Good morning fellow Kenyans,
In the build-up to Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani’s maiden Budget speech in Parliament yesterday (Thursday), many Kenyans waited with palpable expectations that the CS would address some of the pertinent issues brought about by current hard economic times.
Ukur came under the spotlight on how he will balance the whooping KSh 2.7 trillion budget against shrinking revenues as businesses shut down, workers lose jobs or face pay cuts and exports decline on supply chain interruptions.
The economy has been hardly hit by Covid-19 disruptions, locust invasion and flash floods that have disrupted normal lives for Kenyans.
Even though the government will be largely banking on Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) capacity to raise KSh 1.89 trillion, the National Treasury is expected to borrow from both the external and domestic to bridge the deficit.
This is amid an increase of the public debt to almost unstainable levels with the country under President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime driving on the wheels of debt. The total national debt as at January 2020 stood at a mind-blowing KSh 6.2 trillion up from KSh 1.8 trillion when he took office in 2013.
Beyond these figures, to many Kenyans, the Budget is empty if it does not address ugali, sugar and fuel prices among other basic needs.
This begs the question: Does the 2020/2021 Budget address relevant matters of the common mwananchi?
Here are the stories making headlines on Opera News today:
Has DP Ruto Surrendered to Forces Fighting his 2022 Bid?
Signs of Deputy President William Ruto and Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi hatching a 2022 election pact have elicited speculation the DP has surrendered to forces fighting his presidential bid.
The two leaders are reportedly forging an alliance that would complicate the presidential election matrix for Raila Odinga’s handshake side if the ODM leader vies.
Why Uhuru’s Conduct Should Worry Kenyans – Citizen TV’s Yvonne Okwara
Citizen TV anchor Yvonne Okwara has pointed out trends within President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration which she warns should have all Kenyans worried.
On Thursday, June 11, Okwara, a News Gang show panelist, opined that the country may be heading back to the dictatorial and unconstitutional days with Kenyatta at the helm.
Why Uhuru Needs a Third Term in Office
As a progressive who has always championed term limits for presidents in Africa, I do not propose a third term for President Uhuru Kenyatta casually or without much forethought.
I am actually one of those who gets upset every time I hear some president has had their country’s constitution amended to extend their term in office.
After Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru’s bid to have her impeachment nullified by the High Court flopped, her only hope now lies in the Senate. The Senate is set to have a House Business Committee decide on the course the impeachment process will take as she faces similar charges to that of former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu. Do you think Waiguru will be saved by the Senate bearing in mind recent developments by the executive to whip the legislators?