Recently, Mt Kenya politicians met the head of state at Sagana State Lodge, where they raised various issues affecting their people.
The head of state curtly told them off, and banned them from discussing these matters in public, including in parliament.
Some of the issues the politicians raised affect the whole country, but most affect Mt Kenya people the most.
Education
In every county in Kenya, most residents are poor.
Due to historical reasons and other factors, some counties, on average, have a higher percentage of very poor people.
Because of the imbalance in levels of development, counties are funded, taking into consideration this factor, and also poverty levels.
This is commendable.
However, while narrowing the gap between ‘rich’ counties and marginalised counties, there should be fairness and reasonableness.
If a needy student in Mt Kenya gets sh5k bursary, while one from marginalised county receives sh12k, that is fair.
But when a needy student in Mt Kenya gets sh500 bursary, while one from marginalised county receives sh50k, that is not only unfair, but pure discrimination against the Mount Kenya needy student.
What is happening in county allocations cannot be allowed to go unchallenged.
And to make matters even worse, now that university fees have been increased by a huge margin, many Mt Kenya students who come from poor families, will have to forfeit higher education.
The issue of county allocations/bursary funding is so important that it needs to be addressed urgently.
Unfortunately, elected Mountain politicians have been banned from talking about this very crucial matter, by the head of state.
And they have obeyed that order, maybe out of fear.
Who will help suffering students from the Mountain, if their elected leaders won’t address their plight?
Farmers
Most Mt Kenya farmers have seen prices of their crops nosedive, in the past year.
From coffee, macadamia, avocado…prices have dropped significantly in the past 12 months, due to cartels invading the sector.
This issue of cartels impoverishing farmers in the Mountain is very serious and needs to be addressed urgently – in public barazas, in county assemblies and in parliament.
However, once again, elected Mountain politicians have been banned from talking about this very crucial matter, by the head of state.
Who will help suffering farmers from the Mountain, if their elected leaders won’t address their plight?
Economy, Generally
The country’s economy is not doing well.
Jobs are not being created.
Businesses are downsizing.
Investors at Nairobi Stock exchange have lost more than sh1.2 Trillion in the past 12 months.
Cost of living has shot up.
The shilling is becoming weaker and weaker, thus making imported goods – medicine, machinery, spare parts etc – to become extremely expensive.
MPs – including those from the Mountain – should be pushing government officials to act to reverse the trend regarding weakening shilling.
But, once again, Mountain MPs cannot raise this matter in public, including in parliament, lest they anger the head of state.
NOTE: Their voice is needed in this matter, because they make about 30% of parliament.
Some of the reasons behind failing economy and weakening shilling are:
(a) Expensive electricity;
(b) Sabotage of manufacturing sector.
Expensive electricity: About 9 months ago, KPLC claimed that the sudden increase in electricity price was because it was not raining.
Then it rained, yet the bills still remain high.
If in this matter of sabotage of the economy by KPLC, Mt Kenya MPs joined hands with the other side – who have about 40% of MPs (they were more, but we all know what has been going on) – then they could have impeached Energy CS, since KPLC falls in this ministry.
Sabotage of manufacturing sector: For some bizarre reason, many senior govt officials consider local industrialists as their enemies, and have been actively sabotaging the manufacturing sector.
For instance, Trade CS formed a company, that he used to import cooking oil, to sabotage local cooking oil manufacturers – leading to job loses, and lower taxes paid to KRA by the manufacturers.
If, in this matter, Mt Kenya MPs joined hands with the other side, they could have impeached Trade CS.
Summary
It is the same sad story in other ministries/govt departments where inefficiency and incompetence is the norm – even head of state said on 1st August this year that, most of the people he has appointed to top government positions are incompetent.
If Mount Kenya MPs were acting on behalf of their peoples’ interests, most of these problems would be solved, for the benefit of wananchi.
But, for whatever reason, elected Mountain politicians fear fighting for their peoples’ interests.
During the vote for the recent FINANCE/TAX BILL 2023, only 1 Mt Kenya MP dared oppose it.
A few days later, the head of state went to this MP’s constituency, to intimidate and humiliate her.
There were many MPs from other regions who also voted NO for the FINANCE/TAX BILL 2023, yet the head of state did not go to their constituencies to intimidate them.
Therefore, it is only Mt Kenya MPs (and other Mountain elected politicians), who are not allowed to act in their peoples’ interests.
Is this right?
Will the elected Mountain politicians call a meeting and decide to now start acting only in the interests of their employers – their people?
If they don’t do that, won’t it then mean that, technically, Mt Kenya people have no political representation, either in parliament, or in county assemblies?
2nd September 2023
UKWELI 