We did what we thought was right, and in many ways it was. The other side was not something we could countenance.
And there were good reasons why we supported Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. After all, he’s a scion of the great Jomo, who saw this economy grow by 7 per cent for a straight 15 years, brought the UN to Nairobi and basically established the foundations of modern-day Kenya (those who know, know, forget about the imbeciles who think that everything they see, from the armed forces, NYS, parastatals like KQ and KPC to buildings like KICC, are from spontaneous miracles).
Furthermore, Uhuru was educated and young.
What could possibly go wrong?
Well, just about everything has gone haywire.
We now have crises that were unthinkable during the Kibaki years. I mean, why would a responsible gavament allow cartels to import tax-free toxic sugar that’s EQUAL TO THE COUNTRY’S TWO-YEAR CONSUMPTION QUANTITY at a go? What was supposed to happen to our farmers in those two years foreign sugar was flooding the market? Shouldn’t the imports have been to meet the local production shortfall for the year at most?
Elsewhere, which responsible gavament in history ever allowed the national debt to rise by 500% in five years, from just Sh1.2 trillion in 2012 to Sh5.2 trillion in 2018?
At a time when global oil prices are at around $70 a barrel, Kenyans will be paying the highest prices at the pump, at about Sh130. Everything is transported by oil, so the ripple effect of this will be far-reaching, to say the least.
This morning, the whole nightmare hit home when I purchased Sh500 worth of emergency electricity. Sh66.31 went to tax. Sh56.33 went to fuel index. Sh17.80 went to something called REP I don’t even know.
ONLY Sh356.07 WENT TO BUY THE ELECTRICITY. And mind you, I was using money left-over after KRA got its initial taxes!
I while back I thought Mzee Kibaki had started an ambitious programme to retire thermal generators. We invested heavily in geothermal and other green power sources. WHY IN GOD"S NAME ARE KENYANS STILL PAYING FACELESS CARTELS BILLIONS TO HAVE STAND-BY FOSSIL FUEL GENERATORS? What gavament can say it cares for its people when, after you pay taxes on your salary, you still have to pay a tax of beyond 13 per cent (Sh66 out of Sh500) when purchasing electricity ON TOP of paying cartels another 11 per cent as fuel charge?
Yesterday, we heard Uhuru has promised the Americans that road from Mombasa to Nairobi. So, now we will have two highways joining the two cities, two railway lines and an air corridor. Overkill. All on debt, about Sh450 billion of it. What ferkery is this? Surely, is this prudent investment?
And the following week Uhuru is expected to pen another loan agreement with China for Sh350 billion for the SGR extension to Kisumu. This will drive the national debt to the region of Sh6 trillion. This is not only unsustainable but totally stupid. If for some reason the Kenyan shilling depreciates against the dollar there will be hedge-room. We wil be ferked like Greece or Argentina because this debt will rise to even Sh10 trillion because of foreign exchange adjustments. Bluntly, our dear country is being sold off. Is this what Kimathi and others died for, for their sons and daughters to be sold to perpetual slavery?
And don’t be impressed by the Western invitations and visits. The hyenas have smelt blood, which is why the likes of the kaburu May are circling. They want their bite of Kenya, thanks to Uhuru.
And to hear him talk you would think that he was patriot! How he loves Kenya and its people. How can you love us when you are selling us to slavery? Surely, Uhuru, don’t you have a heart for the innocent children of this country who will go without milk so that their mothers can pay cartels 12 per cent fuel levies?
Months before the elections, I used to express my uncertainity about the policies pursued by the so-called dynamic duo. The likes of @Nattydread and @spear said I was the hyena who didn’t know the footpath to follow, eti nitapasuka msaaba (sic!). At that time I said the policy of free everything - education, health, whatever - was unsustainable. I criticised the spending spree. I said the Uhuru gavament was trying too hard to be everything to everybody without taking consideration of the basic principles and tenets of macro-economics. But deep down I hoped Uhuru had a plan.
It is now apparent the guy has no plan. He is a spoilt billionaire brat who doesn’t understand the basics of economics despite allegedly going to Amherst.
His reign, I fear, will be a bigger error than the kleptomaniac Moi’s. And we will suffer for it for eons.
Jomo must be turning in his grave.