 Well, welcome back. As always, this is still why in the morning. Thank you so much for sticking with us You just time for the next discussion of the day and it's all about youth and politics today right here on why in the morning My name is Ram Aguco. It's a pleasure being with you today on this fine Monday morning on this third day of October 2022 a lot is taking place in the country and we want to take a look at some of these issues and put them into Perspective now even as we do that I have with me a copy of The people daily and this is the paper that we shall just highlight today as we take a look at what is a trending on This particular paper just a few stories that are there and Even as you talk about this to my far right. I am with Joshua Corril She I mean he is a youth policy analyst, thank you. Thank you. Are you feeling good? Thank you, santa santa and next to him. I'm with Annie. She was she is a Strategy and finance Consultant thank you so much for having me. I feeling very great Thank you so much for finding time to join me and of course I value your feedback Wherever you are watching us from being be part of this discussion even as we start one matters concerning you and The nation and on the front page of the people daily K a raise in limbo of a state house role And this is the one this is what we are going to start with Because as we speak today To directly from president William Ruto and his deputy regarding a shagua have left the care raise hands tied in the war against counterfeits and tax evasion One senior care a official told the people daily that the agency is no longer pursuing new cases of tax cheats and deals in counterfeit as they await clear directions from the executive and of course So they say that carry has slowed down on the crack down And at present and presently is only pursuing active court cases What does this mean for the economy because this has left the door wide open for illegal imports that deny Kenya much needed tax and We have this fear of upset in the president hand. He's deputy. Let me start with you And what do you think about this particular issue now the carries in limbo? Well surprising enough, we are looking at a fight between two Entities we're looking at the local market and you're looking at the people who are bringing in goods Which we are calling the export market. Yeah. Now. What happens is that? The people who are buying and manufacturing local they are going to have competition Because they will be competing with goods that are counterfeit goods that people probably they have gotten into the market Using the illegal ways goods that probably are even cheaper than what the local market will be selling at So what that means to a local trader or what that means to our economy is that we will forsake the local Manufactured good for the sake of the import, which are a bit cheaper But for K array what that also means is that there will be a reduction in revenue collection Because remember these goods are getting through the back door. These goods are getting through. They're not registered traders They're not legal papers and documentation to have the goods in the market So they cannot actually go after them to collect taxes So we are looking at the reduction of revenue and also competition of the local market And I'm looking at these affecting the economy the long term How bad can it go? At the end of the day, we need money to come in to the country. We need money to to bring our revenue up This doesn't seem to be doing that Everybody knows that the biggest revenue how the government gets money is through tax Mm-hmm and definitely if there are no streamlined processes and structure to allow us collect that tax That means we are looking at Eventually a year in year out reducing our tax collection So the impact will definitely be hard because the revenue will be reduced But when you look at if there are other ways this because if it calls upon Promoting the local economy. It doesn't mean that they're not traders in the local economy who can legally put up their businesses And who can legally pay taxes to avoid this gap? Yeah, so I would think the much of the attention will be focused on the local economy to allow them register So that they can legally pay the the taxes and let them run the con let them let them run their businesses What I'm talking about is if you look at case in point The local businesses that are operating in Kenya, they could be doing well, but the environment is not conducive for them So what does that mean that they're also going to reduce in terms of evading and paying taxes? They would prefer not to have the licenses others will be trading with all their licenses That is reduction of revenue to the government The others who probably would prefer Not to register legally run a business entity a business name a corporate name These are sources that they are denying the government in terms of revenue collection And eventually as you have said in the long term is a reduction of revenue collection for the government And I'm looking at counterfeits You've you've mentioned that and the amount in terms of billions We're looking at a hundred that can I say to lose annually to counterfeit Let me come to you Joshua. What are your thoughts on this and do you agree that Anne has said Are we going to see the economy going down? Remember one pillar that the president and his deputy was using during the campaign was the bottom up economy They were talking about economic development. Does this promote that particular agenda? No to start with you know, Anne is a business expert So she looks at it from the standpoint of being a business expert I'm a political scientist. So I look at it from from the point of politics and everything around it For starters in the past a gym The excuse of calling The commodities of businessmen and the entrepreneurs counterfeit was an excuse for those close to power to make sure that They kill other businesses and that they also control the business So in as much as I don't stand for the idea of having counterfeit goods in our markets But it's it's necessary for us now to ensure that Things are put on hold And we wait for the carrier reform because you remember when the president was in parliament He proposed that a kenya revenue authority be reformed to kenya revenue services to make it friendlier To people who are doing business. So I think it is necessary for us to Take it slow Wait and see wait for the reforms so that as um As the reforms go on we're going to see the white from the black We're going to know Which are the counterfeit goods and which are not because as at now, there's a thin line We don't we don't understand whether they are really counterfeit or there's someone in there who was running that business Who called it counterfeit so that they can have space for their own for their own good to come in You're talking about politics and I'm looking at at Two instances here the the president and the dp what they individually what they were talking about The president said this presidential said and I quote that we have already agreed with them That's the carrier that they will have decorum and respect and we will plan together with them So that every canon pays their tax End of quote now looking at a few days later The dp gashagua He was in mombasa And he told the k array to adopt friendly ways of dealing with tax disputes and he Accused the jubilee administration Who's of course? It's now over it ended He accused it of using state agencies like k array to create a toxic environment for businesses through unnecessary crackdowns And now you're seeing crackdowns being reduced They have gone to court cases. They have gone to court cases And at least now that we have a new regime we can We can start re-looking at a lot of the things that were that were being done during the jubilee government And uh to add on to what she said we also live in a country where it's very expensive to set up business So people will will tend to use the back door to ensure that they make something for themselves So we'll have a lot of illegal business and counterfeits So on that again, uh, I I support her in saying It's good that we look at the counterfeit But before you go ahead and look at what is counterfeit from what is not We have to make sure we are doing the right thing so that we don't punish people who are being Wrongfully accused of being counterfeit traders when they actually just Interpreenders who are so do you agree with the the dp when he said that uh the previous regime was using agencies like kre to Create a very toxic environment for businesses Yes And I believe we are we are not visitors in kanya. We understand what happened Like in the run up to the general election. All right. Let me come to you. You're close on that Every every ecosystem has partners and the business ecosystem the biggest partner is kre but apparently That has not been the narrative on the ground Every business operator has seen kre as somebody who is after to kill my business kre had created a very harsh environment, especially for sms to trade In terms of how they collect their taxes. They instill a lot of fear So you will find a lot of sms. They have learned The act of having two books. What do I mean? There's a book that they give to the kre and there's a book that they actually show this is a reality that is on the ground Why the sms doing this? It's because should you expose all your income? Should you expose what you're getting even as little as it is? I am telling you kre will come knocking your door It doesn't mean that we are doing this to hide and not to trade in the in the legal way It's only that they have created what the dp has called unfriendly environment We're supposed to be partners. We're supposed to be stakeholders in your business We're supposed to create a conducive environment for you. But what have we done? We have created an animal to come and milk money from your business So do you think that uh now that we're seeing uh kre is activity going uh Down low Now they are concentrating on case on court cases. Do you believe that now businesses will come up? bottom up They want jiku the hustlers will be able to promote their businesses Let me for the business to promote. There's a lot of things that must come into play Just besides the kre there's a lot of things that does this play a big role It will play a big role especially if they put on the garment of we are friends We are partnering with you and it comes to business It will play a very big role because the SME will be able to disclose This is my business. This is what I get and also they also look at how can we help in terms of the the taxes How do we help and not kill your businesses? What tax regimes are necessary? What tax planning measures can we put in place so that we don't kill you? So it will help in a very big way and there are other elements that we are looking at in terms of growing What we are calling the bottom up approach besides kre let's look at even remember this SMEs who are trading little have access to finance A lot of them are talking I cannot access finance. I don't have collateral I cannot access finance because they find me risky. I cannot access working capital So what does that mean? They're not be able to operate and not be able to buy machineries So it's a couple of other things besides the kre that will also lift up the bottom the bottom up economy On financing Kenya Kwanzaa's plan has the hustler fund within it And I think it's an ingenious idea to ensure that we have The people at the bottom of the pyramid accessing Financing that is not punitive Because we can use an example of a mamboga Who wants to expand her business or want wants to buy stock? She'll have to go to the silo because banks do not have the systems to give loans to To to search people in the society So they go to a silo Then the silo could give them 1000 shillings at the end of the day. They're supposed to pay 1100 That is 10 per cent per day Every other to be 3640 percent. It is not sustainable. And as the president has said before It is important that we look at these people at the bottom of the pyramid because they are the majority And I know with the coming of hustler fund it means lives are going to be transformed because Nobody grows up saying when I grow up I want to be a mamboga Or maybe the only business I want to do is to sell vegetables or to do border border So access to good to to credit that is Flexible for them Will ensure that maybe a mamboga somewhere who has a dream of owning a shop that sells utensils Or maybe import something or maybe someone who is saving clothes and wants to start designing will have access To get the money so that they can expand their business So I believe the hustler fund is going to transform Businesses and even apart from them getting the loans also going to transform what they do from Let's say they can bring the ideas to to fruition. All right. I want us to move here to to another thing But of course, um, I welcome you from wherever you're watching us from to engage with us We are looking at one of the most recent raids that was contacted by the kre in aki river and Thika. This was earlier on in in august Before the new government took over You know, we have seen so many raids done by kre high value products such as alcohol ethanol cigarettes petroleum products motorcycles and many motor vehicles vehicle parts Atop of the least of the most smuggled goods that kre has seized in the recent past What are your thoughts in regards to this particular action by government? Towards kre remember sources say that kre has slowed down on crackdowns That it has and are presently only pursuing active court cases Is this Something that you support engage with us the hashtag is why in the morning? At trauma, which is my handle and at y254 the official session handle I want us to move on to to yet another issue. The president was in homer bay Bold move though After winning the election He yesterday was returning to Railroad dingers backyard This is now 11 months after his Motorcade was stoned Remember it was at that same same place. And of course, this is him promising to liberate the region from poverty The the president ruto also accompanied by his The cs to mini for information and ic t lido wallo attended A church service in homer bay before addressing peaceful crowds at the main terminals The president asks opposition leaders in yams to work with him to fulfill his development agenda Still on you josh. What do you think about this move by president to you know go and even Come at homer bay. I was looking at what he did when he was addressing the residents A crowd After the church service That he took that took place at the ic in homer bay giving so many promises. What do you think about that move? I think it was a move that was necessary It is a move that is it's a sign of goodwill and commitment Because now that he's president. He's a president of all canyons Those who voted for him and those who did not And it being one of the very first trips he has made As a president it it shows signs of a man who is committed to serving all canyons A man who who looks beyond the political rhetorics of regions and tribe and all that So I believe it's a good sign and we saw when he was in homer bay He had their their their development agenda at hand. He understood the roads being built He understood he understood the needed water. He talked about cotton And and everything that the people of homer bay want in terms of development Because now canyons are moving away from looking at a leader from a point of this is from my region. I'm from my tribe Kenyons are looking at leaders In terms of their agenda and and their performance because in five years Kenyons will have a marking scheme and they will say president ruto. You promised us this You have fulfilled this. Maybe you haven't been able to do this and what are the reasons So it is important that he goes there and he also takes development to them Because in the past we we we come from a history of if you're not in government, you don't you don't get development You you're out in the cold and I think it was a smart move And it was it it shows maturity in leadership And it's a very good thing And I'm looking at this move still It was in kondelle The last time the Ruto went to Area It wasn't that pleasant, but this time around it was a bit peaceful. Um, I don't what do you make of that? But just also to add on to what he said, uh, I'm looking at the president visit like uh, and using the analogy over ceo You have different branches that you need to visit for the success of the organization And you would want to leave a legacy So you will not be limited to the branches that you have a liking for you will tend to spread your uh, your influence Spread your leadership cutting across because every branch will have Ultimately is going to produce to the success of the organization So for him he is entitled to move around in the different parts of the country because he's a president And uh, as he has said is a president whether you voted him or not So he has a mandate when it comes to moving and also when it comes to Influencing the development in every particular region But as the question that you have asked, uh, what do you think about the kind of piece the reception that he received in different places? Yeah, uh, I think now slowly we are maturing During the political or the campaign season. It was a bit heated I was also on the campaign trail and I remember you vied for a seat. Yes Yes, I was vied for the kikuyu ward Mca seat And as the only woman on the ballot paper and I can tell you the kind of perception the kind of reception During the campaign season It's very hostile very hostile That is a point where Wanjiko knows that I am entitled and the next time I'm going to see these people Will be five years. So I must stamp my authority now So, uh, but you find after you have gotten into office the story changes People want to work with you. Everybody's looking for a meeting with the president every group every every organization Every entity is trying to look for meeting with the president The hostility that was there before now changes because we recognize there's somebody in office Somebody that we must work with but there prior it was more like a competition So we must show we must stamp our authority because you have come to our territory and I think this narrative in terms of the hostility the perception of the Wanjiko Should not be something that is seasonal. It should be something when it comes to Having a neutral Campaign period when it comes to the reception of the people should be we are friends It I'm not being you that you're coming to me after five years. I will not see you anymore We need to look like we are partnering in this journey So I need to to actually receive you in a way that is who allow us to start working together But for it to change It requires a lot of education and it comes to citizen Participation and citizen education around campaign around your right around your involvement in politics around your demands As a writer as a citizen the need for that education I love what you said because the president said this and I quote I want to thank the people of nyamsa for the peace they demonstrated During and after elections. I promise to work closely with your elected leaders to implement the economic plans We have for the region means now we are seeing a developing nation a developing or a growing democracy You believe so? Yes, we have a long way to go, but I believe that we have the goodwill Kenyans are tired of playing the kind of static politics that we used to play the kind of hostility Now we are playing politics based on agenda Not based on region based on territory or boundaries, but based on the agenda So there is a change when it comes to our democratic space and when it comes to our involvement Yes Your thoughts. Some leaders were absent In this meeting and it brought in some conversation and these leaders included the governor For home abate, but she tweeted and she said that I am out of the country on official duty And will therefore be unable to join president the president for the church Service and have communicated the same to the head of state That is what she tweeted people complained about about about You know Wanga's absence in this particular Region I mean session on on on Sunday yesterday. What do you think about that? Well, it's it's very It's a very thin line the president is touring your place And I expect you to come and receive me But I love her honesty in terms of saying that She said that she's away on official duties and She wished the president a very good visit in her region But generally it I think it's an issue of you know the itinerary of the president Doesn't come as a surprise that you'll be visiting my area And I'm sure that had already been communicated and plans had should have already been prepared Who is going to receive the head of state You don't you don't expect the head of state to come visit your region and you send junior officers Or you're also missing in action because he doesn't do this every day visit into your region But uh, let me let me just cast the the benefit of doubt probably the itinerary was not shared in time And that's why she was not present Some will say that they never knew about the Dps the president's visit until late in the evening on on Saturday like the the member of parliament That was there He said that he this is this is for MP opondo kaluma. He said he was he was not even aware about it That's a that's a question of now the communication department When it comes to the the department that lies the the the logistics and the travel of the president Probably if they didn't share out then who is to be blamed? It's a question of do we believe the mp? Do we believe what the communication department said? But I think over and above that we are looking at A head of state and we are looking at not having improved to visit I doubt whether a head of state can have improved to visit. All right, Joshua Yeah, I think Saying they did not know is a lie they're just playing politics with with the whole visit of the president And I think we should not sacrifice development on the altar of loyalty Because as you understand how how politics works within yanza is that you have to be Loyal to one person if you seem to be with the opponent then you're a traitor All right, so I think what they're doing is to ensure that they maintain their political influence Because we understand their party leader is pretty powerful in yanza But it is not right for them to sacrifice development On the altar of being loyal or not not being aligned with one person Because at the end of the day, this is development that is coming to the people of homa b everybody wins I'm looking at what you've said development Um, for instance, uh, ruta said that the government will commission a mega project for constructing 5,000 low-cost houses 5,000 low-cost houses And this is the project that is said will be done in phases from november in which 400 houses will be built The second phase will see 2000 houses being constructed next year And he said and I call that I will be back to homa b next month To launch the first phase of the low-cost houses construction project and that we are also going to improve The seawallage system and the water plant in homa bay to make that homa bay a better place He pledged that he has been his administration will complete over 200 200 kilometers that was started by uhuru's government. He talked about building Uh, developing roads. We are looking at them beta Kiyabuya magunga. Sorry road. We are looking at Uh, uh, the road that moves from uh, Pala, Kadienge, Kad-Kadel road that is in Karachuono constituency. We are looking at Junction Karabok Adiedo road to that that is in Kasipul. All these promises they promised that were promised by the president Will they be achieved? I believe they will. I believe they will because this is a president who has a track record We we can go back in history and look at when he was the minister for agriculture That is the time when the subsidy was introduced and fertilizer was cheap and that is the same same time That the industries of mumia's and zoe and all other sugar industries within western region are performing well So this is a president who has performed before and I have no doubt that now that he's president and has more power We're going to achieve more and if you look at this Development projects for example housing housing is going to create a lot of jobs for the youth in homa b because apart from the people apart from the youth who will be working on the buildings will have The the ones who sell doors will have the ones who sell locks will have wardrobes All kinds of artisans will get jobs from there And I believe it's a good opportunity for the people of homa b and I think 2000 houses because right next year 200 400 that will be built you're looking at a target of 5000 locals houses and the roads I think it's a question of prioritizing And and I like how the dp mentioned yesterday. There's a lot on their plate And it's a question of looking at which one has the highest impact in terms of to the general economy And also looking at they have limited resources so we cannot do everything So we have to face the kind of development that we are talking about And I like that the key aspect that he was talking about we need to prioritize their education the cbc We need to prioritize the fertilizer and the production and the cost of living we need to prioritize So for me the all of them are achievable, but let's prioritize besides prioritization We need to have a An implementation plan when it comes to do we have the right people who are going to drive this agenda Do we have the right team have they bought into the vision? Do they do we have the right structure because they can make this pronouncement? But when you go on the ground, there are no structures to implement this So it becomes an issue So it's possible, but let's put the right system. Let's put the right people and let's prioritize I hope we'll not see the same videos that are turning in the previous regime You remember we will build this stadium here videos those videos that are trending I hope we will not see them this time round Hopefully Hopefully hopefully I want us to move to To just get your thoughts in in this final discussion here We're looking at the national assembly and the Senate that will tomorrow start The official business with the formation of the house business committee set to be the first agenda The both houses will will approve names submitted by the majority and the minority parties or coalitions to form the committee And remember that if the house adopts members to form the The house business committee it will start adjourned It will start adjourned to allow new members to go for a retreat to prepare Wednesday's more Or morning order paper and subsequent days But here members are set to approve names submitted by the majority minority parties or coalition Let me start with you Joshua in regards to this national assembly senate Then my camera houses are going to start the official businesses tomorrow your thoughts My thoughts I think the members of parliament have a lot on their plate And it will only be fair that the priority is the The priority is the needs of Kenyans Because remember even before they were sworn in there were rumors that they wanted more More more money to be paid to them So I think they should Look at Kenyans and the problems we're in right now as a country There's a lot of policy changes that we need to ensure that our economy is all inclusive So they should hit the ground running and ensure that we get what is right and we get value They'll get value for what we give All right The thoughts are now that to house committees are the top of the MP's agenda I think As he has said there is a lot on the plate But it seems like most of the government activities have have been put on hold Because we don't have people Listened yesterday to the DP saying that We cannot move because we still have the past regime in the offices So it's like we are waiting for the names to be approved And I'm thinking this will unlock Especially unlocking the development plans that they had for the citizen This will unlock and also even allows the Kenyans to start gauging as they perform it because right now They feel like their hands are tight. They can't move until the names have been approved Besides the names being approved As he has mentioned, it's an issue of also looking at how do we are in the assembly right now? There's a lot of expectation There's a lot of the narrative of the hustler that this is a government that involves everybody There's a lot of expectation we have placed on them and we hope that they're going to rise Above it. Let it not be for their selfish gain. Let it not be it's about me It's about increase of incentive increase of salary, but let it be about growing the economy So we have put a lot of expectation on them in terms of delivering the priority and the promises that they had given to the Kenyans Yeah, thank you so much. That is a what we are expecting. Remember Already the nominated MP John Buddy said the registrar of political parties and the little had clarified The issue and the kenya kwanzaa members should be contented with the minority status What is it that we should be expecting in terms of the house of the house business committee? Remember the the house business committee committee consists of the speaker Who is the chairperson the leader of majority party? The leader of minority party and not less than 21 and not more than 29 members That consists of the house business committee if the house rejects the nominees It will stand adjourned until the speaker notifies members from another sitting which must be at least 12 hours before the sitting This is is what we are expecting to see tomorrow at the national assembly at and of course generally in parliament Where we are looking at the house business committee is said to be the top of our MPs agenda I want us to bring this discussion to a close and not to give you Both of you time to have a final word to talk to kenyans. What would be your parting shot? I will start with you Joshua to talk to your fellow youths In regards to what we have discussed and any other that that comes in your mind. What's your parting shot? My parting shot would be this To my fellow youth I think it's important for for all of us to take part in political processes in the past This past elections. There was a lot of Lack city of the youth to come out and take part in political processes and to vote and to ensure that they have the right leaders So I call upon all youth to ensure that we take part in these processes That we come up with ideas we drive policy change because if we don't do it for ourselves Nobody will if we have these ideas then we have to come forward and make sure that we're the ones pushing them So apart from that, I have nothing else to say. There's a lot of hope and I wish the new government well And I know that they're going to perform And no doubt about it in the next five years as we get to 2027 we'll have transformed greatly So, thank you so much. All right. Thank you so much. Uh, Final word. Yes same as to add what what he has said It's just to call upon the youth to rise up. Let our voice be heard as youth Uh, I remember during the campaign trail They and also during the campaign period the youth did not come out to vote The youth were not involved. The youth just sat back and say, let's wait and see Mine is to encourage you that you have a critical role to play when it comes to the development of the area The other issue is about the unemployment. I can tell you during the campaign trail The cry that was on the ground was about unemployment. I would like to encourage the youth It's not about the blue collar job There is a lot of creativity and a lot of innovation that is on the ground All that we need to do is to harness it. What do I mean to harness? You need to have the right people the right mentor to guide you and to hold you You don't need even a lot of money. You just need the connections and the connections I am seeing a lot of platform people willing to guide and mentor the youth So rise up get out don't go into depression because there is a lot of youth who are going into depression Health issue and also issues of alcohol Mine is to reach out to the youth and there is hope, but you must play a part You must play a part in terms of identifying yourself and knowing what do I want out of my life That will be my part in short. That's understand. Thank you so much. And that that is an Xiongwa who is a strategy and finance consultant and Joshua Corril who is a youth policy analyst and you you invite for the mcs seat at Kikui award Hope all is well Apparently I did not clinch the seat But but but I got a good in terms of limelight and people knowing me And a good space because I resonated with the women. I resonated with the young youth And hopefully come the next time I will be given a chance to serve them. Thank you so much Yes, and and Joshua political science students. Yes. Yeah, I understand. Thank you so much for For coming. I appreciate it. Thank you for having us All right, and of course that brings us to the end of this discussion Right here on why in the morning it has been all about mothers concerning youth and politics My name is Rob. Maduka. We are taking a short break. But remember we still have more waiting for you after These short break right here on why in the morning brand circle will be coming up with the next discussion Of the day. May god bless you. May god bless the work of your hands. Let's take a short break. We'll be back in a bit