Mudavadi warns on increasing debts
Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi has warned about Kenya’s increasing debt, saying it could plunge the country into a financial crisis.
He reminded bureaucrats in the money sector of a similar financial crisis in the early 1990s following the decision of foreign agencies to withhold aid while he served as Finance Minister under theregime of retired President arap Moi.
Speaking on Tuesday night during the launch of his autobiography, Soaring Above the Storms of Passion, the ANC chief said he flew to several world capitals with a begging bowl but he was mostly unwelcome.
Massive debt
“When I speak about our massive debt, I speak with a heavy heart. We hopped from capital to capital but we could not get money.
We were pariahs,” he said at the function presided over by Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel.
Mudavadi recalled his 1993 meeting in Washington with Edward Jaycox, the then Deputy President of the World Bank where he says he was humiliated.
The former Vice-President quoted Jaycox telling him and his delegation from Kenya: “I cannot discuss with looters.
I don’t want to talk to people who have ruined their own economy, now coming here thinking that we can give them more money to go and loot. Get out.”
During the launch, Mudavadi also warned about the choices Kenyans make during elections.
Making decisions
“A lot of things that were kept under the carpet are beginning to emerge in the leadership of this country. People are being asked ‘who did you elect?’ The response is a sad story.
God’s goodwill is beginning to wane on Kenya. Let us make decisions with our heads and not emotions,” he added.
Those at the event included former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Senators Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma), Amos Wako (Busia), Enoch Wambua (Kitui), Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua and former Central Bank of Kenya Governor Micah Cheserem.
Wetang’ula appeared to attack Opposition chief Raila Odinga who has been dismissive of the Mudavadi book which claims that he kept his National Super Alliance co-principals in the dark as he negotiated a peace deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta after the disputed 2017 elections.
The senator accused Raila of betraying his friends. “Musalia is a true friend. He is not like some people who use and abandon friends every turn.”
Karua revealed that she was also working on her memoirs to be released in coming months.
In the tell-it-all memoirs, Mudavadi traces his political career from the time he succeeded his father, Moses Mudavadi, as MP for Sabatia, his development under the wings of Moi, right up to early 2018 when Raila swore himself in as the People’s President.
