Economy, Essays, Politics

Sharing The Spoils: The Division Of Revenue Bill 2014

Brenda Wambui

The Division of Revenue Bill (DoRB), 2014 is at the top of the agenda for parliament in their next couple of sittings, and as such, it is in form to explore its implications.

This bill is the first step in our annual budgeting cycle, and is particularly important as it should work to ensure the success of devolution through adequate allocations to county governments. The revenue is based on the government’s 2011/12 audited revenue, which comes to KES 682.1 billion.

This debate, as with many others, has become overtaken by debates fuelled by supremacy battles between national and county governments. … Read More

Essays, Politics, Security, Socio-cultural

Footnotes On Death

Brenda Wambui

In our sometimes unfortunate journey through this planet, we must experience death. We experience the death of loved ones, unloved ones, and ultimately, our own deaths.

I rarely meditate on the meaning of many of life’s phenomena – I like to joke that I have the emotional depth of a banana – but this week, death has really been with me. Michael Onsando has written extensively on killing (here, here and here), more than I ever will. Still, we have barely touched on death here, and with what has happened this week, it is necessary.

*

I … Read More

Arts, Essays, Gender, Media, Sexuality

Discovering Women

Brenda Wambui

I used to be a boys’ girl. The type of girl who said things like “I have more guy pals than girl pals. In fact, over 90% of my pals are guys. I prefer guys to girls cause guys don’t have drama. They don’t waste time discussing non-issues like nail polish, shopping and guys. They don’t gossip (false!), and they discuss real things, like sports. Guys are chill, not dramatic like women.”

I cringe every time I remember those days. I remember once even joking with a friend of mine about being an honorary member of “the boys” to which … Read More

Arts, Essays, Politics, Religion, Socio-cultural

I Have Seen The Devil

Brenda Wambui

This is what he looks like.

At least that is what some people in Kisumu think he looks like. The Sikh community in the area put up the monument, depicting a praying person (I fail to understand art many times, but this time the meaning of this piece failed to escape me), to commemorate 100 years since they built their temple in Kisumu.

Instead of the warmth and harmony the Sikhs may have imagined the monument would bring in the area, it brought about a three-day protest in which it was vandalized. Residents called it satanic, and said it portrayed … Read More

Essays, Gender, Sexuality, Socio-cultural

All Animals Are Equal

Brenda Wambui

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

George Orwell, Animal Farm

Animal Farm satirizes human beings and the nations of the world, specifically the Russian Communist state, using animals. The main message of the book comes out clearly by the end: that power cannot be divided equally – that once power is acquired, it will always be abused – and that it is impossible for everyone to be equal.

The weekend before last, I attended a music festival which many had been anticipating because of its excellent line-up. As expected, the turnout was huge. The … Read More

Africa, Economy, Essays, Politics, Socio-cultural

The EAC Conundrum

Brenda Wambui

The East African Community (EAC), a regional intergovernmental organization, was re-formed in 1999 by the Republic of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Uganda after the collapse of the original EAC in 1977. The Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Burundi became member states in 2007, and South Sudan has expressed interest in joining the community.

Its vision is a prosperous, competitive, secure, stable and politically united East Africa, and its aim is to widen and deepen integration and co-operation among partner states politically, economically, socially and culturally for their mutual benefit. So far, it … Read More

Essays, Politics, Security, Socio-cultural

Nyumba Kumi And Institutional Failure In Kenya

Brenda Wambui

After the Westgate attack of September 2013, Kenyans were forced to perform a post-mortem of the situation, and many questions came up. The one thing that was agreed upon was that the number of institutional failures that led up to the attack was jarring.

The terrorists were said to have rented a shop in the mall, and have transferred ammunition there over a period of time. It was said that some terrorists came in through the Kenya-Somalia border disguised as refugees, and that they registered at Daadab before travelling further south. It was said that one of the terrorists may … Read More

Economy, Essays, Internet, Politics, Socio-cultural

The Revolution Will Be Written In HTML

Brenda Wambui

After the Westgate attack, an American friend who works as a freelance journalist based in Kenya tweeted that he was tired of listening to a government that spouts lies and a nation that was unwilling to question it. To which I responded that several questions were being asked daily, minute by minute even, especially online – all he had to do was check on Twitter. He responded that we can’t change a government via Twitter – that it’s lazy – and we should get our media to ask real questions.

This got me thinking. Countries in Africa, Latin America and … Read More

Economy, Essays, Politics, Socio-cultural

Death By VAT

Brenda Wambui

In 2013, the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act passed by parliament increased the number of taxable goods – by reducing the number of exempt and zero rated goods. The government hopes to raise an additional Sh. 10 billion per month in doing so. The standard rate of VAT remains 16%.

In theory, this is what we should aim for. VAT has several advantages: it covers both goods and services. It is also less risky when it comes to revenue leakage. VAT is self-enforcing – it uses an invoice-based credit mechanism in its administration, which facilitates collection and enforcement; even if … Read More

Essays, Religion, Socio-cultural

God Will Save Us

Brenda Wambui

I was heading to Ngumo from South B sometime last month, and Route 33 matatus were charging Sh. 50, up from the usual Sh. 30. The makanga said it was because of the traffic jam on the South C route; they were going to have to use Mombasa Road. This is more expensive as they have to bribe the police so as not to get arrested for using the wrong route. They also add a little extra for the “added convenience”.

People were visibly shocked; some complained loudly, others sighed and many refused to board the matatu. Being in … Read More