MPs have allocated over Sh1 billion to the political parties fund.
Only President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee and Raila's ODM parties qualify for funding from the exchequer under the current law.
Legally, there is nothing wrong with the allocation. Morally, this decision is unacceptable because the timing is wrong and suggests selfishness and misplaced priorities.
Food and nutrition security has deteriorated, with the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance increasing from 2.1 million in August 2021 to 2.8 million in December 2021 as a result of the below-average October to December short rains.
In Baringo, bandits are roaming and killing at will as insecurity rages on.
Farmers can barely afford fertiliser and other farm inputs while many health facilities are open but without medicine and adequate staff.
Although Sh1 billion may not resolve any of these issues, it can surely buy relief food for the many Kenyans facing starvation.
These two major parties should donate the money to urgent and needy cases instead of spending it on party programmes that don’t address the plight of their members.
They both need the same starving Kenyans to vote for them in August. That can only happen if those facing starvation don’t die and are in good health.
Quote of the Day: “No man should be in public office who can’t make more money in private life.”
Thomas E Dewey
The 47th governor of New York was born on March 24, 1902
