Friday, August 21, 2015 THE RICH DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE POOR, AND THAT IS THE SOCIETY WE ARE CREATING

By MAINA KIAI
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It is perplexing that in all the political wrangles in Kenya, there is scarce debate or ideas — from Cord or Jubilee — on how to fix the enormous income inequality gap, which surely sets the stage for social upheaval, dangerous populism or revolution.

We have one of the highest gaps between the rich and poor in the world — joining South Africa, Brazil, USA and Nigeria. The recent estimates on global population growth should give us even more reason to worry.

We have had good economic growth since 2003. But for the majority, this growth has not been felt. Oh they see it for sure, for who can miss the brand new cars, fancy restaurants and hotels, and the incredible real estate boom that has new flats and houses rising faster than you can believe.

But consider how an askari — and there are more than 200,000 of them — survives in Nairobi making about Sh8,000 per month. A room in a high-density area (or slum) goes for Sh3,000 per month; transport to and from work is at least Sh3,000 a month; and food for one at about Sh3,000 a month.

And he still needs to send money to the village for his family, have some cash for medicine and healthcare, school fees to pay, clothes and emergency expenses such as funerals.

BLAMED FOR BEING POOR

Part of the problem is the attitudes of middle class Kenyans which permeates the decision-makers that are our politicians and State officials.

A few years ago, I facilitated a group discussion with young middle class Kenyans. One of the most shocking things was the general sentiment expressed that essentially blamed the poor for being poor, insinuating that the poor were lazy and lacked ambition.

The group insisted that if they themselves had managed to “make it” then anyone could, too, blissfully ignoring the fact that they probably had had a good education, money for fees and food, and often a stable environment with an educated parent or relative as a role model.

For poverty is not just about monetary issues: it is also about lack of parental guidance as parents search for food; it is about lack of privacy with everyone living in one room; it is about alcoholism and the violence it breeds; it is about simple illnesses being left untreated and thus debilitating children; it is about the lack of role models. And it is about the fact that attending schools that do not provide a meal a day is torture.

Yet our policy makers care only about themselves. Sometime ago, Advocate Paul Mwangi wrote an incisive piece in the Daily Nation outlining the numerous ways of “eating” taxpayer’s funds that is rife in the public service, from airtime of about Sh27,000 per month, to per diems that make public officials in rich countries like Sweden, Norway and USA blush with embarrassment.

We have the best paid politicians in the world who also get a rich pension for life after “eating” for one term, so they can continue their eating after losing elections!

INCREASE PAY

And it does not help when the President is also a businessman. Almost lost in the political heat about the Uganda-Kenya sugar deal, is that Uganda agreed to open up to Kenyan dairy products.

That basically translates to access for Brookside Dairies — mostly owned by the Kenyatta family — given its dominant and ever growing position in the dairy industry.

So did Uhuru Kenyatta negotiate the deal with Uganda as a businessman or as a State official?

Business has a role to play here. It should increase the pay of its employees especially at the bottom ranks rather than focus on shareholder profits only. It is in its interests, for a well-paid stable workforce is more productive, leading to a win-win scenario.

Or they could face a similar situation as France where the very rich are being taxed at 70-80 percent!

Or even more — and more strident — social upheavals than we are currently seeing with strikes every month.

mkiai2000@yahoo.com