Let me take a sledgehammer to the Japanese dream of President Kenyatta!

Yesterdays Round-Table Interview with President Uhuru Kenyatta, really shows some PR Stunt out of this world. He thinks he can spin it beautifully on live-broadcast. Where the President can attribute the difference between a thriving economy and his own. Even if the Japanese has higher loan-grade of the GDP, they are exporting much more and have such an advanced economy compared to the Kenyan. This is well-known, but the President tries to flatter himself and ask of the journalist to speak like an economist. Well, that is to different professions, maybe, let economist David Ndii explain, before the PR stunt is shown yet again. Shall we?

David Ndii explaining:

Kenya’s SGR, Uhuru Kenyatta’s erstwhile legacy project, has turned out to be the bugbear that this columnist among others warned that it would be. Its freight capacity is a third of what was promised, and it cannot be competitive without a hefty public subsidy. Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration has increased Kenya’s foreign debt two and a half fold, from US$9 billion to US$25 billion. The railway alone accounts for a third of this increase; another third is by sovereign bonds for which the country has nothing to show” (David Ndii – ’CHINA’S DEBT IMPERIALISM: The Art of War by Other Means?’ 18.08.2018, link: https://www.theeastafricanreview.info/op-eds/2018/08/18/chinas-debt-imperialism-the-art-of-war-by-other-means/).

Here is Mr Masai’s conversation with the President:

President Kenyatta: Do you know what the debt of the Japanese government is?

Mr Masai: I’m not really concerned about Japan.

President Kenyatta: Do you know what the Kenyan debt is?

Mr Masai: As I said, right now it’s something between Sh4.5 to Sh4.8 trillion

President Kenyatta: No, no, no as a percentage of the GDP [gross domestic product], talk like an economist.

Mr Masai: 56 per cent of GDP

President Kenyatta: What is Japan’s debt?

Mr Masai: I’m not in Japan so I’m not interested in Japan but Kenya

President Kenyatta: Japan’s debt is over 100 per cent of the GDP” (Evelyn Musabi – ‘Why Mark Masai is trending after Uhuru roundtable interview’ 29.12.2018, link: https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Why-Mark-Masai-is-trending-after-Uhuru-roundtable-interview/1056-4913816-q3k0d/index.html).

As we have seen how a renown economist plays the Kenyan economy and how the President does it. We can really see how this plays out. The President are right about the levels of debt for the government of Japan, but that is domestic. While the growing debt of Kenya is foreign and to other nations. Which is a whole another level… Where the carefulness of paying back should be key for the Jubilee.

Also, the Kenyan is the107th largest export economy, while Japan is the 4th largest export economy. Therefore, the dynamics of the economies are different. Just by the mere recognition of this, should make the President shiver to compel them even. Just like the GDP per Capita is $3.16K in Kenya, while in Japan it is $42.3K. The last measure to prove how wrong it is, the ECON Complexity, the Kenyan is at 89th of 214, while the Japanese is 1st of 214. These numbers are all taken from the Observation of Economic Complexity (OEC). Therefore, they are saying a lot and shows why the President shouldn’t compare these economies and the loans they have. Especially, when you see the significant differences.

Kenya is miles away from Japan. They are not even close. They are so far apart, that the Kenyan better beg the Japanese advice to build their economy and not just borrow to build a railway. Peace.

Opinion: Ruto’s run for 2022 seems like a sideshow!

I hate to say it, but I got too. Because someone has to show some common sense. As the headlines, as the media houses and seemingly social media is speaking up about the possible 2022 Run for the Deputy President William Ruto of the Jubilee Party as the succession of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Why I hate to say this, is because his is all a side-show. This is so people forget the grand-corruption, the defaulting loans and the growing rate of repaying interests on old loans. That is what the state has created, while ensuring the public is eating up everything happening with side-chicks of celebrities and Githeri Man.

That is why the DP run for 2022 is so important in the end of 2018 before the start of 2019. That is three years ahead of the coming elections. As the election of 2017 is still fresh. The Election rigging, will not change if the DP would be the top of the ticket. He would order the same deal as his boss did. I wrote myself, that he was the “winner” after the Handshake. As he got a free-way to 2022 in March 2018. But, that this is taking over the headlines now, shows that the media is all about preparing him as the NEXT, already now.

We are now long ahead, we all know this. That isn’t an understatement. That DP Ruto is a hustler and savvy is all but viable. That he has enriched himself and his associates. This is well-known. Ruto know this and he wouldn’t have gained wealth without his position or his political position. We all have seen that, as he went from being a poor wandering pastor into the hyper-wealthy, owning businesses, hotels and media houses. While being a politician. We have all seen that over time. Therefore, don’t be shocked if he want to step up to another level.

However, the 2022 is a sideshow at this point. 2022 run of DP Ruto is just a play to forget the challenges of today. It is way to create “in-fighting” and “in-security” so that people forget the scandals, the mismanagement and the lacking development delivered by the government. As the President can do now and then, some PR stunts, but not really delivering the Big Four Agenda or anything substantial, as they are busy eating. While people are fooling themselves with an imaginary run of Ruto.

That is how it looks today for me, I might be terribly wrong. But if there was ever a need of pawn, of a something stealing the headlines, as a preparation of the future. This would be it, as they are playing people for fools, awaiting something that is possible, but no one really knows. We cannot know who will follow the leadership now. If it is another family dynasty or if it is someone who is made to be.

DP Ruto would be weird if he didn’t have the ambition to takeover for Kenyatta. However, it is not all him. It is also up to the negotiations within the Jubilee. They all have to decide and made a decisions together. Ruto has to pay-up and secure loyalty. We just have to see.

But at this moment, that is a long-con. A real long-con, an uncertain future and not even close to Primaries before a General Election of 2022. It should be a discussion closer to that point. Right now, its too early.

Ruto is either playing around, either as a pawn himself, checking the waters and if he can build bridges. If not, the Jubilee is using this to takeover the media houses and talks, so they are not focused on the grand corruption, scandals or graft. Peace.

Jubilee signed off the KPA assets if they default on the loans to China Exim Bank!

The Office of Auditor General letter to Kenyan Ports Authority on the 16th November 2018 has said something striking, but nevertheless something I anticipated, because they stated a fact that everyone should recognize. That the Chinese is not giving toll-free loans without any collateral. In this instance is the loans for the Standard Gauge Railway, which have been a massive White Elephant and is just a doomed project from the get-go. Unless, the Jubilee are able to grow money on trees.

However, the letter from F.T. Kimani to the Ports Authority states that: “The payment arrangement agreement substantively means that the Authority’s revenue would be used to pay the Government of Kenya’s debt to China Exim bank if the minimum volumes required for consignment are not meet as per schedule one. The China Exim bank would become a principle in over KPA if KRC defaults in its obligations and China Exim bank exercise power over the escrow account security. The KPA assets are exposed since the Authority signed the agreement where it has been referred to as a borrower under clause 17.5 any proceeding against its assets by the lender would not be protected by sovereign immunity since the government waived the immunity on the Kenya Ports Assets by signing the agreement. The agreements is biased since any non-performance or dispute with the China Exim bank (the lender) would be referred to arbitration in China, whose fairness is resolving the disagreement may not be guaranteed. The authority did not disclose these guarantee in the financial statement” (Kimani, 16.11.2018).

If you read it, what it states is very clear, if the growing debt to China is not paid on time and defaulted, it means that the Port Authority has to give away its assets or collateral to the China Exim bank, as it is stated in its agreement. This is similar affairs happen in Sri Lanka and now is viable in Kenya. As the Mombasa Port might become an asset for the Belt Road of China to earn back their borrowed funds.

They Government of Kenya, should be worried about when signing the loans from China Exim bank, but they wanted the glory of the giant infrastructure project. Not the fiscal or financial responsibilities, if not the consequences of not paying back the funds. The Chinese has clearly safeguarded the investment with the fine print. Stating the assets of the Port Authority and by this. Securing a vital and important port in East Africa. As they got a nice piece, if the Jubilee starts defaulting or if the next President fails to live up to responsibility that Kenyatta made for him.

That the Kenyans should be worried, because the Chinese is not forgiving, when concerning their money. That is known, the public should know and should anticipate this. As this is a forewarning to the possible aftermath. That has been seen elsewhere and might come to shores close to you. Peace.

Opinion: Chebukati and Chiloba ate the funds of the Fresh Presidential Elections in 2017!

If you we’re thinking the levels of rigging was bad last year. Your was wrong, the whole operations was a fraud. Not only did they rig the numbers and the ballots, they rigged the business deals in their favor. Meaning that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) wasn’t only set up to secure the Jubilee administration and the President. It was also made to enrich the IEBC Secretariat.

This being Wafula Chebukati and Ezra Chiloba, who was using the rigging machine as a gravy-train. They tenderized and sensitized the deals, in a sway-way of gaining funds in their pockets. As they overpaid for the services rendered for the elections in 2017. This is not the only thing and the public knows this, as the boycott proved it was ghosts electing the President and Deputy. Since, the IEBC was a tool to get the President re-elected, not to be a proper independent organization, which was there to serve the public. No matter who the public wanted to get elected.

Therefore, IEBC Misused tenders:

IEBC acquired Sh127.6 million worth of data bundles (149,640GB or 149TB) from Safaricom, Telkom and Airtel. Yet when the Auditor General analysed Internet use on the SIM cards, only 605.3GB of bundles worth Sh515,269 had been used — a mere 0.4 per cent of the acquisition” (…) “Consequently, Sh127.08 million went to waste or was misappropriated” (…) “The IBM infrastructure contract awarded on July 17, 2017 and scheduled to run through to June 2018, was given out for Sh425 million yet the evaluation committee had recommended that it be procured at Sh75 million” (…) “Fourth, the Commission’s ICT department had requisitioned purchase of Oracle database solutions and licences at Sh80 million but it was awarded for Sh273 million” (…) “IEBC contracted Africa Neurotech Systems Ltd to supply, install, implement, and commission and support its primary and secondary data centre equipment. It was paid Sh249.3 million against contract budget of Sh130 million.” (Ken Opala – ‘Impunity reigned at IEBC in tenders scam whose ‘theft was beyond the imaginable’ 17.12.2018, link: https://www.nation.co.ke/news/IEBC-in-tenders-scam-whose—theft-was-beyond-the-imaginable-/1056-4898274-grmjsq/index.html).

We are here seeing at what extent the IEBC Secretariat was misusing the funds, it was their time to eat on the public dime. The IEBC Secretariat was ready to use their tenders and their contracts to fix the budgets to secure themselves.

If it was ordering and overspending of funds concerning the Mobile Data. Which seems like rouse, as I can remember several of polling stations was not connected, but still the IEBC paid for it. They also did similar to the IBM and Africa Neurotech Systems Limited. Therefore, it is several tenders and companies, that was used by the IEBC, but not properly used and overpaid for. That is a sign of fraud and graft done directly by the IEBC Secretariat.

Chebukati and Chiloba must have worked close on this, knowing the finer details and agreeing on the use of funds, as well as the lack of transparency on it. The IEBC Secretariat planned this and misused it for a purpose. Who knows where their went, but most likely went into their pockets. As they could trick the public and also able to spend the extra funds on themselves. Like all gentlemen of the government, who has the ability to steal and think no one will ever notice.

The IEBC had enough lies and deceptions, there are already known, but that they we’re looting the state reserves in their favors wasn’t known. But that they rigged the elections in 2017. That we all know, but stopped talking about. Because we are all building bridges and not solving old problems. Peace.

Opinion: Odinga explanation of his role doesn’t make sense!

The Building Bridges, the Handshake is really a proof of someone trying to be opposition, but acting as government after all. The Jubilee Government got a lot out of the handshake and that has proven all year round. As the Opposition has no say or no voice. Apparently there are reasons for that and President Uhuru Kenyatta must known he did the best bargain ever. He has nearly no issues, no official opposition as they are co-operating. They are trying to get their cut for working with the government.

That is how it looks like and smells like, that is why these answers are proving that in way, because the denial is there too. Look for yourself.

Raila Odinga answers to an interview:

Power is in government and it is wielded by those who hold the instruments of power such as the president, his deputy and ministers. I am not in government. We are out here as opposition and want to see that the government does the right thing for the people; that is our role as the opposition” (…) “Most people are still stuck in the parliamentary system. In a presidential system like ours, opposition does not have to be adversarial. We now critique quietly. What would be the need of shouting when I can get audience with the right person? We have also set up a joint task force to deal with issues we feel are of concern to us. It would be foolhardy to again begin hitting the same government” (Sunday Nation Reporter – ‘Raila speaks on ‘handshake’ deal and state of Opposition’ 16.12.2018).

What is mind-boggling is that a career and second generation politician are trying to cover up for the co-operation deal, that partly makes him part of the government, even if there is no official position. Because, of that the “Opposition” will not Challenge or Question the Government in public, but behind closed doors. Like if their was alliance or coalition. This is like a non-official “Government of National Unity”, which has been elsewhere.

This government has just made a Building Bridges Task Force. Also when saying that the “opposition” doesn’t have to be adversarial or being vocal against the government. That is maybe why the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and its leadership is super-friendly, close as kin these days. The ODM and Odinga are there in the limelight. They getting awards, they are getting appointed to government boards and medals.

That is maybe why, Odinga is not interested in kicking and screaming, why he is not calling out the Jubilee for their grand corruption or their scandals. The new Odinga is in peace with the President and could look like mates from college. However, they are former adversaries, who now are working closely. That is positive in itself, but at the same time. This is making sure the government got a free slide for this term. As the government has no opposition that matters or challenge them in Parliament or in General. They are an elite, where everyone gets along.

I have a hard to combining this: ‘Calling yourself opposition, but not calling out the government’. I have a hard time, seeing Odinga and the ODM as opposition, as they practically the long arm of the government.

So if your not in the government, why are your doing back-room deals and negotiations as part of the Building Bridges Initiative. Peace.

Kenya: Government and Communication Authority statements on M-PESA Outage (09.12.2018)

Another Corruption Scandal: President Kenyatta office has 2,7bn unaccounted for!

There is not a crime, there is not a dodge, there is not a trick, there is not a swindle, there is not a vice which does not live by secrecy.”Joseph Pulitzer

In Kenya it is ordinary that the Jubilee Administration of the President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. This administration has had so many scandals and corruption cases, that this is too common. It is a rare occasion if there isn’t some scheme, some funds missing or some development project funding siphoned away. That is so common, that the amounts of funds or state reserves eaten would be a hectic calculation. This has been steadily going on since 2013 and continues until the next term.

The President has promised to tackle corruption and corrupt officials, but now his own direct office has mismanaged funds for years. Therefore, it is deliberately and done with purpose, as they didn’t anticipate it backfiring or even being leaked. They worked directly with the President and at this point, he is sort of untouchable, as well as his cronies who have also done illicit acts within the administration. Therefore, this sort of scandal fits a bit to perfectly.

Presidential Office spent 2,7bn unaccounted for:

A report by the Auditor General revealed that the President’s office cannot satisfactorily account for over Sh2.7 billion spent over three years. An examination of records shows the Presidency spent Sh2,729,192,010 on ‘confidential expenditure’ in three financial years. The Presidency provided certificates to support the expenditure and said the purpose and particulars of the expenditure cannot be made public. However, the report by Auditor General Edward Ouko indicates that unsatisfactory matters regarding the confidential expenditure between 2014 and 2016 financial years remain unresolved” (Patrick Vidija – ‘Uhuru’s office fails to account for Sh2.7bn spent in three years – Auditor General’ 07.12.2018, link: https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2018/12/07/uhurus-office-fails-to-account-for-sh27bn-spent-in-three-years-auditor_c1862734).

This is not the biggest eating challenge. That the Office of the President have now spent Sh. 2,7bn which they cannot account for. In USD this is $26,678,305 or $26,6m. That is a big amount of money, which could have been used to do what they where supposed to. Instead, they might have gone to side-dishes, own President on fancy cars and houses. If not his real-estate or any of his businesses to expand them. Because, they cannot show where the money really went.

That is just the mere observation of what the Auditor General are saying. That the AG cannot find the proof of spending of $26m between 2014 to 2016. Clearly, these funds was spent on whatever the President saw fit. Whoever knows where it went, as the Office of President are calling it confidential.

President Kenyatta has to answer for this, as the Life Style Audit should start here, if it isn’t mere words or PR.

He and his PR team can cook-up whatever, the President and his Team cannot run away from this. Kenyatta is again proving his acts of graft. Kenyatta is proving how corrupt he is. Uhuru knows this. But he will play that he doesn’t know.

Time to put to rest the fight against corruption. Unless the President wants to fight himself and the Presidents Men. However, that will not happen, because he will reveal all the thieving and that will not be something grand, but instead something sinister. Peace.

Kenya: Moratorium for Mandatory Vetting of Civilians Firearms Holders (05.12.2018)

DPP Press Statement on the Application to Bar State Officers Charged with Corruption from remaining in Office pending determination of their cases (04.12.2018)

Kenya Pipeline Company Limited – Press Release (04.12.2018)