Uriri legislator Mark Nyamita has claimed the recent China visit by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader was all based on 2022 succession politics.
Nyamita said the visit to China, which controls 70 per cent of Kenya’s current Sh5.04 trillion debt according to government data, was to calm a creditor’s worry that come 2022 general elections the new leadership will be in a position to pay off the debt.
China’s debt to the country stands at Sh634.4 billion followed by Japan that has lent Sh104.7 billion or 11.7 per cent while France is third having lent seven per cent, or Sh62.6 billion.
Nyamita said the current debt which is 56 per cent of the total wealth of Kenya, will be key in forming the basis of the next general elections.
“The two leaders went to China not only to acquire development loans but assure the Chinese that in the next transition period there will be safe pair of hands to pay back the whole debt,” Nyamita said.
The legislator told off deputy President William Ruto’s supporters for creating jitters over the China visit because the loan sought will be to extend the Standard Gauge Railway from towards Kisumu and western Kenya.
“We have been left in the cold as a region despite paying taxes to cover up for the first SGR loan, as a country we will stay for the loans which now we will do happily with the extension,” Nyamita said.
His sentiments were shared by North Kanyamkago MCA and Migori deputy speaker George Omamba said it was sad that when the first phases of the SGR from Nairobi to Naivasha was on, it was seen as development.
“Why is that when the extension is to reach Kisumu, these talks of debts and burden start cropping up from Ruto’s camp? Are we not Kenyans,” Omamba asked.
Earlier this week the two leaders left for Beijing to pave way for a Sh368 billion loan on SGR which will boost Kisumu and Western region economy.
The two leaders were speaking at Koduogo village in Uriri constituency during the burial of Samuel Barasa who was the NG-CDF coordinator for North Kanyamkago ward.