The crazy and mandatory exercise called the Huduma Bill of 2019!

Here we are, at this moment and time, where the Jubilee government, where the Kenyatta administration has no issues to launch a bill so draconian. That the state are forgetting their role for the citizens in their drive to pursuit the registration of all with Huduma Numba.

As the bill states: “AN ACT of Parliament to establish the National Integrated Identity Management System; to promote efficient delivery of public services; to consolidate and harmonise the law on registration of persons;to facilitate assigning of Huduma Namba and issuance of identity documents;to facilitate registration of births and deaths;and for connected purposes” (The Huduma Bill, 2019).

This sounds legit, but at the same time, the registration for these reasons should already be in other parts of the legislation. Not for a NIMS or Huduma Namba but for a commercial ideal, which is an agreement between Mastercard and the Government of Kenya.

As explained here: “Nairobi, Kenya – February 7, 2017 – Mastercard commits to supporting the roll-out of the Huduma Card in Kenya as the technology partner of choice for the local government organisation. The secure payment solution supports Kenya’s Vision 2030 that calls for reforms in public services to enhance accountability, transparency and efficient service delivery, with focus on developing a cashless economy. The Huduma Card is a prepaid card with chip and PIN technology that will connect all Kenyans to the formal financial sector by providing a secure, reliable and flexible payment option. The Huduma Card, powered by Mastercard, is currently being issued by Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA), Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), Equity Bank and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), with no bank charges being allocated to citizens when registering for the smart card” (Mastercard, 2017).

Clearly, this should be a voluntary exercise, as the commercial aspect of this shouldn’t make this mandatory. However, with this law, they are really showing no regard for the public. As they are not asking people to accept a commercial agreement with Mastercard, but doing it mandatory.

As stated in the law here:

8.(1) Every resident individual shall have a mandatory obligation to present theHudumaNambain order to—

(a)be issued with a passport;

(b)apply for a driving licence;

(c)register a mobile phone number;

(d)register as a voter;

(e)pay taxes;

(f)transaction the financial markets;

(g)open a bank account;

(h)register a company or a public benefit organisation;

(i)transfer or make any dealings in land;

(j)register for electricity connection;

(k)access universal health care services;

(l)benefit from the government housing scheme;

(m)register a marriage;

(n)enrol into a public educational facility;

(o)access social protection services;

(p)register or transfer a motor vehicle; or

(q)any other specified public service” (The Huduma Bill, 2019).

As you see from this, most of the state services are bound by having the Huduma Numba and the Mastercard connected to it. If you don’t have it, you are not getting access to government services. They have even more of them too, even passports:

(2)The requirements for applying or replacing a Passport are—

(a) Huduma Namba;and

(b)prescribed fee” (The Huduma Bill, 2019)

So, by this state, even passing by a road-block, the Police Officers needs to see your Huduma Numba to let you pass by. To prove that your not a felon, but an innocent citizen.

To top this off, the legislators plans to sanctions the ones who doesn’t want to comply to this: “48.A person who carries out or permits the carrying out of any transaction specified in section 8 without a Huduma Namba commits an offence” (The Huduma Bill, 2019).

It is actually an felony to not comply with previous part of law. They are not only stopping people from getting government services if they don’t have the Huduma Numba and Card made by the Mastercard, but also making it a felony not to register it properly.

The giant lie of this bill, is this sentence in the ending of it:

The Bill does not limit any fundamental right or freedoms” (The Huduma Bill, 2019).

Well, if you cannot access any of the government functions or get the needed services because of not having the Huduma Namba and Huduma Card, than your kind of limiting the fundamental rights or freedoms. The liberty of the person is taken away, as they got to do this. This is taking away people’s freedom, to put them into a government scheme, as they have signed off together with Mastercard. They could have done this with VISA and it would have been the same issue, even for Gods sake, American Express.

So, when CS Fred Matiang’i wrote that this bill doesn’t limit any fundamental righ or freedoms of its citizens. I believe he was high or drunk, because he couldn’t write that with a clear mind. Unless, his heartless and doesn’t understand the basic components of the bill. You don’t need to be a legal scholar to get the gist here. Peace.

RDC: Initiative Bonne Gouvernance et Droits Humains – Communqiue de Presse No. 04 (27.07.2019)

Second batch of appointments: Boris certainly knows how to pick them…

Well, I had a post on the first ten appointments to the Cabinet of Boris Johnson. I just have to continue and the grim looks are there. Some are re-appointed, but not many. The ones that are appointed and fresh is more interesting, as the Cabinet has really changed and the characters are most Pro-Brexiteers and Borisites or loyalist of Johnson. Therefore, the Tories are now going more far-right and far away from centrist MPs, which means that the end game of Brexit will really be a dark stage of the negotiations and discussions with Brussels.

There will be no glory, will be no fanfare and be no greatness. As the inept and insincere are the ones appointed by Johnson. This administration has already given way to people who has leaked security secrets to Huawei and solo-missions as foreign policy with Israel. Therefore, don’t expect a steady ship, but a rocky road to the 31st October 2019. Nothing else, would be a lie.

Just to top it off. He appointed his brother Jo Johnson MP, whose previously been the Transport Minister in the May government, but resigned over the failed negotiations with Brussels in November 2018. Are now back with his new role as the Minister at State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Department for Education. He will also attend at the Cabinet meetings. Clearly, giving the brother a sweet portfolio.

Another one is Geoffrey Cox MP, who’s re-appointed as the Attorney General. A position he has kept since July 2018.  He is a guy with possible tax-evasion and is the highest earning MP of the UK. Surely, his elitist’s views will be fitting well with Boris.

“The Thief”, Julian Smith MP appointed the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. His known for having a menacing side and swearing. In addition, that he was tired of stories of the Northern Ireland backstop concerning the “no-deal” Brexit. Surely, as the appointed, a man for NI he should take care of that and secure the borders there.

Than, you have Andrea Leadsom MP, whose one out of 40 Brexit troublemakers. Whose been a high ranking official in the Vote Leave Campaign before the Brexit. Therefore, we know why she’s here. She is now appointed as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Before this she has had several roles in the Cabinet until she resigned in May 2019. Therefore, it wasn’t long between her resignation and her new role. As a Pro-Brexiteer she is fitting like a glove.

You have also, Allister Jack MP, who gotten appointed to be Secretary of State for Scotland. The MP who owns shares in the supposed “world worst firm” Jardine Matheson Holdings (JMH). He comes from an remain area of Scotland, but has deliberately voted for Pro-Brexit amendments. Surely, this is a reason for why he was elevate to this job.

The biggest Brexiteer and the hardliner out there, except for Farage, is Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, who gotten appointed Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons. A honourable position for a man like this, whose wealth, ownership in investment firms and even one that has already flagged out to Ireland. Surely, this man is desperate to deliver Brexit, even as his businesses are moving because it off it too. His the ERG hardliner, who will do everything to get a no-deal Brexit and leave the Union at any cost. Surely, he fits well with Johnson.

Last MP I will include in this piece of appointments, is the pro-Boris backer, Jack Berry MP. Who got appointed to be the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. His such a man, whose stated that the Northern British is more brave, than the Representatives at Whitehall. Surely, his a Pro-Brexiteer as it comes.

These fellow appointments combined with the ten I discussed yesterday. Proves where Boris is standing and what sort of people he want around him. These negotiations and the talks with Brussels will resemble the people involved and the arrogance of Boris. We cannot expect anything else. This is just what it is. Peace.

Central Bank of Kenya: Monetary Policy Committee Meeting (24.07.2019)

Brexit: Philip Hammond MP resignation letter to Prime Minister May (23.07.2019)

EFF Welcomes the ConCort Judgment on Public Protector’s SARB Report (22.07.2019)

Brexit: Alan Duncan MP resignation letter to Prime Minister Theresa May (22.07.2019)

EFF Statement on the Deputy President’s Alleged Cosy Relationship with Rupert (21.07.2019)

Opinion: We are living in the era of ghosts!

There are no short supplies in ghosts, they been roaming this earth with us earthlings for so long. But in the recent times, they are becoming more ever presence. They are turning up on front-pages, having more rumours about them than the Kardashians and they are eating more then the living.

These ghosts are in every part of lives, every part of government and can suddenly empty all sorts of state reserves. This being tenders for passport paper, for registration of siblings and even death certificates, you got to pay-off some ghosts. That is just the way things are.

These ghosts are hooking themselves up with tenders for constructions of government subsidized infrastructure projects, they are getting tenders for service agreements for any ministry or department. The money for these ghosts ends up in the Cabinet Secretaries hands or in Honourable man leading the show. However, the public will never touch these funds or see the project. They were just something beautiful on paper and promising for the place it would be built. But, that was just a hoax and mirage spread to the public.

They are ever growing these things and sometimes they even get hooked-up with funds from international and bilateral organizations to fill in the gap of funding. This being done in the pretext of supposed needed basic government functions or adjustment of public investment. This being ghost schoolbooks, ghost medicine and ghost vaccines. There are nothing that suddenly will never appear. If this being procurement papers, lack of tenders or even the existence of the companies selling the products. It will all vanish in front of our eyes. Like they never appeared in the first place.

The government might even order ghost cars, ghost roads, ghost railroads, ghost schools, ghost hospitals, ghost seedlings and ghost salaries. There are nothing that cannot be ghosted, even the most life-saving parts of government work. That supposed to save life and secure the citizens can be used as a trick to steal funds. This is just the order of the day.

There are stories from everywhere, it is not even shocking. I am just awaiting ghost toilet-paper, ghost water and ghost liquor to hit the front-pages, because they have forge some other document and ensure they are eating on others people’s dime. That is just the way things are, we are seeing it and millions, upon millions are eating every day. They smile, they grin, they campaign and kiss babies, but when they are in office; they will figure out a way to eat off our plate. That is just the way it is.

It isn’t perfect. It is just a life of ghosting, embezzling, white-collar crime and grand corruption, which we are bit to used too. It isn’t funny, this isn’t Caspar the Friendly Ghost. Neither Ghostbusters 1 or 2 or 3. No, its just our civil servants combined with elected officials taking us for ride. Peace.

Opinion: Galloping money away!

In Ghana it is now reported that several (69-88) of Hyundai Gallopers are now being auctioned after sitting idle for 18 years in the same compound. Because the original buyer and state official made an gentleman’s agreement with the company selling the cars.

Since then, there been governments coming and going. The government taking over for the first one. Didn’t want to cover the cost or the specifications of the cars. So they let it sit and wait. While it took about ten years and other government to pay the company. Even as the Company still didn’t have an official contract of the trade, but they were still sitting there.

The Hyundai’s has been there for two decades, losing money and fresh from the boat. They was there from 2001 to 2019. Payment on the cars from the government happen on three times in 2010 and now is soled for a fraction of the value. The Hyundai’s are sold for fraction, some reports are as low as scrap-metal because of the weather on the compound after 2 decades untouched.

Clearly, this is a sign. This is show of lack due diligence, public officials wasting state reserves on possible status symbols. Surely, today, the government are buying SUVs too. Maybe some Prado’s or Land Rovers to proudly pass by the villages where the citizens reside. However, they are done through tenders, legal contracts and by budget allocations.

Still, this whole story says a lot about what could go wrong. One man made an agreement with an supplier, for the common good, to deliver to county officials and others. Still, they didn’t receive them, because the state lacked contracts and came into a dispute with the company delivering them. Therefore, the cars was stuck in one place, which they were for too long. Therefore, the state wasn’t only defaulting on the payments for the product, but the product wasn’t even used. Before it ended its tragic saga at the scrapyard. Being the most expensive scrap and wasted public funds in a little while.

This was money just galloping way, they ran with it and the gentlemen lost. Peace.