World Bank working paper reveals astonishing amount of aid money to the African continent going directly into tax havens!

The World Bank working paper named ‘Elite Capture of Foreign Aid – Evidence from Offshore Bank Accounts’, which was finally released yesterday is a devastating read. Not because of the facts in it, but because of the extent of the misuse and theft of aid money. The World Bank are now proving by small samples how much of their loans, grants and funds, which is given by donors to the WB, which happens to be moved to tax havens by the regimes that needs it. That is eating of the plate of the poorest and living lavish on others people’s dime.

Just in the Annex, the truth really comes forward, where it is only a small samples, but showing the distasteful enterprise still. Like from table one. You can see that a certain amount of African countries have taken out huge funds into havens deposits and non-haven deposits.

The report explains this about the table one: “The table shows the 22 countries in our main sample and presents summary statistics for the main variables in our analysis. The sample includes all countries for which annual disbursements from the World Bank are equivalent to at least 2 percent of annual GDP on average. Sample mean is the average of the 22 countries in the sample. Annual WB aid (% of GDP) is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Annual ODA aid (% of GDP) is annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) from all sources as a fraction of annual GDP. Haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the 17 countries classified as havens. Non-haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the countries not classified as havens” (World Bank Feb 2020).

Nation	Haven (million USD)	Non-Haven (million USD)
Burkina Faso	32	88
Burundi	103	19
Eritrea	8	11
Ethiopia	64	155
Ghana	76	446
Guinea-Bissau	8	16
Madagascar	193	232
Malawi	31	82
Mali	27	133
Mauritania	32	150
Mozambique	40	161
Niger	29	79
Rwanda	149	41
Sao Tome and Principe	4	8
Sierra Leone	32	82
Tanzania	145	437
Uganda	73	188
Zambia	117	306

When you add into the A6 Table of the modestly aid-dependent countries. You see yet more African countries, where the money a flowing out of the coffers. Where surely not all aid is going where its supposed too.

The report explains table A6 like this: “The table shows the 24 countries for which annual disbursements from the World Bank are between 1% and 2% of annual GDP on average. is the average of the 24 countries in the sample. Annual WB aid (% of GDP) is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Sample mean is the average of the 22 countries in the sample. WB aid disbursements is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Annual ODA aid (% of GDP) is annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) from all sources as a fraction of annual GDP. Haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the 17 countries classified as havens. Non-haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the countries not classified as havens” (World Bank Feb 2020).

Nation	Haven (million USD)	Non-Haven (million USD)
Benin	42	96
Cape Verde	14	20
Central African Republic	18	53
Chad	11	91
Comoros	7	27
Democratic Republic of Congo	910	93
Cote d’Ivoire	387	787
Gambia	24	82
Guinea	54	114
Kenya	1277	1784
Lesotho	11	28
Senegal	253	487
Togo	82	146

Without going into deep technicalities of these operations, neither how the World Bank came through these numbers. We can see there is a staggering amount of funds that disappear and goes missing. Which was supposed to go to development or directly to support the state functions. Which happens to end up in tax-havens, surely by someone closely associated with the state or heads of state. Since, these sorts of amounts couldn’t have left the nations without the approval of the executive or head of state.

We can also clearly see, that some aid is directly feeding the rich and keeping tax-havens alive. Giving them financial stimulus and also covering the expenses of the elites in the respective places. There is certainly a mismanagement and a need for more oversight from the World Bank. But also more mechanisms to stop the misuse of aid. If it is supposed to help and not just create a very vastly elite in the nation in question. Because, with this sort of operations, they have clearly achieved that. Peace.

Kenyatta: What happen to the Life Style Audit, Mr. President?

Somewhere in between Eldoret and Nairobi, the Life Style Audit got lost. It was supposed to be launched this mid-June 2018. Since then it been just hot-air and nothing proven, the authorities and the public officials haven’t been touched. Neither have senators, cabinet secretaries or even representatives in the national assembly, neither have any of the county officials or leaders of the state owned companies. All of these have been left untouched and it has just been words from the Jubilee Administration and leadership itself.

“Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday announced that all public servants including himself and his deputy will undergo lifestyle audit as part of efforts to fight rampant corruption in the country. Kenyatta said in a statement that the public servants will be asked to explain the source of their wealth and those found culpable with the plunder of national resources will be required to defend their source of wealth. “You must be able to explain how you got your car, your house and land in comparison to what you earn,” Kenyatta said in the coastal city of Mombasa after launching a key road project” (Xinhua, 2018).

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto have been all talk and no play. Because, they know that if they are really looking into it, they might end up finding more trouble than it is worth. The Jubilee administration have been fabulously oblivious to it all.

It is now soon August 2018 and two months has gone without any action. That is natural, as the Life Style Audit would hurt their allies and the inquiry into the funds would hurt themselves. They would reveal the money trail, the cartels of sugar and imports, it would reveal how the money is moving from the state to shareholding or shell-corporations that doesn’t exists. Clearly, the Jubilee don’t want that, they don’t want to reveal where all the money goes.

We will certainly wait forever, because the state don’t want their closest allies into trouble, neither their support or the cronies hurt. They are all there because of the Jubilee and don’t want to loose them now. That will just hurt their base and their network of power. Therefore, the postponement of the audit is the reason for this.

Kenyatta and Ruto have really planned this inaction… they are officially launching it, but will not really do it. Since that will just hurt themselves and who is foolish enough to hunt after their own. They will not do that and they would not criminalize and detain their own. That is not how it works, even if the Jubilee are clearly more corrupt, than in the past. Peace.

Reference:

Xinhua – ‘Kenya orders lifestyle audit of all public servants to curb graft’ 16.06.2018 link: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-06/15/c_137254473.htm

Resolution of the Wiper Democratic Movement NEC/PG meeting held at Wiper House, Nairobi – Press Release: Current Political Landscape After the Handshake (28.07.2018)

Kenya: Taskforce in Building Bridges in Unity – Press Release (25.07.2018)

Opinion: What role does Odinga now have?

After the 9^th March handshake between ODM and NASA Principal Raila Odinga and Jubilee leader and President Uhuru Kenyatta. Both of them have worked together with the Building Bridges initiative. This have not only changed the dynamics within the NASA and with the leadership there, as the NASA Co-Principals Moses Wetangula, Musalia Mudavadi and Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka. Who all was left behind by the handshake, just as Odinga was left behind on the Swearing-In on the 30^th January 2018. Therefore, this shouldn’t matter now, but is just mere politics and who gets the upper-hand.

Odinga got the upper-hand and left the other Co-Principal behind. It was dead on revival with that handshake. The President got the NASA under his wings without paying much and with co-operation directly with Odinga. Therefore, the problem now, is that Odinga has no official title or place, but is still accepted as a big man.

That is why I am starting to wonder, because he has been as an official ambassador-at-large in South Africa, Sudan and in India. This combined with the statement of making changes in government, like the fights against corruption and stopping it. You can start to wonder what Odinga does and what is his part now. Since he is vocal, but also are acting as a public official like abroad.

The President Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto has their part, the same has the rest of the cabinet, the other appointed officials and appointed leaders of state owned enterprises, but Odinga has no official title. Odinga cannot just be running cat-and-mouse after Kenyatta.

I wonder if he has the perks of a public official? I wonder why he hasn’t a title? Because James Orengo is the head of the Opposition in the Senate, but if the Odinga is part of the government and working as a part of government, how can fellow party members in Parliament be “opposition” leaders?

Because, it seems more and more like an unofficial Prime Minister under Kenyatta and Ruto, but not as a Cabinet Secretary in the Cabinet of the Jubilee. He should be sworn-in and appointed to something, especially when he is traveling as a representative to the India, South Africa and Sudan.

I don’t feel by how he acts and performs as the long-arm of the government, but not as the opposition. Odinga is more than an opposition figure, he is not directly there. The Building Bridges Initiative and activity proves that.

Therefore, what is the stance of Jubilee Administration and Kenyatta, what should they do about this? Because Odinga is clearly in cahoots with them, but nothing more official than the handshake and the agreement.

They shouldn’t trick the public, but offer the public the real deal and show good governance. Peace.

KRC/CCCC: SGR Operation ‘Secrecy Agreement’ is a disgusting way of muffling the employees!

You know that Kenya Railways Corporation sucks, you know that the Standard Gauge Railways project is fatigued. As the circulations of the Secrecy Agreement that all employees has to sign onto. Which states that the employees cannot tell the truth about the operations or the works of the corporation.

They expect all employees to be strictly confidential about all matters connected with the SGR and the Kenya Railways Corporation. You are not allowed “to record, store copy any information or violating the SGR Operations”. Therefore, the SGR and Corporation are clearly muffling its staff. This includes “participating in negative articles, writings or videoes or photoes on social media or Facebook or Youtube and etc. that involving SGR Operation”. So when the company goes this far, it says how dire the operations are, they cannot be golden, but instead grim.

This is happening after the state orders all Containers from Mombasa to be put on the SGR and also pushing for the public to use the rails. However, it is still not profitable. As the project has been costly and also embarrassing as the grace period for the loans are soon hitting the government. Meaning, the huge loans for the infrastructure investment comes to roost. Therefore, the needs for revenue is even more important. To patch the hurt, before moving on to other projects.

That is why these sort of leaks and showing how far the Company takes it. Shows how bleak the situation is. When they have to muffle and silence the employees. Since the Secrecy Agreement has Chinese signs on them, it could be given by the tendered company, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), which have the 4 extensions tenders to the previous built railway from Mombasa to Nairobi. Therefore, this could be the direct interference of the contractor CCCC, that would explain why the agreement wrote Youtube as Yutube. Because, that is a site that is banned in China. So, if the CCCC employees wouldn’t know about it and its spelling it would make sense.

Because if the employee was to break the agreement, they would meet the SGR discipline, whatever that means. If that would be termination or put on leave, its hard to know, since their protocols are not out and the KRC/CCCC are not that open on this matter. I am sure they didn’t want the Contracts into the public sphere anyway. Since this is disgusting silencing of the workers and taking away their rights as citizens. This is all communications outside the operations is not allowed. This is not about keeping away company secrets, but keep negative social media impact of the company. However, now that the agreement is out.

I can assure the negative articles will come, not only that the state has order transports of containers directly, that its not profitable and not a wholesome company, instead its a mismanaged State Operated Enterprise (SoE). Surely, the Kenyans should feel betrayed, as they are silenced by outside forces, who are building railways in their republic. The CCCC is acting as kings and they are the servants on the spot. Not allowed to talk or express opinions, just work on the clock and shut-up. That is initially what the contract is saying. Peace.

Ruto snubbed at Kabarak: Next time have an official Plan B!

“Marcus Burnett: Is this still plan B?

Mike Lowery: Naw, this is definitely plan C!” (Bad Boys 2, 2003).

Before politics, William Ruto was a walking preacher, who later joined in with the Orange Democratic Movement. Until he got tired and couldn’t eat enough. So he launched the United Republican Party in January 2012. In December 2012 he went into an alliance with Uhuru Kenyatta. That led to the victory of the 2013 General Election and also the formed alliance, that became a joint party now named Jubilee Alliance Party. With this in mind, Ruto has been playing the cards as he has seen fit.

When he was on the rise to power, before becoming someone to mention, he used the platform of Raila Odinga to become someone. While he didn’t rise enough or eat enough. He went out of that party and created his own. That he did just in time to join the The National Alliance of Kenyatta and create the Jubilee. So he could live among the allies and secure the battlefront against his former allies.

This weekend, as the bridging gaps between ODM and Kenyatta is in full affect. The handshake that has put torn in the flesh of many and also far from patching the hurt. Still, Ruto want to be the big-man and be someone you respect. Therefore, he doesn’t want to seen as a leach, but someone who can carry himself and importance. This weekend has shown how much power he really has.

When Gideon Moi, the KANU leader, the son of former President Daniel Arap Moi. Everyone of some relevance visits him and have talks. The likes of Odinga and Kenyatta has recently been there in the home in Kabarak. This weekend the Deputy President traveled to Kabarak with his helicopter. However, the doctors appointment was more important, than seeing Ruto and shaking his hands.

Whatever reasons for the snub, this is still showing the obvious. That Ruto isn’t as all powerful, he didn’t become the victor of the handshake between Kenyatta and Odinga. That was the first thought coming to mind. As it seemed that the grand-big-man, with his little village project of houses and expanding businesses, he is clearly not respected. That is accurate to say. Because, the reports of Gideon Moi being behind the snub. Shows that KANU has respect for Kenyatta, but not Ruto. He is lucky enough to be DP, but not lucky enough to visit and have lunch with the former President. Wonder if the same would happen if he visited Mwai Kibaki?

Because Odinga went there too… Ruto might have made a Public Relations impact, as people feels sorry or people are disgusted in Gideon Moi’s actions to block him from having lunch in Kaberak this weekend. However, I just feel that this shows lack of power that the Deputy President currently has. Secondly, he is disrespected and also shown the door. Therefore, a man with his office and stature can be blocked like a bloke asking out a girl and getting the door shut in the face. Instead of eating out and having a decent date. That is what happen to Ruto. Which is for all reasons humiliated.

But it also make Gideon looking giddy for the wrong reasons, as he knew that Ruto was coming, but sent his father to Doctor. Such a gentleman.

This is the first shot from Gideon, as people are speculating about 2022. However, this shows just how fickle the roads to power are. Even when your on the top, you can still get shade like everybody else. That has been seen with the sudden Kabarak visit from Ruto. Maybe prepare a believable Plan B? Because, you cannot trust anyone I suppose. Peace.

Kenyatta apologized, but will he patch the hurt?

In the State of the Nation Address, the fifth of his kind, President Uhuru Kenyatta did go into the expected territories, however, he went in one direction I didn’t anticipate. He asked for forgiveness. But as a leader, I hope he acts, because he knows how he came to power for the second term in 2017. We know how he was the loudest voice of discontent, the one who has blatantly disregarded the rule of law, the one that has used the army and the police to hurt civilians. Therefore, the ones that was in-charge of doing these ills should pay for the hurt they caused. Not just, apologize and move-on. Just as if Rail Odinga got his handshake and his role in government, so now he does not care how the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) rigged the game. Here is the part of the speech I felt had some values, worth mentioning.

“We also learned, again, a hard truth. Neither peace nor unity are a given; we have to work for them. I say so because last year taught us that if we don’t put an end to unrestrained political competition, it will put an end to Kenya. You saw what happened. In the heat of the campaign, words of anger, malice, and hatred were spoken. Politics was no longer a debate between opponents on issues; it was a clash of irreconcilable enemies. You saw the consequences: lives lost, property destroyed, our unity sapped. I want to be clear here: never again should Kenyan life be lost for politics’ sake; never again should Kenyans’ property be destroyed on account of politics. But that will not just happen on its own. All of us, and in particular we leaders here, will have to admit that last year, we failed in our duty to preserve the unity of this country. And we must make amends. First, I pray that all of us will spend the days and weeks after this address repairing the bonds that frayed last year. Let us apologize for our words, and for the anger and malice that Kenyans heard. From Mandera to Maseno, from Mbita to Mvita, from Lodwar to Lunga Lunga, let us shake hands and embrace our neighbours, and let us celebrate the diversity that is God’s gift to us. Let every leader in the country reach out to our sons and daughters, and remind them that they have it in them to forge a Kenya that speaks gently, that criticizes constructively, and that embraces and respects dissent and competition as healthy and civilized ways of collaboration. And since leadership is best done not by exhortation but by example, let me do as I have asked you to do. If there was anything I said last year that hurt or wounded you, if I damaged the unity of this country in any way, I ask you to forgive me, and to join me in repairing that harm” (Uhuru Kenyatta – State of the Nation Address in Parliament, 02.05.2018).

It is good to hear this from the President, I just hope it is sincere, but if it is, then there is need for action. Not just handshaking Odinga, give him some coins and thinks the families, the tragic deaths that occurred on your watch goes away. All the Extra-Judicial Killings, the big shots who sudden killed days ahead of the elections. Those will be remembered, they will not be forgotten, even if you ask forgiveness. They are still bloodstains on the hands of the President, who hasn’t really done anything to investigate or more like a cover-up to not look into those who has lost their lives. So that he could rule a second term in office.

I wish it was differently, but it wasn’t only innocent civilians that passed away because of protest, police-brutality and electioneering. There was people who mattered and was high upon the food-chain, still the deaths of these lingers on. With many unanswered questions, into the levels, of who paid who and who ordered to send for who? As long as those questions are open, you can wonder if the highest command want it die down and go silent. So that they wont be questioned for their role in their demise.

It is hard to forgive, when your not even trying to cover-up or trying to patch the hurt. You don’t even try to forge or change. Seems like all talk and no play. Since, everything you have done is to pay-off your worst enemy. However, not look into the systemic indifference nor the activity that lead to the demise of the people during the elections. That is because that will hurt your own allies and the dark shadow of your presidency.

Therefore, I don’t expect President Kenyatta to really look into the Police Service, the Military or the Government institutions involved, even investigate into the Cambridge Analytica, the tenders of electoral frauds and the rigging of himself. Since, that will delegitimize his role as the President. It will humiliate him and his allies. He can talk about apologizing, but will state offer more condolences to the ones who lost their loved ones during the skirmishes of the police in and after the Presidential elections? Will he offer them a trust-fund, something to secure the families of the ones who lost their lives? Will the kids get support for their education and a safety net for the ones who were betrayed by the state in the run-up the fresh presidential elections?

Because, I hate to say it, its easy to apologize, but takes courage to investigate himself with a independent body and also use the coins you self have gotten to help the lives of the ones you hurt. That would have been mature, that would have been righteous. However, I doubt it would happen. Since this government is all about PR and not about delivering service to the community. Peace.

Opinion: After today’s speech seems like Odinga is the unofficial PM!

“We have a big workforce in our country and most of them are youthful and looking for jobs. This is why we in NASA are in agreement with Jubilee in matters of job creation, universal healthcare, poverty and food security” – Raila Odinga (01.05.2018).

Today’s speech by the National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga in Nakuru is unequivocal a sign of loyalty to Jubilee. This is happening now close to two months after the handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta. What striking today, is his tokens, his resignation of fighting spirit and his direct vision within the government. That meaning, he is practically not an opposition figure, but a stooge inside the Jubilee. Just like the Thirdway Alliance did before the 26^th October 2017. Therefore, the is no difference. Only that the words of Odinga matter a bit more than the words of Dr. Ekuru Aukot.

Because today, the National Resistance Movement of Kenya (NRMKe) was dissolved, the whole boycott of government sponsored products and companies, which has been connected to the direct government works. Companies that worked directly during the elections in 2017 and was partly responsible for the rigging and the electoral malpractice, which occurred. So now, its official done. But that has sort-of-died down months ago anyway. It was serious when first unleashed, but a month or two in, the reality wasn’t changing enough. The NASA knew this and their People’s Assemblies has also been dissolved. Before they we’re even built or even became official shadow organizations to the Local Government structures.

Odinga, is really the unofficial Prime Minister, the Republic is a mixed Republic and not a Presidential Republic. However, that is not officially yet, but his actions speaks like it. Especially, with his support of the Big 4 Agenda of Kenyatta. It is like a sign of loyalty to the causes of the Government. That isn’t a sign of an opposition leader. That seal is broken, therefore, Orengo should resign, the ODM shouldn’t be seen as the biggest opposition party, but a direct partner with Jubilee in a coalition. If Odinga supports and works for the agenda of Kenyatta, he is practically part of the Kenyatta paradigm. Even if he says otherwise. He still is, the words and actions shows it.

Odinga is practically the third on the food-chain. The third force in the Jubilee government, if he speaks like this. Odinga should be sworn-in again and get an official title. You can fool people once, maybe twice, but sorry brother, not the third time. Maybe Aukot should start the Fourthway Alliance to get some relevance, because the Third Way right now is Odinga. After Kenyatta and Ruto.

Its time to stop nonsense from this man, the time of opposition is over. Someone else is the real opposition. Someone else is fighting the indifference, the lack of governance and the deteriorating levels of poverty, that so many are feeling day-to-day. Therefore, they were willing to fight and join Odinga during 2017, because his message was different then of Jubilee. Now he sounds and acts like them. Its a betrayal of Canaan, but was already sealed with the handshake in March 2018.

So Kenyatta, do your thing, give the man his office and portifolio. He is your man now. Odinga will not fight you, he is tired and hungry. It is time you feed him and patch his hurt. Let him become PM again, because that is all he wants. Peace.

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