Some time ago, economist David Ndii proposed a corruption amnesty to reset the political conversation in Kenya.
The proposal intended that an official pardon policy would help wipe the slate clean and allow the country to leave behind the complexly intertwined baggage of past economic crimes and chart a new path.
This was soon after Ndii began advising the ‘Hustler Nation’ on how to polish up “wheelbarrownomics” through the bottom-up model.
Kenyans have not forgotten the studious silence from Deputy President William Ruto and his lieutenants on the subject.
They have also not forgotten the litany of broken promises that Ruto made as the chief government coordinator during the first term of the Jubilee administration.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has said he has been able to do better in his second term.
In effect, that mean Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has done a better job in implementing government projects and overall service delivery since taking over administrative functions from the Deputy President.
Without rehashing the promises about upcoming stadia, free internet and government-paid internships, the DP is now selling new false promises under the bottom-up economic model.
Ruto wants to revive everything under the sun. From building a new sugar industry to exploiting the blue economy; rejuvenating the cotton sector to planting bananas with new methods; milking cows in a better way to harvesting coffee; and saving all micro, small and medium enterprises — and only he, and he alone, has the answer.
The bottom-up approach will be the spellbinding miracle that solves everything. How strange that a self-proclaimed born-again Christian would have a classic messiah complex, as opposed to service through humility as proclaimed by the Lord and Savior Jesus.
Even though no one in UDA seems to understand what their proposed economic model is all about, Ruto’s allies continue parroting talking notes in a blundering fashion. It was remarkable to watch how Kandara MP Alice Wahome stuttered as she attempted an explanation.
These overstretched pledges are a clear sign that Ruto and by extension UDA, are not planning to change or improve even an iota of Kenya.
Ruto cannot convince Kenyans otherwise because he is already non-committal on the effect on Kenyans of mismanagement of public resources.
It also does not matter that his poor coordination of the laptop project infused so much confusion in the Education sector that it will affect a generation of children — thanks to setting up a Competency-Based Curriculum without the appropriate infrastructure, human resources, structures and technology.
His casual attitude in handling the Kimwarer dam drama shattered the aspirations of communities who truly believed they would get access to water.
Essentially, he is asking Kenyans to give him the keys to a new car called a bottom-up economic model so he can drive it recklessly, disobeying all rules of safety and cause accidents as he wishes.
Ruto and his supporters are pretending they didn't have a hand in designing the excessive aspects and punitive arm of government for which they are suffering today.
While he claims to be a man of principle, he refuses to relinquish the government perks he enjoys, even when his designated duties have been handed someone else.
While he claims to chart a new path for Kenya, he welcomes and is in constant company of politicians and individuals who face various charges in court and others whose actions can only be termed economic sabotage.
It makes sense they would rebel against a president constitutionally charged with ensuring they are held accountable.
It, however, doesn’t make sense that the DP would support such elements against his boss, in violation of his constitutional oath, and not resign.
Many government programmes fail because of wasted public funds and corruption. The growing debt crisis is not a question of economic models.
A bottom-up model could borrow money just as aimlessly as the trickle-down in the context of poor leadership. This will thus continue keeping the country in debt.
Therefore, with every silver-tongued pledge Ruto makes, UDA is choosing to further destroy the idea that the country deserves a more trustworthy government as captured in Chapter Six of the Constitution.
UDA originates from a union of those whose intent is to capture state power to further their selfish interests.
Never in the history of Kenya has such an enterprise been so organised in capturing power. The country is in economic shambles because people of questionable character were the first to crack the glass of Jubilee hopes through their greed.
The gargantuan corruption under the Jubilee regime, for which a number of Ruto's allies are facing charges in court, has left behind the fingerprints of government.
This has sowed seeds of public scepticism in the Jubilee administration.
One can’t help but notice how the UDA brigade focused on a lesser evil, Covid-19 millionaires, for instance.
Kenyans are in an ultimate pursuit for the best administration to run a government.
They will, therefore, not settle for less, especially when all signs point towards UDA being so invested in being an unsavoury new system.
The author is the ANC party spokesperson
(Edited by V. Graham)
