Kibaki has given himself retirement gifts as if he was some Mandela like Statesman. This is a man who led Kenya for 10 years and never addressed corruption, never reduced unemployment and actually worsened tribalism and crime spiralled during his reign. . This is a man who inherited a Kenya that was united behind him and ended up turning Kenyans into bitter enemies. This is a man who is mostly responsible for PEV 2007.

And its not like he and his family needs it. He already became supremely wealthy during his days as finance minister in the 1970s. He has already amassed so much land. Only the Kenyatta and Moi families have more land than Kibaki. But somehow he saw it fit to take such huge perks in retirement. Most people with a conscience could not sleep at night. But clearly Kibaki lacks a conscience
Once again all I can do is smile at the situation and shake my head, .

@murchr what do you about in @tycho's? That you support the extravagance of the 'palace'? The more I read your replies to @alba I wonder if you're trying water down his point. Or is it a case of "don't mention our man", just like I've not seen you condemn successor's extravagance.

@tycho the point was why did we have to spent millions on a house when we've all other problems as mentioned by @alba. Don't argue for sake of arguing.

You are dead wrong:

1. Poorly equipped and outnumbered police force emboldens criminals. There is one police station serving all of Kibera a slum with 500,000 people. No wonder criminals are so brazen.

You can make Nairobi safer by via more street lights , more police stations and police posts, CCTV cameras, more police patrols, better trained policemen, databases to track criminals etc. In some cases policemen do not even have petrol to go after thieves.

2. Every responsible government builds low cost housing, be it the USA or UK or wherever.

It is laughable for you to say all they need is confidence to build their own homes. You must be one of those that was born with a silver spoon. Most Kenyan middle class types cant even build their own homes and you think slum dwellers can build homes ? Reality please !

3. Serikali is not the source of all good things. But it must get its priorities right.

Instead of palatial homes, why not build better infrastructure to enhance economic activity ? So much Productivity is lost in constant traffic jams. So much productivity is lost due to power outages.

Why not invest in making Kenya more secure ? This will bring more tourists.

Why not build social halls , basketball courts, football fields for the youth ? This will keep them busy and away from crime. Some of them might become good enough to earn a living from sports.

The colonial masters saw it fit to build housing for the poor and football fields for the youth. And even social halls. Kenya's best boxers were products of social halls like Muthurwa aka Dallas. Now such social hall are grabbed by bigwigs and Kenya is no longer good at boxing.

Virtually all the stadiums and football grounds in Kenya were built by the colonialists. The only exceptions are Nyayo and Kasarani. Sports can be a good source of revenue and employment. Yet instead of building sports facilities were are building palatial homes.

How is it possible that the colonial masters were kinder to Kenyans than our own leaders ?

What do you mean by 'we have problems'? If you have a problem you find a political solution to it. Kibaki gets what he wants or needs because he can exact it. The poor languish because they have no power.

And don't start patronizing me as if I don't know what am talking about. You and your dead opposition.