Sam Oando

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For the first time since independence in 1963, we have a salary crisis across the public sector. Thousands of public servants both in the national government and county governments are yet to receive their March salary and its not yet known when this money will be available. Not even during Moi’s time when the country was in the ICU economically did we ever experience this. It also didn’t happen during the Covid-19 pandemic when the global economy received its worst beating in the 21st Century. William Ruto’s administration took off with so much arrogance and chest thumping, positioning itself as a messiah that would deliver for Kenyans way better than its predecessors. Politicians within UDA disdainfully claimed that Uhuru did not know how to run the country, and told us that their man would be very different and give Kenyans the best government since independence. In this state of imagining that he was more brilliant than his predecessors, unlike them Ruto disregarded continuity and disrupted government by firing or redeploying public servants who had institutional memory and had an exemplary understanding of critical dockets like treasury. He quickly replaced these astute public servants with his political allies who had supported him during the campaign. At the National Treasury and Economic Planning for example, he appointed Njuguna Ndung’u as CS. This is a man who in 2011 during his tenure as Central Bank Governor was ranked as the least effective policymaker in Africa’s emerging and frontier markets by a Reuters survey of regional analysts. Ruto also appointed David Ndii as his economic adviser, a man whose work Kibaki and Kagame had major reservations with. At KRA, the President hounded out Commissioner General Githii Mburu as retribution for doing his job without fear or favour, and to everyone’s dismay appointed his friend Anthony Mwaura as Chair of the board despite his questionable reputation where integrity is concerned. The guy has been bullying everyone at the institution and sometimes taking over executive powers. As a result, in the last quarter KRA has fallen way below its target. Ruto should do a bit of reflection, and ask himself how his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta was able to finance various measures including tax reliefs and social protection programmes like money to the vulnerable and kazi mtaani to cushion Kenyans from economic shocks during the Covid-19 pandemic and how he was able to offer subsides, meet recurrent expenditure, build strategic infrastructure projects and service loans. Additionally, how KRA still managed to exceed its collections even when the country was facing economic uncertainties because of upcoming elections. See, Uhuru was on many occasions accused of not rewarding loyalists with certain positions. But this was because he had the presence of mind and the wisdom to consider what was beneficial to our public service. For this reason, he appointed competent men and women who were able to KEEP THE LIGHTS ON and have the public service moving no matter the economic situation. President Ruto has been captured by friends in his political circle and the country is bleeding. In his belief that he owes them because of their support and sacrifices during the campaign period, he has disregarded competency and appointed them to positions where they will definitely fail him and fail the country. Ruto needs to remember that he does not have the luxury of loyalty to other people or entities. His loyalty is to Kenya. It is the price he has to pay for being president. In a context between loyalty to individuals and the good of a country, the country must always win. It is high time he stops prioritizing his friends and put the country first, by appointing competent people who will effectively manage public service and deliver the mandate for which he was elected. The country’s future is looking grim and he needs to act fast to save us from total collapse. 1/2