Tessie Mudavadi's new office not needed at all

Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi with his wife Tessie during the launch of the Office of the Spouse to the Prime Cabinet Secretary on February 24, 2023. [David Gichuru, Standard]

It may seem as if the government was so incapacitated as to need an extra office coordinated by the spouse to the Cabinet Secretary to function.

But that is not the case. The government has enough institutions. The ministries are more than enough. The people have representatives in Parliament, Senate and county assemblies.

From our experience with the office of the First Lady, many such offices are more inclined to social programmes in reproductive health, youth and women empowerment. However, we have 47 women representatives for that. They even have the affirmative action fund to oil their operations.

Musalia's lovely wife can support the husband without eating into the national coffers. She has already done well through the Musalia Mudavadi Foundation. I believe she receives enough donations and support to continue with the programmes.

On a normal day, the spouse is well taken care of by being the spouse to the Prime Cabinet Secretary. Many times, she will be by her husband in local and international forums using public funds.

Tessie Mudavadi makes an address during the Mudavadi Memorial Foundation Trust Fund meeting (2016) as her husband, Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, looks on. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

However, a full-fledged office means a whole budget for offices, staff and vehicles. It means local and foreign trips for several people paid for by the taxpayer. It is not necessary.

I am afraid that soon this will be a trend where even Cabinet Secretaries demand an office. Then the CASs, PSs, MPs and even MCAs.

A country struggling with debt cannot shoot itself in the foot by going in such direction. We need more austerity measures and not expenditures. We need the government to collapse departments, shut down offices and close institutions that add no value.

-The writer is an anchor at Radio Maisha