Feeling economic pinch? Blame the new Constitution

Kenya: The joy we experienced when we promulgated the new Constitution three years ago was astronomical. A key aspect of the new Constitution was devolution; decentralisation of the government to ensure that services and governance was taken closer to the people in the counties.

Jobs, we were told, would be created and projects initiated through the devolved system. All seemed rosy.

A huge factor of the Constitution that we chose to ignore, however, was the cost of its implementation. But former President Moi warned that the new Constitution would be the most expensive to implement in the world. He was spot on. Had we cared to read and internalise the document, we could have realised what we were getting ourselves into.

The cost of running a country is footed by the citizens. This is achieved only through tax collection. The levels of taxation have skyrocketed in the recent past. We are all up in arms against the government over the same.

The government had an external debt of Sh843.56 billion as of June 2013. It is a debt we must pay. We have to run the country, remember. The Constitution has to be implemented. We must cater for the ever increasing clamour for huge perks.

The recently ended teachers’ strike saw the government cave in to pressure to increase their salaries. We all supported the teachers without considering what consequences increasing their salaries would have on our pockets. We never stopped to ask ourselves where the government would get money to pay the increased salaries.

Yes, the government should be blamed for not cutting down on its expenditure; uncalled for overseas trips, the clamour for increased salaries by MPs, governors and county representatives, to mention a few.

The devolved government system is a great system whose positive side we will see in a number of years, especially if our leaders focus on development and job creation at the county level. For now, however,let us lie on the bed that we made.

{Pancras Mutuma, Nairobi}

I voted for this government hoping that it would have the ordinary people’s interests at heart. I thought it would differentiate between wants and needs. Surely, how can the government increase prices of basic commodities? What will hustlers do?

And it is not that we are lazy. Just look and see how Kenyans walk long distances to work; it’s not we are trying to lose weight or are happy walking! I wish I could get to the President and make him understand how tough things are for the common man.

I’m no expert, but I think before imposing tax on basic commodities, the government should first have sealed tax loopholes, andcurbed wastage and tax evasion instead of denying us food and milk.

{Momanyi Nyaoga, Nairobi}

We need to think twice before we shout that Jubilee is a lazy government. What we Kenyans should do is to support the young government. Uhuru is trying hard to hit the country’s economic targets and we are heading somewhere. Keep it up, Mr President.

{Hiran Mugaisi, Kakamega}