Kenyan Pundit

For the policy wonks, all you ever wanted to know about the 2006/2007 budget (includes links for non-wonks as well).

AOB: What kind of rubbish reporting is this? To think that the parliament press passes are wasted on these guys.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Inspired by Bankelele.

I’m a buy and hold kinda person and unfortunately when I was buying these stocks I was a broke-ass chick who had just discovered this thing could the stock market (nothing much has changed, I’m still broke-ass) and I couldn’t invest as much as I wanted other than this small ka-stash I’d managed to save. At the time everyone thought I was crazy to be buying stocks in Kenya. This was circa 1996-1997 when all indications were that the Kenyan economy was permanently destined for the toilet. Told y’all I am an optimist about the place

1. Kenya Breweries (bought at Kshs 50, when all else fails Kenyans will drink, this was the time when Castle was coming into Kenya big time and people thought it was over for KBL, my broker at the time tried to talk me out of this one…I asked him whether Coke collapsed just because Pepsi showed up…I had the last laugh on this one, especially after the stock split)

2. Kenya Airways (my last purchase at Kshs 7.00, it was the cheapest stock on the exchange and all I could afford)

3. B.A.T (bought at Kshs 45…what can I say, I believe in the power of vice)

4. Stanchart (bought at Kshs 55, I think)

5. Barclays (bought at Kshs 90 and Kshs 120, the most expensive share in my portfolio at the time…they give healthy dividend shares and I’ve been very happy with them since my shares have almost doubled without me doing a thing)

6. East African Portland Cement (used to be the dog in my portfolio for the longest time, I had wanted to buy it at Kshs 15, but my broker dilly-dallyed and I ended up buying at Kshs 22, I was so pissed off at him for buying at more than fifteen bob…but now that the price has hit kshs 122, I ain’t mad no more :-))

Shoulda bought KCB, was at 30 bob for the longest but you couldn’t convince me that the government influenced loans weren’t going to sink it…great comeback story.

Popularity: 9% [?]

* The views that follow are my personal views and do not reflect those of the KNCHR.

Just when I have so much to blog about, there is no time to blog. As I said a few days ago, I’m at the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights for the next few weeks monitoring the campaign, observing the vote, and probably doing post-referendum work. So far my week has been action-packed…when I walked into the office on Monday, it was like I had worked here for years…right back in the swing of things within half an hour….the perks of being back at home - you fit right in, if you land in the right place you get responsibility that would take years to achieve overseas (at least as a young lawyer), you get do work that is meaningful, and you get to have kienyenji and fry for lunch

I’m in a rush so this is kinda haphazard….

First, I know a lot of you have been looking for a credible source of news and information on the referendum. Now you have it.

Second, whoever is running the NO campaign is on point. Supposedly it’s this guy called Atul who is based in London who also worked on the NARC campaign in 2002 and is closely tied to Raila. They had an ad on T.V. last night that was deadly and their ground game/PR is much better run than the . The ad pointed out the inconsistencies between Murungi’s opinion on the constitution when he was in the opposition and his about turn once he got into power using actual TV clips and asking a simple question, “What has changed?” then added the tag “absolute power corrupts.” I guess you’d have to see it to get what I am talking about. Although there is a lot of nonsense going on in the campaign rallies, there is some issue-based campaigning going on e.g. with TV debates and more sophisticated TV ads that signals some maturity in the democratic space. Those days of campaigning just by blasting your posters all over the place (and defacing your opponents posters) are long gone.
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Third, Wanjuki Muchemi is supposedly in the running for the A-G’s position. These rumors have been floating around since earlier this year when pressure on Murgor intensified and his job as a DPP made difficult. Some people thought that Murgor was crying wolf, but now it appears that the new DPP, Tobiko, is going through the same thing. According to the grapevine, Wanjuki as A-G would be a disaster…he would make Njonjo look good. My two cents…I wouldn’t be surprised if Wako is gone if the Yes side wins, he’s done whatever dirty work was required of him and since the constitution has become all about power plays, the Yes team would want their own guy to shepherd the process of instrumentalization of the constitution.

Finally, for those who feel that it is impossible to hold our irresponsible leaders accountable, it isn’t. A full list of government officials who have been misusing government vehicles appeared in the press as an ad today and I will be putting it up on the blog shortly (we had to take out a press ad, because we can’t rely on the press for full coverage). The Commission was also in court yesterday bringing two private prosecution cases against Titus Mbathi and George Khaniri. Of course, ever-reliable Wako immediately moved to terminate the case. Despite the nolle, the significance of the two cases cannot be overemphasized. Just seeing the two accused appearing in court for violations that usually occur with impunity was powerful enough…it is important for them to know that their actions are being watched and from now on will be acted upon (incidentally, on KBC news covered the story at 9:00 pm, KTN and NTV didn’t…that surprised me). The fact that the DPP himself and not some state Counsel came to argue the nolle prosequi suggests that the case is being taken very seriously and despite the nolle, the Commission was able to score a small victory when the judge agreed to let us challenge the entry of the nolle prosequi next Tuesday (rarely happens…and it’s going to be a working weekend for me as a result).

Oh, and gossip of the day…Murungaru can’t be sacked because the ‘baks’ kids are implicated in whatever the deal was that’s messed him up, if he goes down he squeals.

OK…back to being a member of the “working nation.”

Popularity: 8% [?]