INSANITY

We are leaving in a country that is rocked with high cost of living. Thousand of Kenyans are doing unimaginable activities just to put food on the table and lead a decent life. Effects of the recent tax on basic food  are being felt across the country as the gap between the rich and the poor continue to widen. Typical Kenyans who live on hands to mouth are the worst affected barely a year since we elected new leaders into office. Despite this, we are soldiering on trying to find best alternatives to make ends meet.

Devolution through counties was created purposely created to bring resources closer to the people and decentralise power. However, it was not to be be a rosy affair. Even if Kenyans were do dig deeper into their pocket, it was a gradual process after the instruments of devolution had exploited all the avenues. Experts fronted the idea of engagement with the private sectors since they are keen on service delivery. Eight Months down the line, we are yet to see our governors promote entrepreneurship, instead they are busy endorsing bills/budgets oblivious on how they will be sustained. Priorities should be given to sectors that will yield the greatest benefits to residents and not car grants and offices that are only meant to benefit leaders rather than uplift lives of the very people whom they claim to represent.

The proposal to collect taxes on carcasses of dead livestock and pets, burial grounds and maintenance of cemetery is insane. It is turning a blind eye to the very people who lifted you to your current position. Mr.Kabogo should be informed of the indirect effects of drumming support of such selfish proposal. Kenyans are in still tagged with the notion of "harambee" spirit. Be it in burial, offsetting hospital bills to weddings.  We are glaring at situation where thousands of bodies will be left unclaimed in our already congested mortuaries and we should embrace for dump-site for dead pets as people will opt to dump their carcasses besides roads and forests to avoid parting with hefty cash. 

Devolution is not an instant thing. We didn’t expect instant benefits after the March general election. Governor William Kabogo should identify untapped resources, exploit those areas to open up resources to improve the well-being of residents before burdening and forcefully taking Kenyans hard earned peanuts. 

Reagan Nyadimo

Kenyatta University
Published on Tuesday October 29, 2013. Daily Nation pg 14