connecting them with the main source of water. That is why you find politicians forming “rescue teams” to offer food donations, hearse services and so on in order to psyche them into always believing that their help would only come from that direction.

All these are schemes to enslave the masses into voting machines. Politicians only want to use people as tools to serve the achievement of their (politicians) own ends.  Politicians are there to serve their own interests, not yours. That’s the hard reality.

Politicians are happy to serve a gullible and ignorant society who easily buys into their mischievous and populist decisions just to get cheap publicity. Critical thinkers who question political mediocrity are branded as enemies and politicians will ensure that such people will never sit near the political table. Politicians feel so comfortable while being surrounded by their “Yes Sir” supporters who will cheer and clap for them even when they are walking naked in public.

It’s high time Kenyans woke up from this deep slumber and start redefining their own destiny and that of future generations. Luckily, the society is growing younger and more enlightened by the day thanks to the internet and we should never let such opportunities just fly away without taking advantage of them.

Let’s start to seriously vet those we entrust into leadership positions and ensure we only contract those with a vision for the good of the whole society and not just a few. Kumbuka, Msipojipanga, mtaendelea tu kupangwa. 

Yesterday we had a conversation with a friend about the deplorable state of our public service and the lack of professionalism in virtually all spheres. One thing boiled down my mind…. Things have fallen apart in this country. Be it in the public or in the private sector, there is nothing to smile about.

Have you ever come across a situation where you have preferred to be served by an elderly professional rather than that youthful and energetic graduate? Have you ever come across, say a patient preferring to be attended by an elderly doctor rather than a young doctor? Have you asked yourself why companies hire the services of old and experienced lawyers?

There must be a reason for all these preferences to the old guards.

Gone are the days when a doctor was regarded in great esteem. Neither the teacher, police officer, lawyer, media personalities ….. name it. We can no longer take pride in what comes out of any of these professions. Majority of what we have today are incompetent paper giants; very colourful academic papers but zero to show for this.

In the early and mid 90s, policy makers in this country changed the focus of our education sector to examinations-oriented approach. All the energy and focus was turned to exam results (KCPE and KCSE) and people put too much pressure to teachers and learners to “produce good results”.

Success was measured on the grades one scored rather than the skills gained in their 8 or 4 years in primary and secondary schools respectively.

Everyone started glorifying exam results… The government, the media, churches and even family gatherings started celebrating “exam giants” and despising those who scored low grades without considering the circumstances that contributed to their low grades nor their own individual strengths.

It didn’t matter how one attained those grades as long as they were good. Teachers started training children to cram for exams and recite answers to questions. The modus operandi in the teaching profession changed from teaching to comprehend to coaching learners for exams, what is popularly known to many as spoon-feeding for exams.

Other vices such as exam cheating and parents or schools bribing KNEC exams officials to have the results of their children and schools doctored in their favour started creeping into the system.

The results of all this was that so many unqualified candidates took up the university slots and eventually into the job market.

The universities were no better…. Remember the famous sex for degrees saga?

It was during the same period that we killed middle-level colleges and village polytechnics. Most of these were either transformed into universities or died a natural death. This meant that anyone who missed university admission had nowhere to go and was considered a failure.

Eventually, we ended up with so many paper giants who were unqualified to hold the responsibilities bestowed on their shoulders. It also brought people into the service whose parents could bribe their way into a job regardless whether that was their dream job or if they qualified for the job.

These are the majority who are running our public affairs today and making policies that are meant to make Kenya a super power in the future. It explains why we have so many frustrated people in the workforce. Most of them are frustrated because they have been assigned duties beyond their capabilities. This anger and frustration is usually directed to the people seeking their services, their employers or their own families. These are people who claim to be underpaid because they feel that the job is too hard for such a salary.

Yes, we have wasted over 30 years producing a generation of bookworms rather than skilled thinkers and problem solvers. Those are the people that we have entrusted with developing policies to make our lives better.

A generation that can’t solve any problem without referring to the books or to Google Search. A generation that just copy-pastes the ‘one-size fits all’ policies. Yes. That generation that believes that just because a formula worked in the US, UK, China or wherever, it will definitely work in Kenya. A generation that believes that every Kenyan solution is backward just because the Mzungu says so.

24/02/2021

The Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill 2020 also known as BBI has been in the public discussion since 2018 when President Uhuru Kenyatta and the former Prime minister Hon. Raila Odinga met at harambee house for discussions and a handshake, ending weeks of political street protests and violence in the cities of Nairobi and Kisumu. 

Yesterday Tuesday 23rd February, the BBI bill surpassed the minimum number required from county assemblies to take it to the next stage.

Among the proposals in the Bill is the creation of ward development fund. The Ward fund is set at 5% of the funds received by counties from the National Government. 

This proposal has elicited public debate among Kenyans with some saying that this provision was included to act as a bribe to the MCAs to entice them to pass the Bill. Nothing can be further from the truth.

HISTORY OF WARD DEVELOPMENT FUND

In the year 2002 the government of Kenya through the Ministry of Local Government introduced Local Authority Service Delivery Action Planning (LASDAP), to create an entry point for local Authorities to constructively engage with its citizens on matters of planning and Development. 

The objective of LASDAP was to improve efficiency and accountability. In particular LASDAP process was to focus on aspects such as;

a) Service delivery

b) Financial management including budgeting

c) Participatory planning and local governance

d) Revenue mobilization, monitoring and evaluation

e) Institutional reforms

f) Fiscal and overall decentralization.

Preparation of the first plan by local authorities was to enable local Authorities to draw funds from Local Authority Transfer Fund (LATF). LATF had been established as an act of parliament as Local Authority Transfer Fund No 8 of 1998. Section 5 (2) of the act stated; 

“There shall be paid into the Fund in subsequent financial years, five percent of all tax collected under the Income Tax Act in the year or such other proportion of the said tax as the Minister may, with the approval of the National Assembly, from time to time, specify”.

I invite us to interact with the act.

LASDAP provided a forum for consultations, monitoring and feedback mechanism to communities, local authorities, civic leaders, the private sector and donors. 

LASDAP guidelines also provided for Project Management Committees (PMCs) who were the elected representatives of the beneficiaries and worked hand in hand with other stakeholders to spearhead Project Monitoring and Evaluation, within the LASDAP process. The eligibility for Committee membership included ability to read, write, leadership or supervisory skills.

The ward development fund being proposed in BBI is similar to the LASDAP model proposed and established in 2002 in two ways. First it proposes a minimum of 5% of funds transferred to the county and it seeks to meet the same objects of inclusivity in local development. 

WARD FUND AND THE UNDERSERVED AREAS “THE POLITICAL NO MANS LAND”

Thika Town, Juja and Ruiru constituencies were created in 2012 during the IEBC boundaries review. They were created as a result of splitting the then Expansive Juja Constituency. With the boundary review some wards in Thika town were merged and others were split. 

The new Ward boundaries created an opportunity as well as challenges. But the ward boundaries also created “marginalisation” and political discrimination. Allow me to explain with examples.

Landless estate is perhaps the biggest middle class estate in Thika Town, it falls under Kamenu ward. Kamenu ward has a population of over 74,000 residents. Adjacent to Landless in Kamenu ward, is Salama Estate bordering Gatuanyaga Ward. Due to voting station proximity a majority of Salama residents are registered voters at Gatuanyaga Primary School which is in Gatuanyaga Ward. 

Most landless residents are voters in polling stations in town and others at Thika Approved School which is a polling station in Hospital Ward.

In political terms, residents of Landless and Salama estates do not vote for the MCA in Kamenu. Since politics is about interests, whenever challenges such as roads and drainage systems are discussed in Landless, there is no political capital to be gained by the Kamenu MCA. The only party that would gain political capital there is the area MP. 

With a ward development fund the MCA will be compelled by law to make sure the area is developed, services are delivered and the infrastructure development projects are done. It will also enable Landless residents to petition the office of MCA to ensure that their area is given equal attention as well as participate in the planning and budgeting of development in their area.

MAPOROMOKO ESTATE, TORA ESTATE, MAKONGENI PHASE 10, 13, 6, 7 

When the 2012 boundary review was done, Maporomoko estate was classified under Murang'a county so was Bendor, Githingiri and Maki estates. Residents of these areas pay their rates to Thika Sub- County, Kiambu county, get essential services such as water distribution and most have businesses and interests in Thika town.

They are registered as voters at Chathi Police Post, Thika stadium and Moi Primary School, these polling stations are in Thika Township ward. The township MCA cannot help lobby for any development there since they belong to another county yet they are voters in his ward. The MCA on the other side of Murang'a has no Political capital to gain from Maporomoko, Maki or Bendor estates. leaving them with no representation.

With ward development fund the Kenyans in those areas will be included in development of their ward irrespective of where they vote and irrespective of who the MCA will be. They will no longer be “marginalized”.

Same will go to residents of Makongeni phase 10, 13, 6, 7. These estates are in Kamenu ward, but most of the residents are voters at MOW Canteen, Joy Town Secondary School, and other polling stations in Thika Town. The two mentioned polling stations are in Hospital Ward which means the Kamenu MCA gains no political capital there and the Hospital Ward MCA cannot lobby for development there even though residents in these estates voted in his ward. 

Ward development fund will bring social justice and inclusivity in development to the residents of Makongeni.

Tora residents will benefit from the ward fund too. Politically it falls under Witeithie Ward in Juja Constituency but most of its residents vote in Kisiwa Primary School, EGAARD Canteen and Mary Hills Girls High School all of which are polling stations in Thika Township ward.

There are a lot of these examples all across the country which has left so many areas underserved, unrepresented and isolated in terms of development. Just like the drafters of LASDAP concept and LATF act had noted in 1998 and 2002, the drafter of BBI have taken the same note in 2021, almost 20 years since the LASDAP experiment. 

It is a welcome move and will ensure shared prosperity, accountability and inclusivity.

The responsibility now will be upon us……to find those amongst ourselves who will be able to give us quality representation, inclusivity and basic human dignity.

Juma Hemedi

The Bill seeks to create a level playing field in the Senate and the National Assembly by doing away with nominations. Everyone will have to go through the ballot.

In the Senate, it amends Article 98 to increase the number of senators from 47 with one representation from each County to 94 Senators. 

Each County will be represented by two Senators, one woman and one man. Also regarding the Senate, in terms of its oversight role, the bill seeks to amend Article 96 where it expands the Senate’s mandate. 

The house (Senate) will not just oversight revenue allocated by the National Government to the Counties, but it will also oversight the revenue raised and received by the county governments and their expenditure. 

With the removal of the position of Woman Representative Seats in the National Assembly (NA), political parties will be required to meet the two-thirds gender rule while submitting their lists to the IEBC.

The BBI document amends Article 90 with the special seats in both NA and County Assemblies thus providing that the seats will be allotted on the basis of the total votes received by the political party as opposed to the current practice where such allocation is based on seats won by a political party.

Therefore, nomination slots in the County Assembly shall be reserved on the basis of gender parity and will only be given to people who have vied, but lost but more so the second person from either of the gender of different from the winner will carry the nomination.

A newly created article 151A gives birth to three positions namely, The Prime Minister (PM) and two Deputy Prime Ministers (DPM). The PM will be nominated by the President from among the elected Members of Parliament, and from the party with the majority of members in the National Assembly. 

The PM functions shall be to coordinate and supervise government functions. He or she shall only assume office after nomination has been confirmed by NA, supported by majority vote of the Members.

The PM shall as well be deputised by the two DPMs who shall also be appointed by the President from among the Cabinet Ministers. The number of Cabinet Ministers will remain 22 (Including the two DPMs).

Article 154 shall be amended to remove the approval of the national Assembly in the appointment of the Secretary to the cabinet. Also, by amending Article 155, the President shall be required to appoint Principal Secretaries from a list recommended by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The appointees will no longer require the approval by the National Assembly.

New article 107A proposes the creation of the position of Leader of Official Opposition (LOO) to be the person who received the second greatest number of votes in a Presidential election and whose political party or coalition has at least 25% of all MPs.

It denotes that the LOO and the PM shall not be members of the same party. 

The repealing of Article 108 creates the order of precedent in the National assembly as follows: -

 The Speaker of the National Assembly

 The Prime Minister; and 

 The Leader of Official Opposition

New article 108A constitutionalizes the party leadership structure in the Senate as follows:-

 The Speaker of the Senate;

 The Leader of Majority party; and 

 The Leaders of Minority Party.

Therefore, the National Assembly shall have 360 elected MPs from single-member constituencies; 4 PWD representatives- two men and two women; two youths from both gender; number of special seats members necessary to ensure the two-thirds principle is adhered to; the Speaker, Attorney General and Cabinet Ministers who are not elected MPs all as ex-officious; and the Leader of Official Opposition.