Redirect funds to pay teachers

Many political and trade workers’ leaders continue to suggest various sources of funds the government can harness in order to pay teachers and other workers increased wages.

They want the Government to seal all loopholes through which public funds are lost.

They also suggest that excessive funds already allocated to the National Youth Service and other sectors should be reduced and be reallocated to pay public workers.

I wish to suggest to the leaders to also pressurise Attorney General Githu Muigai to fast-track the repatriation of billions of shillings stashed in offshore bank accounts by some corrupt Kenyans.

Another area of great concern where leaders should urge the AG to urgently address is the alleged long-term power purchase agreements said to be in favour of 24 independent power producers, out of which five use diesel to generate electricity.

It is alleged that the five signed supply agreements that will expire between the year 2023 and 2032. This means that even if we switch to cheaper sources like geothermal or solar, electricity consumers will continue to be charged for fuel, notwithstanding the fact that the diesel generators would have been retired.

When President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto were commissioning the latest geothermal plant at Naivasha last October, they reassured consumers that electricity bills would drop by one third after two months. However, we noticed the promised reduction for only four months. Thereafter, the bills started to rise and now are even higher.

It is necessary for the AG to constantly review the operations of IPPs to ensure they neither turn out like Anglo Leasing projects nor become avenues for corrupt individuals to siphon money to their offshore bank accounts.