mzalendo :: Eye On Kenyan Parliament

BY MWALIMU MATI

In 2007, the Kenya National Budget was set at about Ksh 700 billion (about USD 10.7 billion).

Of this amount, the Government has to make loan repayments and pension payments (for retired civil servants) to the tune of Ksh 141 billion (or USD 2.1 billion).

Of the remaining Ksh 559 billion (USD 8.6 billion), the Government planned to spend Ksh 300 billion (USD 4.6 billion) on running 34 Ministries.

After catering for Government’s running costs (salaries, equipment, furniture both office and household), there is only Ksh 260 billion (or USD 4 billion) for Development Expenditure available. However not all this money comes from the Government. In fact it borrows about Ksh 52 billion (or USD 800 million) for building roads, improving infrastructure, providing health and education services etc… from international donors. In the past the Government has misused loans and left Kenyans to repay.

At the end, only Ksh 200 billion (USD 3.2 billion) will remain for spending on the people of Kenya - the majority of whom live below the poverty line.

Now that the Cabinet has been increased to 43, the Government must spend more. Back of the Envelope Calculations say that the average recurrent cost of running a Ministry is Ksh 8.8 billion – or USD 130million. Therefore 9 new Ministries would cost 9 times Ksh 8.8 billion equivalent to Ksh 79.2 billion or USD 1.2 billion. This increase wipes out the Ksh 50 billion, the Ministry of Finance will raise from selling some of its Safaricom shares.

The money for the new Ministries will, of necessity, be deducted from the Ksh 200 billion development budget (USD 3.2 billion).

So at the end of the day, having 43 Ministries means that Kenyans are not likely to have more than Ksh 130 billion (USD 2billion) spent on them for Education, Health, Road Construction and Water to take a few examples of what Government is meant to actually be doing to develop Kenya.

It is tragic that a 43 member Cabinet means that Kenyans will expect only about 19% of the Ksh 700 billion national budget to be spent on developing the country. It appears as if the GOK has ceased to have a development function and exists only to tax Kenyans, and spend taxpayer’s money on GOK recurrent costs (salaries, loans and pensions).

What will those who pay for all this (taxpayers and donors) have to say to this economic mismanagement knowing that Kenyans:

- live with inflation above 20%

- want an end to the sad situation whereby well over 150,000 IDPs live in tents (supported by the Red Cross – not the GOK)

- will soon suffer from food shortages this year and have to rely on charity

- thought that the National Accord was intended to facilitate relief to the poorest and worst off – and not to construct a bloated government

- have heard that the Government has asked donors for Ksh 31 billion (USD 476 million) to resettle the IDPs, because the GOK is unable to raise this amount from its own resources.

And to cap it all, Parliament will now have to scrutinise the budget for this leviathan Grand Coalition with only 129 MPs not in Government. Last year over 36 vote heads were guillotined, and passed unscrutinised, for lack of debating time. This included the budget for the Ministry of Finance, which prepared the budget for 2007, and suspiciously doubled its own budget. The death knell is being sounded for parliamentary check on executive authority.

Finally, are the Kenyan people architects of their own misfortune, or victims of rapacity in the political elite?

We’re now up to 164 members. Sorry again about the delay — people have to sleep, eat, etc.

We’ve also added a facility to view the seat distribution, accessible from the navigation bar on the left hand side.

This will allow you to see the number of members each party has.

You can further drill down further to see these members.

We’ll update the official results as soon as we get them from the ECK

We’re now up to 95 constituencies, view the latest list here

BTW guys need to relax a bit on the requests for updates. We’re doing the best we can with our staff of two, and my laptop rapidly (and I do mean rapidly) approaching its deathbed. I was last in bed on Wednesday.

Mzalendo now has the results for 64 Constituencies. For the complete up to date list click here

The latest results (it’s been interesting to see how sentiments expressed by Kenyans on Mzalendo are being reflected in the results).

- Kajiado North - counting suspended due to electoral misconducted, some ballot boxes not sealed properly and others found empty. Sakuda was losing last night, but Saitoti suddenly started picking up this am.

- Garsen - counting also suspended due to chaos after a helicopter landed at the counting station with 12 unaccompanied ballot boxes. The crowd destroyed the 12 boxes and started going after the boxes that had already been counted, they had to be dispersed with tear gas.

- Kibwezi - Kalembe out

- Budalangi - Ababu Namambwa in

- All Moi sons out. Raymond lost to Luka Kigen.

- Mt Elgon - Kapondi out

- Kulundu out

- Kabete - Muite out, Nguyai in

- Nyakach - Pollins Onyango in

- North Imenti - Mwiraria out

- Sotik - Lorna Labasi in (women doing well in Rift Valley)

- Kipiriri - Kimunya in

- Ntimama in

- Cherangany - Kirwa out

- Belgut - Charles Ketel in

Mzalendo now has the results for 47 Constituencies. For the complete up to date list click here

Highlights

- All of Moi’s sons have lost
- Minister Munyao has been defeated

Mzalendo will continuously update to give you the preliminary results of the parliamentary aspirants. For an up to date list go here MP Listing

Been waiting for some decent MP results for most of the night, because I think they will be far more interesting than the Presidential results and of course because of Mzalendo. Here’s what I have so far again via NTV. Lots of surprises - Kisii, Western and Central very interesting. Again keep in mind these are very preliminary.

- Westlands - very tight between Tett 43% and Gumo 41%, Mueke is sitting at 16%.

- Langata - Raila 60%, Livondo 40%

- Mvita - Balala 63%, Taib 29%

- Matuga - Mwakere 39%, Mwanyoha 31%

- Mwatata - Mwatela 51%, Madoka 33%

- Saku - Waqo is leading.

- Nithi - Mbiuki is leading

- Siakago - Lenny Kivuti

- Tetu - Francis Nyammu by far

- Kieni - Warugongo by far

- Mukurueni - Kagwe 63%, Kabando 36% (was supposed to be a tight one)

- Nyeri Town - Mathenge in the lead

- Mwea - Peter Njunguna in the lead

- Gichugu - Karua 57%, Jackson Gutu 40%

- Kiharu - Ngenye Kariuki over Kembi Gituara

- Juja - Thuo 50%, Kabogo 23%

- Kiambaa - Githunguri - 79%, Karume 21%

- Keiyo North - Chepiktony in the lead

- Keiyo South - Kiptoon 68% over Biwott 30%

- Eldama Ravine - Lessonet leading over Jonathan Moi

- Laikipia East - Letai over Kiunjuri

- Narok South - Lankas over Ntutu

- Kajiado - Sakuda over Saitoti by big margin

- Boment - Kones over Salat

- Malava - Soita Shitanda leading

- Butere - Oparanya leading.

- Kimilili - Murungu leading, Kituyi third

- Sirisia - John Koyi over Wetangula (close race)

- Butula - Alfred Bwire leading

- Funyula - Nyongesa over Moody (very close though)

- Alego - Edwin Yinda leading

-Gem - Midiwo leading

- Rarieda - Gumbo 80%, Tuju 20%

- Kisumu Rural - Anyang Nyong’o 96%

- Rangwe - Martin Ogindo leading

- Kuria - Shadrack Manga over Machage

- South Mugirango - Ayiema over Magara

- Bobasi - Obure over Manoti

- Nyaribari Chache - Monda over Nyachae

- Kisauni - Joho over Mwaboza

- Kitutu Chache - Angwenyi over Onyonka

You’ve looked up your MP’s records on Mzalendo, you’ve made comments on their performance, you’ve weighed in on the aspirants, now let us know how you voting day went - any issues? mood on the ground?

Please leave a comment.

By Leah W. Njuguna

ISSUES IN GICHUGU

Being the seasoned politician that she is, and enjoying the support of State House, Karua is promising a tough fight in Gichugu. Critics contend that besides her frequent visits to the area, Karua has not performed well in uplifting the lives of her constituents. Some claim that she is only involved in national matters and has failed to meet the dire needs of the constituents. Many also consider her as aloof and arrogant saying she must change. Her detractors are citing the alleged rigging of Narc – Kenya party election in Gichugu saying that the provincial administration aided the Minister in the exercise. The aspirants are accusing Karua of neglecting the constituency to an extent that it has performed increasingly poorly in national examinations, especially for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). Former academic giants like Kianyaga High School, Mutiga Secondary School and Ngiriambu Girls have lost their former stature. In addition, many children have been forced to drop out of school and are either picking coffee or engaging in other cheap labour to supplement their parents’ meagre earnings. There has also been a major outcry over the state of dilapidated roads that slow transportation of goods to Kutus, Kianyaga, Kiamutugu and other market in interior places.
Critics argue that Karua is only available on Mondays at the constituency office and can hardly give an ear to the hundreds who throng the office seeking her attention. However, she is said to be fond of making appearances in religious functions and women groups where she is said to be donating generous amounts of money in the run up to the elections. In addition, since she once served as the Minister for Water Development, Gichugu constituents expected to have water at their doorsteps particularly for irrigation purposes. This did not happen and this made the Gichugu people bitter with their Member of Parliament. Instead, water services were taken over by a private company that is charging for connections and monthly water bills. This has not gone down well with Gichugu residents since most of them are poor hence cannot afford the monthly rates.

Constituents are also complaining that the minister has not done much to improve farming as an economic activity. Of particular concern to them is a project she initiated with the help of an international company where she is said to have some interests. The company was supposed to market French beans grown in the area to international markets. Farmers were in for a shock after the company went under without paying out the proceeds from the delivered crop. Upon raising the issue with the minister, Karua ordered that the farmers be paid using the CDF funds. The controversial 28,000 hectare South Ngariama ranch in Mwea is another bone of contention. The communal land and which was held under trust of the Kirinyaga county council has witnessed killings in bloody confrontations. Members of the ranch drawn from Kirinyaga and Mbeere districts are up in arms against what they call betrayal by the council instigated by local politicians. In the alleged plot, the scheme is up for grab by outsiders who have been allocated land. Sources from within the nine clans who are the real owners of the land allege that legislators from the district are using the land as a campaign tool by dishing it out to their allies and political supporters. Though the Minister hails from Mwea, she is alleged to have conspired with some legislators from the other districts to deny a rightful share to members.

These are some of the areas Karua’s opponents would be capitalizing on during the ongoing campaigns.