MARTHA KARUA, THE IRON LADY

       

                 A SESSION WITH “WANJIKU”:  THE ZERONESS🤯🤯😠😠

During the Easter holiday, I met a group of ordinary but hardworking Kenyans, who are, in many contexts, referred to as “Wanjikus” or “Common Wananchi”. Apparently, all the eight people in the group happened to have benefitted from the Unga subsidy which was in place sometime around July last year. The discussion they were having had cost of living and delayed salaries in it. In course of the discussion, one of them said, “We’re not interested in whoever (if any) was benefitting from the subsidies, but in acquiring the maize flour at Ksh 100 or even less!” (Translated). The weight of this statement drew my attention closer, as I internalized.

The utterer of the statement is among the millions of people who’ve heard about the government’s approach on the subject i.e. subsidizing production as opposed to consumption. The statement elicits the need of assessing the level of acceptance and absorption of policies that touch on critical areas in the lives of Kenyans. Yes, this is necessary, since the same people will ask “Why not retail Unga at Ksh 100 yet we‘re being pushed to the periphery by other bills; rent, energy, tax, loans, fees, contributions etc.?”

      These are the same people who are frustrated by the unending news about scandals in various sectors. These are the same people who accurately point out mismanagement, squandering and failed utilization of public funds, some of which are acquired through non-concessional borrowing.

The same people would be victims of  the incongruous pain inflicted by the taxman and other individuals/ agencies, leading to closure of businesses, upon showing the white flag to the struggle. The same people would say that some companies have evaded tax for many years, but little is done because the proprietors and directors are unstoppable. Ooh, they also heard about the intriguing issues around higher education funding.  Yes, the same people are disgruntled by the failed management of the fortunes that come once in a while, for instance rain and grants. Worse still, some of these people would be grappling in the painful wounds of unemployment.

The sentiments above are not from the moon, as they  attract heated discussion around sustainability economics.  Why would these people hear that the government is experiencing cash crunches, yet they know that the same government saved money by scrapping off the subsidies, and obtains more revenue by increasing taxation on some utilities such as electricity alongside reducing expenditure on non-core activities? What if they come across the IMF’s statistical report showing that global consumer prices will be high until 2025? How will Wanjiku understand? Will she believe? I guess no. This notwithstanding, the best alternative prevails. In addition, credit goes to where its due, since the same group I met commended the government’s efforts to promote peace, national unity, international cooperation, and resource mobilization. This is quite noteworthy. 

      

In a nutshell, some statements present the true state of turbulences, helplessness, and  desperation that many people are in. Some would call it “ A state of zero, raised to power zero, multiplied by zero, which is zero!”

Well, perhaps patience and resilience in such moments will pay in bountiful counts. Every being looks forward to times of abundance, for no one wants to be in a “zeroness state”. Thanks for reading. Feel free to follow me, like comment, and share😊😍