Economist Ndii under fire after claiming credit for public finance chapter of 2010 Constitution

While touting his expertise at economics, Ndii took to his official X account to lay out several top-level feats he claimed to have achieved and had been the architect of while serving in different capacities in past and present governments.

In his usual boastful manner, Ndii claimed to have authored key documents like the 2003 Economic Recovery Strategy (NARC era), Raila’s 2017 NASA manifesto, President William Ruto’s 2022 “The Plan,” and Chapter 12 (Public Finance) of the 2010 Constitution.

"I wrote the Economic Recovery Strategy(ERS) for NARC 2003, NASA manifesto for Raila 2017, and The Plan for Ruto2022. I also wrote Chapter 12 of CoK 2010. Same ideas in all of them. My ideas have been shaping Kenya for 3 decades. I don’t follow politicians, they look for me," Ndii boasted. 

While some of what he stated may have been truthful, many experts blasted him for the Chapter 12 of the Constitution claim, explicitly rebuking him for the obvious lie and sharing tangible data to dispel the distorted claim.

First to fire the salvos was former Makueni governor and constitutional law expert Kivutha Kibwana who wasted no time in calling out the president's adviser and demolishing his falsehoods. 

In a pointed rebuke on Wednesday, December 24, Kibwana took issue with Ndii’s assertions, writing: "As an Oxford alumnus, you are seasoned in liberal economics! But @DavidNdii the Kenya Constitution 2010 was a people-driven charter, as the BBI case that you promoted affirmed. How could you then have written Chapter 12? Perhaps in another regime you will be available."

The crux of Kibwana’s criticism, as was that of many others, lay on the adviser’s claims that touched on chapter 12, which establishes the principles, structures, and mechanisms for managing public money at both national and county levels, emphasising transparency, equity, accountability, and public participation.

Not to be left out in the public humiliation of the adviser was Dr. Ekuru Aukot, a man who actually played a significantly crucial role in the drafting of the 2010 constitution and a renowned constitutional expert.

Without getting into details, he simply wrote: "Liar! You wrote zilth in Chapter 12. You came on my invitation to give views, and even then I will reserve my comments. I have the Hansard!" he wrote.

Lawyer Willis Otieno also fired hard, stating, "He thrives on conning Kenyans with Rasputin theories. Lied that he was a mwakenya detainee in an article he authored for SID. Fraud!"

To further spread the injuries, Willis added, "You did not write Chapter Twelve of the Constitution. You did not draft it. You did not shepherd it. You did not even influence its final architecture. You were invited to talk by Dr. Ekuru Aukot like dozens of others who showed up, spoke, and went home. You confuse being in the room with doing the work. That lie only works on people who don’t understand how constitutions are actually made. Showing up is not authorship. Talking is not drafting. Ego is not evidence. You say politicians look for you? hahaha!"

Others even shared a Daily Nation newspaper piece dated October 29, 2009 which clearly outlined every expert involved in the Constitution Review process.

The names include Nzamba Kitonga, Otiende Amollo, Dr. Ekuru Aukot, Amos Wako, Njoki Ndung'u, Atsango Chesoni and others.

David Ndii does not feature anywhere in the newspaper piece. And everyone made sure the world knows about it.

X user Boru Guyo wrote, "You were not a member of the drafting committee, nor did you render any meaningful contribution to the process. Such statements amount to a mischaracterisation of the constitutional record and unfairly usurp the recognition due to the legitimate contributors!"

Another user said: "You guys should read the report from Rwanda about Ndii. They called him arrogant with a condescending attitude towards panel members with no real ideas that could've helped in Rwanda's transformation. Kibaki also said his ideas are akin to that of a first-year economic student."

Still ready for battle, lawyer Willis Otieno punched yet again. This time, even more brutally and with ruthless flair. He wrote: "You manufacture depth the way conmen manufacture miracles ; loud, mystical, and unsupported by truth. One week Rasputin, the next week economics. Always drama, never discipline. You don’t persuade with evidence; you hypnotize with metaphors. You don’t explain policy; you perform mysticism for the gullible. When facts fail you, you retreat into arrogance and call it brilliance."

He added, "You are not feared by serious thinkers. Mr CHAPO DENGU, you are tolerated by politicians because you tell them what they want to hear and confuse the public enough to buy time. A man who lies about prison will lie about poverty. A man who fakes sacrifice will fake solutions!"

As it all unfolded, Kenyans on X followed with ecstatic glee as David Ndii, a man infamous for a bloated ego and pompous assertions, was finally taken down and cut to his size.

One X user said, "I'm happy to see experts finally put this loudmouth to shame. Ndii, your input can't be felt in many sectors of our economy. Millions have been pushed to poverty under your 'strategies'. Having the temerity and audacity to tell us of this as achievements sounds ridiculously wrong. This are personal achievements disguised as national triumphs!"