Opinion: Kenyatta’s Legacy will not be the Handshake!

Even if Uhuru Kenyatta wants the handshake with Raila Odinga to be his legacy. I have to confirm, that it most likely will not be. It will one thing that is important and will be vital to his second term, but not what he will be remembered for, because there are enough shady and backwards affairs to overshadow the gentleman’s agreement between Kenyatta and Odinga.

President Uhuru Kenyatta hopes the Building Bridges Initiative will help him leave a legacy of peace when he leaves office in 2022. In an interview with France24 TV, the President said he is banking on his partnerships with Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga and Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka to defuse ethnic and political tensions in Kenya” (Valentine Obara – ‘Peace will be my legacy, Uhuru says in interview’ 13.11.2018).

Kenyatta can have his wishes, but they will not follow them automatically. There is a long road ahead, but the ways the first and second term has been. There are enough of other things he will be remembered for, instance the empty pledges of laptops and building stadiums. Which never seem to happen and that is just what people remember that he has promised.

Who knows how many corruption scandals there has been, how many Ministries and Cabinet Secretaries has been implicated and the constant cronyism. The Kenyatta Presidency has rocked these scandals from day one. There haven’t been a month without one and hasn’t seemed to stop either.

The control of the cartels, the corrupt officials and growing family business of Kenyatta and the Deputy President William Ruto. Will be more the legacy, than he shake the hand of Odinga one day.

The Corruption and Grand Corruption will be remembered, the Eurobonds, NYS 1.0 and 2.0, Afya House Scandal, Maize Scandal and Sugar Scandal. All of these are big shot into the public domain, where the state and the operatives has robbed the public, while not delivering needed public services. This has been happening again and again. That is why I can mention the vast amount of cases without thinking. It shouldn’t be that easy.

The effort of the Handshake might be good; it might have stopped the NASA from creating havoc towards the Jubilee. It might have had the ability to silence the critics and secure the mandate after a rigged second election for Kenyatta. The Fresh Presidential Elections was rigged and no doubt about that.

Kenyatta can wish that his legacy is positive, but his indecisiveness towards Grand Corruption, his stalemate with the cartels and his growing debt because of the White Elephant Standard Gauge Railway from Mombasa to Nairobi is more likely. As the Chinese silent takeover and the debt combined with toxicating corrupting should be obvious. Maybe not to him, who wants it to be all smiles and laughs.

When the reality is more dire than that. Peace.

Opinion: China is starting to squeeze the Kenyan Economy!

If you were ever thinking that Beijing would loan and build without consequence. Those days should long be gone. The Chinese are planning to earn money on their investments, they don’t care about the Republic’s they are investing in, as long as they are profits on their investments. They want earn on these loans and since the rate of loans are so high. They are now starting to pick collateral for their infrastructure loans, especially the draining of loans to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

While acknowledging China’s leading role in the Kenyan economy as a trading partner, the President called for increased Chinese investments in the country. “China now ranks as the number one trading partner with Kenya accounting for 17.2% of Kenya’s total trade with the World,” he said. “Kenya is open and safe for business. Kenya has one of the most conducive business environments in Africa,” the President added” (President.Go.Ke – ‘President Kenyatta Asks China To Give Preferential Treatment For African Goods’ 02.11.2018).

While Kenyatta are acting as it all positive, the reality is that the state are having giant issues with their “investments” and loans there. But Kenyatta wants to make it sound positive, when it really isn’t, just the rate of the loans have grown and the consequences of the relationship with China is now starting to cost. It is the Kenyans that has to pay these loans down and with every way possible. As the Chinese has leverage over the Kenyan government. Take a look at these quotes from media recently!

Loan Rate in Kenya:

Kenya’s current public debt stands at approximately 4.884 trillion Kenyan shillings (USD$49 billion) or 56.4% of the country’s gross domestic product.. This is up from 42.8% in 2008. In other words, the country owes more than half the value of its economic output (GDP)” (…) “China is Kenya’s largest creditor, holding about 72% of the country’s bilateral debt as of March 2017. Studies show that Kenya’s Chinese debt poses a threat because the loan agreements are not transparent, projects are not well prioritised, accounting procedures are weak and it’s not clear what projects are costing” (Odongo Kodongo – ‘Kenya’s public debt is rising to dangerous levels’ 05.08.2018).

Selling State Owned Enterprises:

The Privatisation Commission has approved sale of 26 state-owned corporations to raise funds to support the budget. The commission, under the Privatisation Act, 2005, was mandated to sell 26 poorly performing state corporations to cut down government spending. Those approved for sale are National Bank of Kenya, Consolidated Bank of Kenya, Kenya Meat Commission, Development Bank of Kenya, East African Portland Cement, Kengen, Kenya Pipeline Corporation, Kenya Ports Authority, and five sugar millers — Chemilil, Sony, Nzoia, Miwani and Muhoroni. Others are Agrochemical and Food Corporation, New Kenya Co-operative Creameries, Numerical Machining Complex and Isolated Power stations, hotels (Kabarnet Hotel, Mt Elgon Lodge Ltd, Golf Hotel Ltd, Sunset Hotel Ltd and Kenya Safari Lodges and Hotels Ltd). Also targetted are Kenya Tourism Development Corporation-associated companies, which include International Hotels Kenya Ltd, Kenya Hotels Properties Ltd, Mountain Lodge Ltd and Ark Ltd” (Cynthia Ilako – ‘State to sell 26 companies to finance current budget’ 03.11.2018, The Star Kenya).

China Selling Infrastructure Loans to Investors:

The plan will see Hong Kong mortgage insurer Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation (HKMC) buy a diverse basket of infrastructure loans next year and explore the idea of “securitising” or repackaging them into securities for sale to investors, allowing it extra liquidity that it can loan out to finance more infrastructure projects. “This initiative we believe will help ‘recycle’ commercial banks’ capital to be redeployed into other greenfield infrastructure projects, besides enabling wider capital markets participation in infrastructure development under the Road and Belt initiative,” said HKMC Greater China chief executive Helen Wong” (Allan Olingo – ‘China plans to sell off its African infrastructure debt to investors’ 05.11.2018).

We are seeing the growth of loans, that is up 42,8% and the debt level of the 56,4% of the GDP. Because of that, the state are now selling of their State Owned Enterprises. Most likely to Chinese holding companies and investors, who are expecting to gets points on their dollars. As well, as securing their future on the investment. They are selling the central institutions and businesses, which was state controlled, but they will now become para-stalls of the Chinese.

But selling the institutions are not enough for the Chinese. They are planning to take it further. Planning to rehash the loans as sub-prime loans for investors, meaning they are taking the risk instead of the Export-Import Bank of China, where the loans are usually collected and distributed from. Therefore, the loans are another target of more profits as they want to earn on them as well into the Capital Market. Just like the US Banks did with House Loans and mortgages in the past.

While all that is happening and with the knowledge of this, the President is still keeping it cool. Kenyatta is still not saying the brazen truth, that they are a debt-slave to China. Are in such big trouble, that the investment of the SGR are killing the economy and they have to trade-off their assets to keep up with their payments. That is what is happening and this is not really developing, but hurting the economy even more. As this institutions and businesses has been controlling their markets. Now, they will have masters from outside, which are not there to secure the market, but make a direct profit. Therefore, the citizens are not only paying their loans for the railroads, but for destroying their economy. Peace.

Opinion: Jubilee rocked by another Maize Scandal?

In this treacherous world

Nothing is the truth nor a lie.

Everything depends on the color

Of the crystal through which one sees it” – Pedro Calderón de la Barca

The Jubilee government have another level of corruptness over themselves. The President is brazen in his public fight with corruption, but the behavior of the government is corrupt as it possibly can be. The things of nature, is that it repeat itself. This time without government subsidizes like it was on the way to the Fresh Presidential Elections of 2017. When the maize was subsidized and the maize came from Mexico. Then rebranded and restocked as local produce.

Now, were in the middle of 2018 there was also extra attention to it, as the National Cereal and Produce Board had already bought imported maize to stock, while the locals had to get lesser pay while selling to the millers. As that has happen and the months has gone by, there are now reports. That the NCPB silos has destroyed 60% of its maize. That is imported maize that has already cost the taxpayers about ksh. 9 billion and now they have to import more. This is happening right in the 4 Quarter and before the festive seasons of Christmas Carols and jingle bells.

Clearly, this seems like a ploy, as the Deputy President William Ruto are promising farmers more money and another ksh. 2 billion to buy more stock. This is consequence of the importing of 4.4 million bags of maize. We can wonder who are earning fortunes on these games with the farmers and with the citizens needing to buy the maize flour, the UNGA. This is the staple food the government is making a mockery of.

This is meanest way of destroying confidence and also showing utter disgrace of office. As the NCPB and Ministry of Agriculture, the CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and Chairman Mutea Iringo. Both of them should come clean in this mess. It is evident there is something behind the curtain and someone is trying to fool someone. As the NCPB and CS Kiunjuri should spare no mind, explaining how they could buy rotting maize and toxic of it, while also struggling to pay local farmers. If not, there are something else going on.

As there other interests, than paying the farmers a fair price, as the imported ones from Uganda and Mexico is hitting the markets at a lower price. While the farmers struggle to sell their produce to the NCPB. This is all deliberate acts, as the millers and cartels are securing huge profits of the imported ones. While the local produce are wasted and destroyed. Now, even the foreign ones isn’t all good and suddenly destroyed. The utter chaos and the mismanagement is clear. Even as the NCPB are calling themselves “The Leaders in Grain Management”. When concerning Maize, they are not, unless they are following orders of cartels and from above.

This all seems weird, it all seems like a deliberate act of misconception to get higher prices, trick the citizens and get more profits for the millers and importers. Not to generate a better environment or even selling the staple food at a reasonable price. The Jubilee government have tried to trick the public before with UNGA. Therefore, I am skeptical about the beneficiary and the ones getting paid by this scheme. As the amounts of money and the toll on the economy, as the NCPB and Ministry should know better.

Clearly, another Maize scandal, but this government are rocking with scandals all the time. Peace.

The SGR Trick: Which was all based on, if Beijing blessed Kampala!

The Standard Gauge Railway in the East African Community was all based on if the Chinese counterparts wanted to fund the infrastructure and the grand enterprise of rails in the region. Today, it was revealed, not shockingly that the SGR works in Uganda has been suspended. This after reports in the Daily Monitor revealed this:

Uganda’s first phase of SGR, the eastern line running from Malaba to Kampala, about 273km (338km rail length), is expected to cost $2.3bn. Mr Kasaija admitted that Uganda has currently taken a back seat on the SGR venture, but will resume “serious discussions once Kenya is about to reach” the Ugandan side. President Museveni, according to sources familiar with the venture, in recent months had been directly involved in discussions on the project, and had hoped to secure financing for the first section of the railway line during his visit to China last month when he attended the seventh Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit. But he returned empty-handed. However, Mr Kasaija revealed that during the discussions in Beijing, it was agreed that “Uganda and Kenya will embark on joint financing negotiations” after Kenya has completed the current Nairobi-Naivasha section” (Daily Monitor – ‘Uganda puts SGR on hold over unresolved issues with Kenya’ 30.10.2018, link: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/ea/uganda/Uganda-puts-SGR-over-unresolved-issues-kenya/4003148-4828902-156c5upz/index.html).

I have doubts that it will help reaching more agreements with the Kenyan counterparts at this time. As they have had plenty of agreements, joint communiques and meetings with the Northern Corridor Integrated Project (NCIP), which is going back to 2015. Where there was back in October 2015 on the 11th NCIP Communique, where the document stated: “the summit noted progress made in the finalisation of bankable proposals for some sections and directed the Ministers of Finance, Infrastructure, Attorney Generals, coordinated by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, to undertake a joint visit to EXIM Bank in China to conclude Financing Agreements” (11th NCIP Summit – Joint Communique’ Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya 17.10.2015).

If you follow it clearly, the progress of the 2015 have been stalled or rejected, but the parties still want to pursuit the goal of building the rails. Even as even the Chinese doesn’t believe in it or seeing the lack of fortunes in Kenya to maybe wishing to extend the tracks further at this given moment. What we are seeing is that the Ugandan government has persisted, but not gone through.

They even had the idea of the SGR Railway in the National Development Plan II of 3rd March 2015, which also holds the idea of the rails alive with this statement: “Joint formal agreements for plans to build a new Standard Gauge railway (SGR) have been signed by the EAC Countries. The SGR project starts in Mombasa through Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali and Juba. A cross section of the different routes of the SGR to the South Western, Northern, North Western and Eastern Uganda will aid the mining industry through transportation of equipment and raw materials. The overall objective of the SGR is to jointly develop and operate a modern, fast, reliable, efficient and high capacity regional railway transport system as a seamless single system and as a mechanism to stimulate overall economic development” (NDPII, 03.03.2015). By the way, the implementation of the NDPII is supposed to be between 2015/2016 to 2019/2020 to fulfill the Vision 2020. However, by the SGR failure, this shows the lack of progress and just the major agreements, but not the needed funding or possibility of partners to invest in the huge infrastructure projects the government has.

While on the 3rd of October, the Ministry of Works produced the 14th Joint Transport Sector Review Workshop presentation, where they by June 2018 stated: “The financing agreement for the SGR was not signed. However, negotiations to sign the financing agreement are in advanced stages” (Ministry of Works, 03.10.2018). So, you see, the government knows perfectly well, they cannot and doesn’t have finances for the building of it. It is soon November 2018 and getting closer to Vision 2020, but no sign of a working rails across the Republic. Especially not, when they are waiting for the Chinese to see it as a viable project in the first place.

What the government didn’t tell today or yesterday, is that the Chinese said no a little while ago:

For it to make business sense, the proposed line has to reach Uganda in order to take over a huge chunk of the haulage business in the landlocked country ahead of the Tanzania-Rwanda SGR line. Uganda is said to have decided to revamp its old metre-gauge railway when it became apparent that the Kenyan line could delay for up to three years. A regional weekly recently reported that the ministers for transport and finance of the two countries were supposed to have engagements with China Exim Bank on the sections of Kisumu to Kampala via Malaba” (…) “This, however, flopped and instead the executives from China Exim Bank flew to Kampala and later Nairobi last November to carry out due diligence on the Uganda project proposal and contract application” (Guguyu Otiato – ‘Worry as China puts SGR funding on hold’ 06.03.2018 link: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2001294667/alarm-as-china-puts-sgr-funding-on-hold).

So, when the government are saying it wasn’t signed, is that the Exim Chinese Bank rejected it and hasn’t accepted the infrastructure project at this point. Certainly, they don’t see it viable or even possible for profits. They have already started in Kenya, but has to finish that part, before they extend to the other Republics in the EAC. Therefore, the SGR is still a dream elsewhere in the Northern Corridor, as they seemed more ready in 2015, than the donors or the development partners ever where. Because the GoU are not ready to finance it self and not have the ability to do so. Without getting funding from the outside. They have to beg for loans and grants to get it. Peace.

Opinion: DP Ruto’s dreadful week!

The more humble and obedient to God a man is, the more wise and at peace he will be in all that he does.”Thomas à Kempis

Deputy President William Ruto has a special kind of talent. To malign himself and to say utter nonsense. Where he wants to be looked as the next President, but instead he looks like the politician, that doesn’t want blame and just wants glory.

With that in mind, this week has been glorious. The biggest boo-boo of his was saying that the Universities had the wrong focus and bad career courses. Where the office work and other non-use of classes. Some part might be true, but as the one who are on top of the Food-Chain. It doesn’t look or sound wise either. As his government are running these Universities and these places of Higher Learnings. They can priorities and also allocate funds for the needed subjects. So, if the DP sees other courses as viable, he should administrate that through the channels of government and even in Cabinet Meeting with the CS for Education. However, alas, that wasn’t the case.

Because it is so easy to blast the Universities and not take the blame yourself. Not look into the mirror and question your own self and what you have been doing in power. Where you have wrecked the economy and become a bondage of debt to foreign powers. That will constrain the future generations, because of the Hustlers own lavish spending on themselves and their businesses. If, that would have come into the equation, than he would have showed some humility, because he has been in-charged and has steered the government agenda. But not in ways that has created jobs or economic growth, that can hire the educated personnel. That should be priority from the state, but it is easier to say a course is useless, than building policies and government programs that actually makes a difference.

In the same regard, he has not taken into account the aspect of the public donations to churches. That he is seemingly doing every week. That he gives millions upon millions shillings in public. While his mere salary couldn’t really have coped with it. But his rising businesses and whatever back-room deals he has. Surely ensures the growing wealth he has gotten and the resources at his disposal. As any man, he can give and donate to good causes. That is fine and dandy, but the perception that he does to flaunt his wealth and buy credibility also comes into question.

That DP Ruto is a former walking preacher and now is the infamous HUSTLER. Who doesn’t have the personal insight or views of the message he spreading is worrying. Because it is the actions of a man, whose supposed to be an example. Instead, he is acting more of a glorified self-serving individual, instead of elected official. Who has amazed grandeur of wealth and uses that to get recognition in all sorts of churches.

If he had given in silence without the fanfare, if he had given with humility and without the press. It would have been cooler. It would have shown true dedication to the causes. Instead, it seems more self-serving and more an indication of his own public perception. Which a gift shouldn’t be about, but be about the ones needing the donation.

That is why the DP had done two giant miss-steps this week. First of the Universities speech, which he should have taken some of the blame himself, as his government haven’t made society and businesses prepared for the graduates and their courses. Secondly, not managing the Universities and their courses through the Cabinet Meetings with the CS of Eduction. Thirdly, vastly underestimating the message he sends with public donations. Fourthly, the arrogant handling of both cases without any significant doubt or recognition of why people are reacting to it. Peace.

Is it okay for Machakos County: That they get direct grants from the World Bank?

Today, the Governor of Machakos County appointed the County and Budget Forum. However, what was very revealing was what Dr. Alfred Mutua was implying within the documents, not who he appointed to the position. Usually that would be an important piece to look into.

However, today was the day where the Governor revealed directly that the World Bank Development secured 1bn Ksh per year for 6 years to the infrastructure building in the county. This being roads, electricity and other needed government services in the municipalities of Machakos.

Usually these sort of arrangements are done directly with the National Government or the Parliament, as to where the development is happening and where the grants are going. Which project that matter and what is sufficiently holding the standards of the stakeholders and the ones contributing the funding. Nevertheless, here the implication is that the World Bank is directly involved in all county functions from sewage to building roads. That their funding are going to do what the government is supposed to deliver. This being the natural delivery of the state and basic upkeep of the infrastructure. Instead of being tax-payers own money, they are using funds from abroad to do the needed development projects and to get the needed services in the municipalities of Machakos.

We can wonder what does the Jubilee government and Kenyatta think of this? When the Counties themselves are directly making arrangements and funding deals with the World Bank? In a republic filled to the brim of loans and lack of cash-flow, these sort of deals would be appropriate to go through the Central Government before the Local Government. However, that one has not captured the imagination. Because shouldn’t the Central Bank of Kenya or the Cabinet Secretary of Finance Henry Rotich signed it off before the County announced the loans?

That is what is bugging me, or is the counties so liberated from the Central Government now? But wouldn’t the rate of loans and grants be more uncontrolled and have less transparent system, if every Governor has the chance to grab these from Multi-National Financial Institutions and find ways to apply these locally? Even though they know directly what and where things need to be built and what is lacking. Still, they should have a rubberstamp from the CS and the National Treasury and CBK before thinking about it. Because in the mind of the Governor, he just announced it in passing together with the appointments to the different boards in his county. Peace.

Safaricom: Revision of Mobile Tariffs (17.10.2018)

Opinion: Don’t let Ezra Chiloba be the fall guy for the rigging machine of IEBC!

Some are giddy and happy about the termination of employment of IEBC’s Ezra Chiloba this week. However, people shouldn’t jump of joy, as there have been changes in the leadership of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Just as the newly appointed IEBC leadership of 2011 with Chairman Hassan Isaack and change in 2016. When Wafula Chebukati got appointed in his stead in 2016. Still, inside the IEBC as before was Chiloba just working in the background as before.

That he got terminated over tenders and contracts are foolish at this point. As we all know the questionable behavior of the IEBC during the Presidential Elections in 2017. We can also wonder what Chiloba did with the previous leadership and elections of 2013, as there was speculations then also of rigging too. Therefore, the relevance of position and of what he did during his tenure there.

However, Chiloba shouldn’t be the fall guy. Chiloba didn’t do this acts alone and did answer to someone above. He didn’t go like an empty drone into this and do this only on his own merry. That wouldn’t believe, as someone ordered him around and asked him to fix. This was known by his previous boss and the current one.

That Chebukati and the rest of the Commissioners should be put in doubt too. Because all of them was in-charge and fixed the contracts with OT-Morpho, Cambridge Analytica and the printing companies. This wasn’t just done by one, neither was the assassination of ICT Expert and Manager Chris Msando and the assassination of CS Joseph Nkaissery. All of this happen days before the elections and even in relation to the polls. That is why these memories will still linger on, as the questions of what happen and who ordered it. The Ghost of Jacob Juma will also follow the organization and the ruling regime, as his words has happen as he said and what he expected from the authorities. Therefore, the IEBC are not alone in this and the truth of the matter, is that Chiloba wouldn’t able to all of this on his own.

Chiloba is one of many to blame, it was organized and was done with a purpose, it was all done to secure the tenure of Kenyatta and Ruto. It was done to secure the Jubilee and their established power. It wasn’t done to secure the votes of the people and neither legitimacy of a supposed credible vote. That went down the storm-drain with the rain-water.

So, the ones thinking the termination of Chiloba will fix it all. I doubt it. It didn’t change with the changes of chairmen either. If it was Hassan Isaack or Wafula Chebukati. The Kenyan election experience was as hostile and lack of transparency as usual. For the single purpose of securing the elite and their need of all power.

Chiloba did that, but not alone. He did it as per orders and per request. By both all Commissioners did so. Not only single individual. If it was only his way and his methods was behind this, than the change of Chairmen should have mattered, but it didn’t. That is why there is a need of change within the IEBC and also reforms of the organization. Not just make Chiloba jump on the sword, he is far from innocent, but he didn’t act alone. Peace.

IEBC: Statement on the Termination of the contract of Ezra Chiloba (12.10.2018)

Central Bank of Kenya: New Generation Bank Notes (12.10.2018)