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.

The money is never intended at any time to be managed and invested in the country. The Wazungus use the elitist African governments to swindle their own citizens in the name of donor funding but the money is channeled back to Politicians running the government. Citizens of Kenya then pay back the same loan via Taxation. That is what many anti IMF Aid matrix have never realised. That is how the Westerners sucks us dry

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

erifloss, the Western citizens will also get fed up with their systems

I am appalled by this kind of thinking!! Why do we need anyone to save us? Over 200 years post slaverly and 43 years post colonialism, we are debating who is a "better" slave master?

I think Kenyans need to kill this mentality and believe in themselves more. It needs to start at an early age. We subconsciously teach our children to become slaves right from birth. Our names, school system, food, our hair , religion and language all glorify the white man. How then are our children supposed to shed this slave mentality? How are they expected to believe nothing is immpossible?

East or west cannot save us, only we can save ourselves. And more importantly Jesus or religion will not save anyone!! One must make a choice, to have a better life or wallow in poverty.