Take for example the uproar from the usual complaining quarters, the springs of alarmism and panic about the presidential fundraiser. A foreigner flying into the country would think that a crime had been committed. It is, I will admit, embarrassing that there are Kenyans wealthy enough to pay fifty times the minimum wage at a campaign fund-raiser when the majority of our people subsist on less than a dollar a day. However, political campaigns cost money, and the hard truth is, this money must be collected from somewhere. Kenyans can thank god for a government that unlike previous ones is not contemplating dipping into public resources, or worse,  printing money to finance its general election campaign.

It has been written before, but I will write it again. The Kibaki government and the PNU have come into the campaign very late. Their organisation is less than three months old and in many ways has still not been fully developed. Add to this the fact that the Kibaki government has had to shoulder the responsibilities of government, working hard while its opponents in the absconding ODM were scattered to the four corners of the globe fund-raising, and we have every justification for yesterday's event. Is it wrong that the Kibaki government seeks to catch up in the financial stakes by relying on the support of the business community which is unsurprisingly grateful for the economic and structural reforms that the Kibaki government has inaugurated and promoted? Is it odd that these businessmen should want the Kibaki government to continue with these reforms, especially given the very business-unfriendly proposals from the opposition? Here is a list detailing exactly why Kenyan business would be so happy as to want to support the Kibaki government.

The agriculture sector growth has improved markedly from negative 3% in 2002 to 5.4% in 2006 In the manufacturing sector output expanded by 6.9% in 2006, up from 0.1% in 2002; The hotel and restaurant sector has recovered strongly from a decline of 20.3% in 2003 to a growth of 14.9% in 2006, with an annual growth rate of 37% in hotel occupancy; With lower interest rates and increased remittances from Kenyans in the diaspora, construction has picked up substantially from negative 2% in 2002 to 6.3% in 2006  The transport and communication sector has also experienced a strong growth from the low of 3.5% in 2003 to 10.8% in 2006; Wholesale and retail trade sector, has risen from negative 2.5% in 2002 to 10.9% in 2006 The NSE Index has increased by 314%, reflecting an increase in market capitalization from KShs.112 billion in 2002 to KSh.792 billion in 2006, a compounded annual increase of 63% Total exports have almost doubled since 2002 underpinned by strong growth in coffee, tea and horticultural exports. And reflecting the improved export and capital inflows, international reserves held by the Central Bank have more than doubled since 2002, rising from USD1.2 billion in 2002 to the highest level ever of USD.2.5 billion in 2006. *

So in the same way that there are Kenyans who will want to donate money to the election campaign of the ODM or ODM-Kenya, so it is that there are some who would want to support president Kibaki, and having the means to do so, will write large cheques.

Kenyans should take comfort in the fact that his fund-raiser was held in Nairobi, and that the fund-raisers were Kenyans who even when lobbying their government in the future are after local advantage. The growth of Kenyan business, is the growth and development of Kenya. It is the source from which jobs are created, new products invented and overall, lives made easier.

I know that on my part I would much prefer such dealings than the back-room negotiations of the ODM party in foreign lands which no more than a handful of its top officers are privy to. I know also that as obscene as these funds may seem they serve as a tax on the wealthiest Kenyans and that their return into the wider local economy through campaign expenditure will benefit many Kenyans around the country. This is quite simply Kenyan money circulating in Kenya.

Business as everywhere in the world will work its hardest to lobby government, but to presuppose that a business's support for a government is evidence of corruption is to suggest that businessmen are not voters, or that they do not have political motivations. When the ODM travelled around the world collecting its Hummers and finances from Kenyans abroad, when its candidate threw an ostentatious launch party no one begrudged them this right. The private access of campaign funding is a right which Kenyan political parties will continue to be forced to exercise until such a time as the proposals published by former Imenti South MP Kiraitu Murungi on party financing are adopted into law.

It is important under the current state of affairs that we are watchful that neither party enter into pre-election pacts with persons or organisations, whether local nor foreign, that are illegal or likely to lead to the deprivation of the country.  We must be careful that no business gets preference on public projects because of its proximity to the levers of power. But this vigilance does not stipulate that we cry wolf and portray as bloodsucking monsters all those who have money, or who support the Kibaki government. On the 27th of December, there will be only one Kenya, and it will belong to all of us. It is most crucial that even as we prosecute the  most vigorous campaigns, we bear this fact in mind. One Kenya.

*Figures, Ministry of Finance, Budget Speech 2007-2008.

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written by Timothy Wainaina , November 23, 2007

OK, firstly the 1 million shilling amount is obviously the result of an over-active imagination. There are those who may have given 100million and those who gave 20,000.

Secondly, Raila has himself had such fundraisers, in Nairobi as well as those mysterious ones abroad. We know Kibaki has friends with deep pockets who have supported him throughout his career, but where are the Raila backers? I am much more worried by these people I do not know than by some old men supporting another old man.

We need to start ignoring ODM. They can complain about anything under the sun. Already this year,
Telkom, Safaricom, KenyaRe, Rigging, etc.

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written by Adongo , November 23, 2007

Let me start my response with reference to Kamwaris introduction of her topic

It is election season true, but Kenyans it seems take their politics a little too seriously. Even worse, this zealousness is permeated with a sense of righteous indignation that is clearly delusional.

Take for example the uproar from the usual complaining quarters, the springs of alarmism and panic about the presidential fund raiser. A foreigner flying into the country would think that a crime had been committed.

No Ms Kamwari Kenyans are not delusional in their indignation with the powers that be. In fact they are very rational. In this case people are asking: How dare the super rich rub salt in our eyes to show us they can spend one million in a single meal to elect Kibaki. What is in it for them? That is a fair question for Kenyans to ask. There is nothing delusional about asking that question.

And then Kamwari goes on to talk about complaints from usual quarters, alarmism and panic. Really? Who are those in the usual quarters? Could they be Kenyans too?

All I can tell is that nobody in the country has panicked about Kibaki and his friends overfeeding themselves and raising huge sums of money to help Kibaki retain his presidency. If anybody is panicking it is the coterie themselves and their hosts who barred the media from gracing the event.

You would have thought that something to promote Kibakis campaign to lead Kenyans not just a handful of rich people would be accessible to public media. Not this one. Everybody had to wait for Isaya Kabira of the PPS to give them the story and pictures and I presume the videos. The country is not in a fit about this at all. Far from it.They can have their fun. Kenyan voters will have theirs on Dec 27.

This is the one from the article that blows my mind

A foreigner flying into the country would think that a crime had been committed.

No my friend, it is not the foreigner flying in who would feel a crime has been committed, it Kenyans living in poverty who feel that way. They don't need foreigners to tell them about their poverty and how the super rich lords it over them on a daily basis. That is their life.

My point here is that I question the foundation of Rosemarys point of reference to the Kibaki mega fundraising saga. But let's take it one step further.

This is what Rosemary asserts

It has been written before, but I will write it again. The Kibaki government and the PNU have come into the campaign very late. Their organisation is less than three months old and in many ways has still not been fully developed. Add to this the fact that the Kibaki government has had to shoulder the responsibilities of government, working hard while its opponents in the absconding ODM were scattered to the four corners of the globe fund-raising, and we have every justification for yesterday's event.

Kibaki and PNU came into the campaign late? How absurd is that? Is Kibaki not the President of the Republic of Kenya? I thought he was and has been for the last five years. Right? Every year in office for a sitting president is a year of campaign. Presidents seeking re-election are judged by their record while in office not their campaign in the last thirty days in office. So just throw that argument out of the window.

In terms of PNU, yes it is true they are months old if they exist at all. That is the sad part. It is perplexing to me that President Mwai Kibaki has been unable to build a viable functioning political party after five years in the highest office in the land. Should the country feel sorry for him for that failure? I don't think so. In fact I think it is his greatest failure as one of the foremost leading Kenyan political figures. Historians will study where that came from. Kenyans right now do not have that privilege.

Now Rosemary talking about Kibaki having to shoulder the responsibilities of government as if that is some form of a disadvantage is just plainly laughable. I mean it is the privileges of government and in fact the abuse of public resources that has been funding and sustaining the Kibaki campaign.

Okay may be the president and his entourage need the military planes and police helicopters to transverse bad roads. May be the president can just give up 100 districts in five years mostly in campaign periods and this and that. Is not that a beautiful burden for campaigning?

The ugly side was today Nov 23 when a government vehicle was caught ferrying weapons to Western Kenya. We hope the whole saga has nothing to do with the higher ups. But guess what in the same vehicle were PNU presidential posters and other PNU campaign materials. Question is: how many other government vehicles out there and how many civil servants, particularly Public Administration staff are actually involved in the Kibaki re-election campaign? And this is supposed to be a disadvantage? I do not think the beneficiaries are complaining.

Rosemary then completes her campaign pitch for Kibaki by throwing in a few stats about growth in agriculture and other sectors of the economy. I am sure Kenyans appreciate that effort the Kibaki government has made and I am sure should Kibaki lose the elections, the next government would want to build on that.

The only stats that eluded Rosemary is the huge chunk of our population sinking deeper into poverty. They too are Kenyans and they just happen to be the largest number of voters. After all the fundraising was about getting votes, was it not?
adongo

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written by Stephen Wanyama , November 23, 2007

First things first, what anyone does with their money if within the law should be their own business. It is clear that political campaigns are funded by donations from wananchi and organisations of some design. Some politicians ( very few of them) will fund themselves, but it is almost always the case that someone else is advancing the money.

As Tim points out, the newspapers are reporting that people gave what they could, and that those on the list included not only businessmen but also academicians and chairman of state organisations.

Like Rosemary says, it is embarrassing but part of the reason why people donate to such causes is the desire to be a member of some exclusive club, one that is hard to get into. This is why it has to be an event. I am sure many others simply send cheques or avail their resources for use by the campaigns. In 2002 Saitoti is said to have underwritten the NARC marketing budget, no complaints then, eh?

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written by gichangi , November 23, 2007

In this case people are asking: How dare the super rich rub salt in our eyes to show us they can spend one million in a single meal to elect Kibaki. What is in it for them? That is a fair question for Kenyans to ask. There is nothing delusional about asking that question.

In the box in the article above are listed the reasons why businessmen, and all Kenyans of means would lend their money and efforts to the Kibaki government's election campaign.

coterie themselves and their hosts who barred the media from gracing the event.

Have you heard of private functions?

Kenyans living in poverty who feel that way. They don't need foreigners to tell them about their poverty and how the super rich lords it over them on a daily basis.

I suppose you are a poor man, on a windup computer in your little shack some place? These rich men are sacrificing part of their money so Kenya can develop a viable economy that gives everyone an opportunity to make a living for themselves. What are you doing?

Kibaki and PNU came into the campaign late? How absurd is that? Is Kibaki not the President of the Republic of Kenya? I thought he was and has been for the last five years. Right? Every year in office for a sitting president is a year of campaign.

Kazi iendelee. Less talk more walk. There is the difference. The government was busy working while ODM was talking up the nation. I see panicky ODM supporters all around. It has taken only a month and the lead has evaporated.

President Mwai Kibaki has been unable to build a viable functioning political party after five years in the highest office in the land. Should the country feel sorry for him for that failure? I don't think so. In fact I think it is his greatest failure as one of the foremost leading Kenyan political figures.

Look at the box again, that is what Kibaki was working on, even as ODM chose to go dancing around the country and the world. Making foolish statements and leaving the clean-up job to others.

I am sure should Kibaki lose the elections, the next government would want to build on that.

There is no evidence of that anywhere, a hope perhaps but no solid leads suggesting ODM could manage a kiosk.

The only stats that eluded Rosemary is the huge chunk of our population sinking deeper into poverty.

You probably have not heard but poverty is down. It would rise to stratospheric levels if ODM got its dictator into State House.

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written by aeichener , November 23, 2007

There is no evidence of that anywhere, a hope perhaps but no solid leads suggesting ODM could manage a kiosk.

Well, I also don't think they could manage it (and they certainly would not *want* to manage it), but they would certainly be glad to buy the kiosk, rent it out to somebody and expect a steady income from it.

As to campaigning and fund-raising: I am not comfortable with rich people exercising their sway over politicans by financing their campaigns, but this is the case in many parts of the world, including and most prominently in the Nation of Gilead. The question is rather: do we want envelopes slipped over and full briefcases left behind the stage (Kenyatta and Moi style), or do prefer to see it in the open and acknowledged, as here?

Alexander

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written by Ruby , November 23, 2007

Where did you hear that poverty is down?
I would like to really know?

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google
written by gichangi , November 23, 2007

Kenya, poverty down as economy grows.
From June government statistics,Per capita income in 2002 was shrinking 2.5% a year, in 2006 it was up 3.3% per year. The Integrated Household Budget Survey indicates that poverty has fallen 20 points from 56.8% in 2000 to 46% in 2006. Rural poverty is down 35 points from 51.5 to 33.7.

Glad to be of service.

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re: google
written by Rabet , November 24, 2007

Kenya, poverty down as economy grows.
From June government statistics,Per capita income in 2002 was shrinking 2.5% a year, in 2006 it was up 3.3% per year. The Integrated Household Budget Survey indicates that poverty has fallen 20 points from 56.8% in 2000 to 46% in 2006. Rural poverty is down 35 points from 51.5 to 33.7.

Glad to be of service.

Thank you for the service but no thank you.

Ati June statistics from the government who the head is KIbaki.

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written by Kamale , November 26, 2007

Rabet,

Even the original figures of 56% poverty came from the same source. There is no reason for the source to fudge figures for political reasons. But I guess in your case, the story MUST stay that Kenyans are poorer than they were in 2002.

Do you have any figures to back you up?

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