Money ignites the world and the political scene in Kenya has been hyped.
The unveiling and announcement of the new currency has been clouded with a lot of reactions turning the whole process to be political.
The withdrawal of Ksh. 1000 notes from the market being the main talking point. The Governor of the Central Bank Of Kenya Patrick Njoroge termed the phasing out of the Ksh 1000 notes as a strategy to fight graft in the country.
The normal Mwananchi was given upto 1st October to return the old Ksh 1000 notes. This was a tactic to outsmart the pillow bankers.
But ODM has placed new demands on the phasing out of the Ksh.1000 Notes. According to ODM chairman John Mbadi, The CBK should amend the date of phasing out from 1st October to 1st August.
ODM CHANGES tune, supports new currencies but urge old Sh1,000 notes cease to be legal tender on August 1 not October 1 as set by CBK. pic.twitter.com/MbuEFD5b48
— NationBreakingNews (@NationBreaking) June 4, 2019
The Party has argued that this move will help nab pillow bankers who will be rushing to beat the deadline.
John Mbadi: ODM urges Central Bank to reduce the date of devaluation of Ksh. 1000 note from 1st October to 1st August. #TheDailyBrief. pic.twitter.com/kHDFYY5mvK
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) June 4, 2019
This is the same sentiment which was pronounced by Team Tangatanga who read malice on the role out of the new currency crying foul that they are being targeted.
But ODM has also faulted the role out of the new currency stating that it did follow proper constitutional procedures.
John Mbadi: The party is not calling for recall of the notes that have been issued but the CBK should think of how to phase them out. #TheDailyBrief pic.twitter.com/DnAkeDzema
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) June 4, 2019
Due to the many demands and petitions from people opposed to the new currency role out the High Court has directed the Chief Justice to form a three judge Bench to hear the petition on new currency role out.
High Court has requested CJ Maraga to form a three-judge bench to hear cases seeking to stop issuance of new currency notes. #TheDailyBrief with @SamWNjoroge pic.twitter.com/2mkhAJ6Krh
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) June 4, 2019
But ODM Party is not reading from the same script on the matter of the role out of the new currency. Earlier own Gladys Wanga gave a different opinion on the issue of following of the right constitutional procedures. According Hon Wanga, Jomo Kenyatta statue is a non issue.
Gladys Wanga on KICC portrait: This issue has to be the most frivolous of all arguments; should we go and curve out the founding father’s sculpture out of KICC for it to pass?
Let us not trivialize this debate on the new currency #DayBreak@WaihigaMwaura @Zindzi_K pic.twitter.com/PDRmQX9HJ3
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 4, 2019
This is completely different from what is coming from John Mbadi and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo among other ODM legislatures opposed to the new currency phase out.
Otiende Amollo: The major issue is the image of the new notes; Article 231 is very clear and does not allow anyone’s portrait on the face of the notes or coins.
The new notes show a clear representation of the founding father on all the notes which to me is wrong #DayBreak pic.twitter.com/8Z7nCt3U45
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 3, 2019