Kenya is witnessing a tragic unraveling of its once stable economy under the leadership of President William Ruto. At the heart of this catastrophic decline is the deliberate mismanagement of crucial state-owned firms, setting the stage for their ultimate privatization by a government motivated solely by greed. These firms, which include Kenya Power, Kenya Seed, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), Agricultural Finance Corporation, Kenya Meat Commission, KETRACO, Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Airports Authority, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Kenya Railways Corporation, New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC), and several public hotels, are more than just businesses — they are pillars of national security and economic stability. Their potential handover to private interests is nothing short of a betrayal to the people of Kenya, violating both the spirit and letter of the Constitution.
National Security Threats of Privatization
Public firms like Kenya Power, Kenya Railways, and KETRACO play a central role in the country’s infrastructure. Electricity distribution, transportation, and the energy sector directly impact the nation’s ability to operate smoothly and defend its borders. A privatized Kenya Power would put vital energy resources in the hands of a few individuals with profit motives, compromising the entire nation’s power supply, thus making Kenya vulnerable to sabotage. Similarly, privatizing Kenya Railways and KETRACO would place control over the transport and energy transmission grid in the hands of individuals who could care less about national security and more about their profit margins. Privatization would cripple national response mechanisms during emergencies or conflict, as decision-making would shift from government oversight to boardroom deliberations driven by profit.
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Ruto’s Greed: The Destruction of Kenya’s Economic Foundations
Kenya’s Constitution emphasizes that public resources should be used prudently and for the benefit of all citizens. Ruto’s approach, however, appears to be centered on undermining these key tenets for personal gain. His policies, often cloaked in the guise of “economic recovery,” are little more than disguised efforts to dismantle Kenya’s public assets for private acquisition. Take Kenya Power, for instance. Instead of strengthening the power supply chain and investing in sustainable energy solutions, Ruto’s government has allowed mismanagement, debt accumulation, and inefficiency to flourish. The result? An energy sector on the verge of collapse, making it ripe for privatization by well-connected elites who have close ties to the administration.
Kenya Seed and KEPHIS: A Grave Threat to Agricultural Stability
Kenya Seed and KEPHIS are vital to the country’s agricultural security, ensuring seed quality, regulating plant health, and maintaining the integrity of Kenya’s agricultural exports. Agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy, and any compromise in these institutions would endanger food security and national health. A private takeover of Kenya Seed would not only lead to higher seed prices for farmers but could also jeopardize the country’s ability to ensure seed quality, potentially leading to a food crisis. KEPHIS, charged with maintaining plant health standards, could face similar issues if privatized, as private firms are unlikely to prioritize public health or environmental concerns over profits.
The Constitution as a Protector of Public Assets
Kenya’s Constitution, in Articles 10, 201, and 232, outlines the principles of good governance, transparency, and prudent use of public resources. These provisions mandate the government to act as a trustee of public resources, ensuring that all Kenyans benefit equally from the country’s wealth. Ruto’s administration, however, appears to be in direct violation of these provisions, with policies aimed at privatizing state-owned enterprises. The Constitution also guarantees public participation in matters of national interest, yet there has been little to no consultation on these impending privatizations. By sidestepping public input, Ruto’s administration is blatantly disregarding the principles of democratic governance.
Public Enterprises: A Safety Net for the Poor
State-owned enterprises like the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) are lifelines for rural and low-income populations. The AFC provides affordable credit to farmers, allowing them to sustain their agricultural activities and contribute to the country’s food security. Privatizing this critical institution would likely lead to the collapse of affordable credit lines, leaving farmers at the mercy of commercial banks with high-interest rates. Similarly, KCC, a major player in the dairy sector, has helped stabilize milk prices and ensure that farmers receive fair compensation for their produce. Privatization would lead to price hikes and the monopolization of the dairy industry, pushing small-scale farmers out of business.
Kenya Ports and Airports: Strategic Assets at Risk
Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya Airports Authority manage critical gateways to the country, including Mombasa Port and JKIA. These institutions handle billions of dollars in imports and exports, forming the backbone of Kenya’s trade. Privatizing these assets would endanger national security by giving control of the country’s ports and airports to private entities, many of whom may have foreign interests. A privatized port system could lead to inflated costs for imports, making goods more expensive for Kenyans. Similarly, the privatization of airports like JKIA would shift focus from national service to profitability, risking inefficiencies and diminished national security oversight.
Kenya Railways: The Bloodline of Trade
The collapse of Kenya Railways is another example of how Ruto’s mismanagement is slowly eroding critical public assets. The rail network serves as a crucial link for goods transportation across the country, especially from Mombasa Port to the interior. Allowing private entities to take over Kenya Railways would lead to fare hikes, reduced service quality, and even possible disruptions in transportation during periods of labor strikes or disputes. National trade would suffer as costs for transporting goods rise, and businesses pass these costs on to consumers. Kenya’s already high cost of living would increase, pushing more citizens into poverty.
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Ruto’s Misguided Legislative Agenda
Ruto’s legislative approach to privatization is not just reckless but also unconstitutional. His administration has championed policies that actively weaken public enterprises, creating conditions for their ultimate privatization. Instead of addressing inefficiencies, mismanagement, and corruption within these state-owned corporations, his government is accelerating their downfall, laying the groundwork for crony privatization. These policies directly contravene Article 201 of the Constitution, which demands prudent and responsible use of public resources.
Public Firms Must Remain Under Government Control
It is essential that public firms remain under government control. These institutions do not exist merely for profit but to serve the public interest. Handing them over to private individuals, especially those with ties to the ruling elite, would strip Kenyans of their right to essential services. National security, economic stability, and public welfare are all tied to these firms’ proper functioning. The Constitution clearly states that the government must act as a trustee of public assets, ensuring that they benefit the people. Privatization undermines this mandate, concentrating power and wealth in the hands of a few.
President Ruto’s greed is driving Kenya down a dangerous path of privatization, jeopardizing the nation’s security and economic stability. The state-owned firms that he is deliberately mismanaging are critical to Kenya’s national infrastructure and public welfare. Privatizing them would be disastrous, putting key sectors in the hands of individuals whose primary interest is profit. The Constitution provides a clear mandate for these assets to remain under public control, and Ruto’s leadership is a betrayal of this mandate. Kenyans must demand accountability and resist the creeping privatization of their country’s most valuable assets. The future of Kenya depends on it.
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