Are we setting the stage for an ‘Occupy Nairobi’
Nov. 10 | Around this time last year, Kenya was very optimistic about its growth prospects for 2011. In fact, the World Bank had projected that our economy would grow by 5.3percent, which was still less than the 6 percent growth experienced in 2010. Personally, I was convinced that even higher rates were achievable if the right interventions were put in place. Fast forward to the last quarter of 2011, and growth projections being revised downwards by a percentage point and I wonder … as Kenyans, have we been had? Have our economic strategies suffered from political machinations at the detriment of our growth? Yes, I do recognise that global food and fuel prices combined with the weakening shilling have been a major contributor to this decline. However, I also know that we’ve been through tougher times and managed to outperform some of...
Prof Maathai’s work must be supported
Oct. 7 | Allow me to join the leaders of this great nation and the world in paying tribute to our beloved Professor Wangari Maathai. I know that for her family, the pain of losing a mother, an aunt, a grandmother and a friend is very personal and very real. As the country prepares to accord her a State burial, I want to thank the family for allowing Kenyans to share in this private moment. I pray that you are comforted in knowing that we share in your loss and grief, and collectively we shall be asking the Almighty to step in where we are not able to. ****** Much has been said about our heroine and I will not begin to enumerate all her accomplishments. However, as I reflect upon her life… I feel compelled to say something about her. In my eyes, Professor Maathai was the epitome...
I grieve with the folks of Sinai, but action must start now
Sep. 12 | I will begin this note by expressing my heartfelt condolences to the people of Sinai slum. To the families who have lost their loved ones in a senseless and cruel death; we are sorry for your loss. To many others who may have lost their primary bread winners; their deaths are inexcusable. To whole communities whose ecosystem has been wiped out; we must collectively say enough is enough. The heart-breaking thing about the Sinai slum fire is that in 2009 a journalist predicted such demise. I have read his story and I am convinced that he probably just witnessed too many avoidable deaths and took the extra step to highlight a potentially high-risk. I have a feeling that in writing his story, he’d hoped we would take preventive measures rather than curative ones. Unfortunately; as with most of our problems, nothing else was done. Recommendations...
We must remain focused amid ICC, 2012 rumpus
Sep. 2 | Even as Kenyans begin to get preoccupied with proceedings at the International Criminal Court and 2012 succession politics, it is imperative that we remain focused on what is important to us as a developing nation. If you speak to the ordinary person, they are concerned about the escalating fuel and power costs which in turn affect the price of virtually all consumable goods. Simply put; life is tough and getting even tougher under these conditions. I sense some sort of apathy to politics because the majority of people have discovered that, in accordance with the Pareto Principle aka the law of the vital few, most political decisions (80pc) only impact the lives of a few (20pc) positively. The majority of Kenyans continue to struggle to survive in the murky waters of meeting their basic needs. I am of the opinion that as a country, we...
Investment requires a credible government
Aug. 5 | Anyone who has considered venturing out into a new business line, new market segment or a new partnership will tell you it is an arduous decision. To be successful, one must take into consideration many factors including the micro, macro, external and internal environments. It is a process that requires one to conduct due diligence on the potential partner, the business and regulatory environments among others. When all is said and done and assuming you have taken all the measures recommended by the most reputable business schools, when it is crunch time… you must make the decision to advance or to cut your losses. For me, that final decision is often based on a ‘gut feeling’. I must believe that my potential partner is a credible one. Perhaps believe that there exists a viable business opportunity whose benefits far outweigh the...
We are watching you, dear MPs
Jul. 7 | I think I speak for the majority of Kenyans when I say we are tired of the debate on whether MPs should pay taxes or not. To us, the payment thereof is a non-issue and from our understanding of the Constitution of Kenya, which is the true and final stand on all legislative matters, no one individual is to be exempt from the payment of taxes. In fact, because we understand that this requirement could have caught many of our Honourable MPs by surprise, what we should be discussing are the payment terms. This is the most indulgence that we are willing to ask the Kenya Revenue Authority to accord them. In reality, one of the prime mandates for our MPs is to determine how government revenue, inclusive of taxes, is collected and utilised. It is therefore unacceptable that they should want to forsake that particular obligation because it doesn’t...
Open letter to Members of Parliament
Jun. 23 | I thought I would address this letter directly to you seeing as the matter at hand pinches your financial feet. You are my appointed Member of Parliament and I am your Wanjiku. I chose you to represent me in Parliament partly because I had faith in you; because I believed to some degree in your ability to bring development; and perhaps because, in the same way that a leopard doesn’t change its stripes, I knew exactly what to expect from you. Since you are the shoe wearer, it is clear that only you would know where paying taxes would pinch most. This is why this letter comes to you. I know that when the referendum was around the corner, you threw outbursts and refused to support the Constitution until your interests in that area were taken into consideration. Well, you should have known better; a gentleman’s agreement is an almost...
