President Uhuru Kenyatta has refuted claims that his government is trying to force some sectors within the Big Four Agenda on people.
“We are not forcing agendas on people but we are in talks so that we can present the ideas for them to contemplate on them. New programs suffer misgivings and clarity but let those who are not sure about the agenda speak out and tell us their fears, all we are encouraging a saving culture versus spending culture,’ he said.
Uhuru said, for instance, there has been a lot of misinformation on the 1.5 per cent contribution towards the affordable housing.
“I want to assure Kenyans that this is not about tax as it has been meant but saving and a contribution towards owning a house,” he said.
But are you in any way concerned with the growing rate of foreign loans borrowing by the state? Will China take the Mombasa port should Kenya fail to repay its loans?
Uhuru further refuted claims that the Chinese government was planning to take the Port of Mombasa if Kenya fails to pay its loans.
“The issue of the take over of Mombasa Port by China is pure propaganda. We are ahead of our payment schedule for the SGR loan and there is no cause of alarm,” Uhuru said.
Do you think the government will stop borrowing? Well, not any time soon! The president said though there has been public outrage and concerns about Chinese lending, his government will continue to borrow.
“We must appreciate where we are. All these issues are just a chicken in the egg. We are borrowing to handle the huge infrastructure deficit. It is not about incurring debt but how we use it,” he said.
Uhuru said it is not only China that is lending its money to Kenya but also Japan, France, Germany and America.
“China is not seeking to colonise us but they understand us to our point of need. By matter of fact we are ahead of the payment schedule and so Kenyans must ignore any propaganda being peddled. I will continue to borrow but develop,” Uhuru said.