Open letter to the Government of Kenya: Stop 'fake' empowerment and be true to citizens

By Sebastian Asava

Dear Government of Kenya,

From the way you have been conducting yourselves lately, one thing is very clear: you have money. A lot of it.

You have money to pour millions into “empowerment programs.”

You have money to do all that you want but not what we want.

You have money to now plan compensation for victims of the protests.

In fact, you have so much money that you can issue “shoot-to-kill” orders during protests, and after the burials, arrive at the grieving homes with cheques in hand as if blood money can wash away the pain. That is proof enough that, in the wrong hands, money can be a dangerous tool.

But here’s the burning question: why don’t you allow that same money to truly reach us?

Why don’t you want ordinary Kenyans to interact with it?

Why don’t you work to lower the cost of living so we can have money left in our pockets after basic expenses?

Why don’t you create enough real opportunities so we can earn our own money with dignity?

Why don’t you settle our national debts so we can free up resources for genuine development?

Why don’t you make education free at all levels so we can equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills to grow and manage that money when we finally interact with it?

You have shown that the money exists. You have also shown that you can move mountains when it suits your political goals. But when it comes to investing in the everyday Kenyan, the urgency evaporates.

We are not asking for handouts. We are asking for fairness. For a government that understands that prosperity is not measured by what you keep in State House accounts, but by what you allow to flow into the pockets and lives of the people you claim to serve.

If you truly want to be remembered as a government of the people, then let the people feel the weight of your resources not just the weight of your taxes.

Signed,

A Citizen Tired of Watching You Count Money We Can’t Touch.