POLITICS OF THE KENYAN SHILLING

 

THE POLITICS OF THE KENYAN SHILLING.

Recently, the CEO of the Kenya Bankers association was urging Kenyans to accept  fact that interest rates offered by commercial banks in Kenya are exorbitantly high. The tyrannical estimated figure is OVER 18% on loans while they offer only up to 10% on deposits. What makes this figure worrisome is the fact that ,banks are able to gain almost a similar amount in profits compared to non performing loans. The battle ranging about 130-140billion shillings in a trading year. However, he was in dispute that capping the rates by the law maker was not good for the country, terming it a serious gamble on the Kenyan economy. Now all eyes are on Mr. President an investor in the banking sector, will  he sign the bill? What does this move by parliament represent?

In my opinion, it's what I ,can confidently term as ,"siasa ya pesa nane". In short petty politics.  It is a manifestation of our age long silent debate titled  "WHO OWNS KENYA". Paradoxically, cleverly it has been hammered time and again that the new constitution gives sovereign power to the people of Kenya,but ask yourself why tribal  card is an ace in the gamble of constituting the next government. Methinks, honestly we are not as Democratic as we would have ourselves believe. We have a private government  dominated the rich and mighty whichever tribe they come from. Government is a game of these magic numbers,THE LARGER THE POOL,The higher its bargaining power.

Folks who own the banks play our politics and name our kings. In this game of petty cash, the ordinary tax payer is held in contempt if not at ransom. On one hand , it is said he makes up the majority and should naturally have a voice as concerning the nation. On the other hand , he largely operates informally and robs the revenue collector a large chuck of his due. To an extent the rich few feed and develop the majority. Should not the wealthy be given the prerogative to decide how their money is used?

Let's turn our perspective to another playoff in the political scene,  call the BIG DECISION this month in town. The The Election and boundaries commission ,the IEBC   commissioner's will be going home. Good news to some. Some who won't quiz the conditional settlement. It is a political arrangement to leave office. Has not a political alarm been raised for a long time now? The sad reality is,a political arrangement ain't over till the shilling exchanges hands. This how we appreciate our Democratic patriots- MONEY.

A while back, it was commendable to hear a vice chancellor refuse to accept a send off package of a hundred million- a JACKPOT. It's hard to conceptualize this in a lottery and betting crazed nation. To Kenyans reading this,the prejudice is on the wall, " there is more than meets the eye." This is Kenya.

Just at the onset of this year,I was a was meant to believe that , money is at the heart of our political ideology as a nation. In Kenya, money talks. Most of our government leaders are  influential directors in the country's top brands. The Kenyan private sector is not a private sector entirely. Well, am not advocate for communism, am just a capitalist as you are.
However, a revolution needs to take place to check our greed. If we are to have transformation in Kenya, we must strive to adjust our philosophy on this money issue. Fighting corruption by persecution is now mere rhetoric and a  campaign  cliché.

GOD BLESS KENYA.