New Cabinet: Escrew will screw us even more

 After invoking his discretionary prerogatives, president JPM, recently, unveiled his lean but not clean cabinet. He, though, left many in shock if not dismay especially those whose velleity was not met. Despite all good things such as downsizing the cabinet, there are many questions than answers.  Under our patch-laden constitution, nobody has the power whatsoever to query Mr President’s choices. Again, such prerogatives are a bit dichotomous in that, the citizens, too, have their prerogatives as far as running the business of their hunk is concerned. For, whatever is done is done in their names.

          We congratulate Mr President on taking time to sort out things especially appointing his consigliore that will help him to deliver the hunk or otherwise. We are told –by downsizing the cabinet he saved over twenty billion schillings. This is cool. So, too, by putting a stop to eating seminar that’s supposed to take place in Ngurdoto, he, saved over two billions schillings in this pizzazz. These are cool things to hear. Nonetheless, there’s a contentious issue revolving around the integrity of some figures based on their past experiences.  In spite of all cool things, many’d like to know why some black sheep were retained especially at this time every Bongolalalander believes that Mr JPM means business but not business as usual as it used to be. Tongues are wagging now as to why he appointed some bigwigs allegedly to be connected with Escrow, the scandal that robbed our hunk of billions of Schillings. Arguably, the appointment of such culprits has tarnished Mr President’s image to some extents.

          After the names of the ministers became public, at our pub, boozers had some inputs to chip in. They questioned the rationale of –for instance –retaining Prof Muongoo whereas he’s circumstantially implicated in escrew that seems to be hell-bent to screw us even more. I heard one boozer saying that escrow was bigwigs’ scheme. This boozer who shouts his ideas fearlessly said that escrow is another EPA. For, those who have forgotten EPA, it is a scam that’s engineered by top dogs to raise dosh for campaigning. This is according to boozers not according to me. Another boozer chipped in questioning the rationale of appointing chaps like Billy Lukuwi who’s alleged to have forged his academic credentials without recanting the allegations by Msemakweli Keinerugaba who authored a book on academic rats in the hunk. Another boozer unpacked some points on the creation of ruling dynasties in which big names such as Jan Makambale, Huss Muinyi and Ninaye Mapepe featured high on the list. Another boozer added that –for him –the sanity and hope he’d were dashed by the hidden modus operandi Mr JPM applied to bring back recycled and tainted fellas. He said, “For me, that the sanity I saw in Dr Kanywaji has escaped through the window.” He went on, “How on earth do you bring back recycled figures such as Muongo, Muinyi, Lukuwi among others?” The other boozer chipped in, “Does it mean that Dr Kanywaji doesn't know why Muongo was booted out or that Lukuwi is facing forging allegations while Muinyi proved to be a burden under the former thunderclap?”  He sneezed and went on, “Who wants eating dynasties?” He sneezed once again and went on, “I can smell a rat in this move. This being the situation, I may comfortably urge that all bravado and entertainment in the name of this and that vis-à-vis  purgeing graft will soon become but firefighter stuff if not coke show-offs.” 
         I am not trying to play devil’s advocate. There are bitter realities we must swallow even if we don’t like them. Where did boozers want JPM to get angels from? Did they want him to appoint opponents such as Prof Pumba or Dr Silaha?  JPM’s cabinet speaks to the fact that Chama Cha Maulaji (CCM) is still running the show. So, those who made a goof thinking the guy would overhaul the system have lost it big time so to speak.
     Frankly speaking, sometimes, the system overhauls a person instead of being overhauled. As the days go by, many will prove me wrong about this. Sometimes, the system can fix you before you fix it. I know. Many are dismayed and offended with these sideshows in the name of forming the govt. If these were the faces, and figures he was assembling, there was not time to waste time. Some detractors say. Again, why don’t you allow Mr President to enjoy and employ his ploy –sorry –his prerogatives? Didn’t you hear what happened in mzee Madibaland where the current Casanova fired the minister of dosh after threatening the hidden interests of his partners? This is the power of presidency that –in this case –seem to have given a new lease on life to escrew to screw us even more if not  giving birth to another mega scam. Remember. This is Bongo.

Source: Guardian, Dec., 13, 2015.