Let us do a simple mathematical problem that is the domain of Financial institutions.

If KCB gave you ten thousand but you failed to repay the loan, does it give you another ten thousand hoping you will eventually pay both loans? If you say its Okay for the bank to advance more to the defaulting borrow, your IQ is questionable.

So, why does IMF, World Bank and Western Lenders insist on giving (Assistance) loans disguised as financial aid to Kenya even when the country has not finished repaying previous loans which they very well know never found its way into development projects that would justifying the citizens paying back the same through taxation.

Actually, Kenyans should rise up and say enough is enough, why do we still continue paying back loans we have no clue where it went?

Mars group said:

IMF’s ODIOUS LOANS ARE IMPOVERISHING KENYA THROUGH COLLUSION WITH CORRUPT AGENTS – OPEN LETTER TO THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND FROM THE PARTNERSHIP FOR CHANGE, NAIROBI, JUNE 2, 2009

You must be a journalist who is baiting wazua to get views and opinions for their next piece.
Here is mine. You should first do you research there are several projects of grander scale that were done by the west pre and post colonial period example the railway(pre colonial) and all roads in the post colonial period were more or less built with western aid.
The total amount given by western aid still does not compare to what BRICs have contributed. Now since we have established we are comparing apples and oranges we have to put in perspective what the benovolent donors aim to get.
The western aid has conditions that does not favor our corrupt governments. Fight corruption, democrazy the country etc etc. But that is not to say the BRICs dont have conditions the only difference is the BRICs conditions favour the politicians and not the people. They get cheaper resources, land to grow heir crops, commodities at cheaper rates, employment of their people etc etc.
This brings us to the more important question "which conditions are better for the common man western conditions or the East's conditions?"

Be serious. You are busy complaining about IMF and World bank and you keep on voting in idiots at every election.
You are the problem not the IMF.
How different is it with aid from China. Does the Chinese aid help to reduce corruption???
You arguments are very juvenile.
Which newspaper do you write for??? I'm sure it's the standard!

We are talking about two different things here that both need good governance.

1. Who/where the money comes from, and if the conditions of receiving the money are favorable, long term, to Kenya, and

2. Once the money is received, if it is properly managed and invested in the country.

It is fair to say that past dealings with Western aid and loans, WB and IMF included, have not been on terms favorable to Kenya. There is also a conflict of interest because of past colonialism, which leads to current economic colonialism. This is not to say that the East is an angel, no, they have their own agenda, but so far, there is no prolonged, slanted, abusive bad history, conflict of interest, or known, global conspiracy, so, we should give them a chance to partner with us, and at the same time, strive for good governance. The advantage so far is that we are seeing marked advances in infrastructure that benefits Kenya, when dealing with the East, which we only saw from the West when they themselves were here enjoying it as colonial masters, and even then, only in a very limited capacity. The rails were built for them, by them, not for us.

We should wring more out of this arrangement by demanding that planning, training, and R&D take place in Kenya, by a high percentage of Kenyans for projects meant to be started in Kenya.

For service-based companies that are now beating down the door to get into Kenya, we should require, as the EU does, that all data created in Kenya should be stored in the EAC, and not overseas. It's these kinds of "soft" requirements that get us the necessary training and operational capabilities to support our own business growth. In this case, it would force the creation of strong, stable power, fiber, datacenters, and power infrastructure investments by the multinationals wanting to enter the market.

All this said, remember that "good governance" is not defined by the West. Listening to them one could think that good governance means doing what they say, as they say do it, when in reality, they themselves don't practice it. What I will say that we need is "effective governance"... that is effective at keeping money in Kenya by way of jobs, re-investment, and exports, stoking foreign investment into the Kenyan economy, and providing a progressive, supportive business climate for Kenyan businesses, etc.

To sum up what is wrong with aid:

Just because I am broke this month and need to borrow money from my neighbor, doesn't give him the right to sleep with my wife and beat my kids.

Best,

Hill

Good point and good link.

1. If we don't demand that there be a university set up by the Chinese that teaches Kenyans the technical ins and outs of power generation, turbine manufacturing, and energy and...

2. Don't demand that the parts and pieces be built here in Kenya

...then it's our own fault.

Even with these deals, we should at least be getting trained and process capable, while building the sustaining support industries.

Secondly, one has to appreciate the fact the Chinese aren't prancing around the country with guns, enslaving people, building country clubs, looking down on Kenyans, putting Asians in economic power seats above us, trying to force their language, culture, and government on us, and worse of all, destroying our concept of self-worth and national pride... and then making a movie and museum about it.

Sound familiar, ol' chap?

That said, it's not the West or the East that will save Africa.

Africa will save Africa.

Best,

Hill

The balance of trade (Kenya / China) is terrible.
Happily, it is our fault.


With the west, we can always argue about how had it is to access markets because of stringent regulation, domestic subsidies which make our products less competitive etc. What's our excuse with China?

Did you say your were American?

I have not read your posts. I detest that someone thinks we need to be saved.

WE DON'T.

That kind of thinking is the same that has guys in the slums saying tunaomba serikali.

As usual i think its an idle journalist promoting his articles.

Truth be told the Chinese will want to see Lebron James play, listen to Jay Z, drive a maybach & Speak english. A guy from Singapore would love to see Rooney play & buy part of his team. An Indian academic dreams of working in the US while an Indian actor/actress dreams of appearing on a Hollywood flick. A South African wants to listen to Beyonce & drive a merc. A Brazilian footballer dreams of playing in the EPL, Russian billionaires playground is Britain or the States Abramovich comes to mind. They all dream of the West. A guy once said 'you can try to control people but you cannot control their minds forever.' Its just a matter of time before their masses get fed up with their current systems.

THIS