Head of Civil Service Muthaura may very well wish to ingratiate himself to his bosses for the sake of securing a safe, and perhaps, lucrative retirement. But for anyone who still doubts, this is confirmation that the man considers himself a part of some untouchable ‘ruler class’ that manages the nation’s resources like personal property. And he thinks that all he has to do to sanitize this theft is mask it behind a thin veneer of ‘government decision’. He therefore states that “The government has taken cognizance of the critical role of the spouses of the VP and PM in projecting a positive image of our nation’s family values.”
Who, for purposes of this directive, is the ‘government’? If Muthaura and his co-conspirators want to buy or retain the support of the VP or PM, they should do so from their political ‘war chests’ instead of burdening citizens with additional expenditures that cannot even begin to add value to the nation’s image.
In any case, there is already an entertainment budget and civil service staff to host guests for the VP/PM in their public functions. The VP’s and PM’s official residences are also staffed by the government and the two men earn hefty entertainment allowances. The two could ask for an increment if they feel that the allowances are not enough. Whatever other activities their spouses are engaged in for the “public good” are and should remain voluntary. That is what gives them value. Otherwise they are under no obligation to engage in them and no one will hold it against them or their husbands if they did not.
One hopes that when parliament resumes, the legislators will reverse this repugnant directive. Otherwise where will the madness stop? Will the Minister for Foreign affairs seek ambassadorial recognition and allowances for his spouse who “projects a positive image” when accompanying him abroad? Won’t the Chief Justice demand a Judge’s allowances for his spouse who engages his colleagues in learned banter when they visit? And a Mayoral chain for His Worship’s spouse who cooks for the city fathers occasionally? How about Assistant Commissioner’s rank for the Police Commissioner’s spouse?
Unless they are accomplices in this theft, the two gracious ladies need to move fast to reject Muthaura’s duplicitous offer that will most certainly dent their reputation amongst right thinking citizens.
Projecting positive family values are the responsibility of every family and no one can pretend to be the bench mark or the national representative. Certainly, family values cannot be paid for, so that any family that allows itself to be valued at about Ksh 400,000 is decidedly very cheap and not worth emulating.
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4 Comments:
If they are all claiming, pls tell them I need a budget to run my blog.
And this is a firstie.
Maua next up is Mudavadi and Uhuru's wives too. Si they also need to project a positive image of our family values ama?
I can understand the anger. But read this
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7581172.stm
My point of concern: But Eugene Wamalwa, an MP and brother for former Vice-President Micheal Kijana Wamalwa, says the tax-payer is already over-burdened and the allowances are uncalled for. "The prime minister and vice-president attract one of the highest salaries in the world and that will be sufficient for couples," Mr Wamalwa said.
Eugene Wamalwa? Didn't we *(taxpayers) buy that house for his brother's widow?
"The decision to offset the late Wamalwa’s debts was reached during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Kibaki at State House, Nairobi on Monday. The debts include balance of the purchase of his family home in Karen, Nairobi and for buying an extra 10 acres of land next to the late Wamalwa’s Kitale home."
Hlumiti, I agree with you this is just theft! Next time, when I look for a new job I will ask my boss to give my spouse an allowance and see how well he takes it, coz even the rest of us have spouses!
I hope when the public's outcry on this matter is finished and the right thing has been done. Madam statehouse allowance can be reviewed, even that one does not deserve to get anything! Speaking of which when was the last time we saw that lady? and our 500,000 keeps being channeled into her account, what a shame!!
Our Kid you know how hyprocritical politicians are....the whole lot of them!!
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