2012: What Kenyans Expect

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Submitted by IQ4News on Thu, 05/01/2012 - 9:28am

Kenyans want to see a reduction in the cost of basic commodities as well as a change in leadership.

By Joab Apollo

The year 2011 was more depressing to Kenyans than any time in the history of the country.

It saw unions lead their members to the street in demand for pay hikes and better working conditions. This was occasioned by the skyrocketing cost of basic commodities which was precipitated by the increase in the price of fuel.

Doctors, university lecturers, teachers, postal workers and those in the private sector organized countrywide industrial boycotts that almost brought everything in the country to the precipice edge.

The year 2012 promises to be tough to a majority of Kenyans given that elections are set to be held in August, with key government officials diverting their attention to campaigns rather than economic development.

Kenyans from various walks of lives expects the campaigns not to affect the economic progress of the country to ease the burden on the taxpayer.

John Mureithi, an entrepreneur dealing in electronics and IT in Nakuru town, expects the grand coalition government to trim the bloated cabinet to save the country from unnecessary expenses.

“This government was formed after a tumultuous episode in the history of Kenya to save it from economic collapse. The leaders were not wise enough, instead they gave us a cabinet of 44 ministers at a time many are languishing in IDP camps. To me, that large cabinet plus their incessant wrangles is the greatest undoing of this government,” Mureithi notes.

Fuel Price

Those in the transport industry like Tom Mosaisi looks forward for the government to reduce fuel prices.

“The government recently mocked us with Ksh. 5 reduction in the price of fuel, but it is our plea that it drastically comes down because the excuse that this is a global issue cannot add up. Uganda for instance uses Kenya as a route to transport oil, but the price of oil there is cheaper. Someone somewhere is taking Kenyans for granted” Mosaisi says.

But Kisumu-based economist and lecturer at Maseno University, Dr. Dickson Omondi argues that for Kenya to transform, a change of leadership would be the best option.

“All the economic problems we currently face as a country are politically-induced. They are not bound to change unless an effective government comes to place," He says.

Dr.Omondi adds that Kenya would have leaped forward if the leadership had put in place measures aimed at curbing theft of public property and resources.

“Kenyans are hard working, but the leadership fails. It fails in planning and the execution of its core function. Take education sector for instance. It is not aligned to suit the industrial needs of the country. What we witness is a scramble for schools to feature in newspapers every time national Examinations results are out. The system is rote. Key pillars of economy like tourism and agriculture have been neglected as leaders bicker of leadership positions,” He adds.

In their New year messages key leaders of the grand Coalition government, Prime Minsiter Raila Odinga, Vice- President Kalonzo Musyoka and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta thanked Kenyans for going through the year 2011 despite the economic burden.