By Stanley Mumo
Residents of Tharaka Nithi County have expressed cautious support for the National Government’s plan to offload 15 per cent of its 35 per cent shareholding in Safaricom PLC to telecommunications giant Vodacom, a move aimed at raising funds for critical national infrastructure projects.
During a public participation forum held at Kathwana County Hall, residents endorsed the proposal but insisted on strict safeguards to ensure the proceeds from the transaction are used solely for their intended development purposes.
The forum was chaired by Kitui Rural MP, Hon. David Mboni, who emphasized that the engagement was a constitutional requirement and a crucial platform for incorporating citizens’ views into Parliament’s final recommendations.
“We are here because it is a constitutional obligation that whenever the National Assembly is required to make a crucial decision such as this one, we should seek your views,” Hon. Mboni told participants.
Despite acknowledging the potential economic benefits of the proposed divestiture, residents highlighted a lingering trust deficit between citizens and government institutions, expressing fears that funds raised could be misappropriated.
Mr. Charles Nyaga voiced concerns shared by several participants, noting that while the sale could help shield citizens from increased taxation or additional borrowing, transparency in the management of proceeds remains a major concern.
“I support the proposed divestiture plan because it will cushion us from higher taxes or the uptake of more loans. I am, however, doing so reluctantly because we are not sure that the money will be directed to the identified causes,” Mr. Nyaga said.
Residents further urged lawmakers to compel the National Treasury to publicly disclose a detailed list of projects earmarked to benefit from the funds before any transaction is approved.
“Honourable Members, could we get a breakdown of the projects to be funded by these proceeds? We also want to see the projects distributed equally,” said Mr. Peter Gitonga.
Responding to the concerns, Lunga Lunga MP Chiromodo Mangale, assured residents that the committee would recommend the ring-fencing of funds generated from the sale. He explained that the proceeds are expected to be channeled into the National Infrastructure Fund, which targets to mobilize approximately KSh500 billion.
“The proceeds of this sale are meant to form part of the National Infrastructure Fund which is set to net about KSh500 billion. However, we wish to assure you that we shall be recommending to the House to pre-approve all the projects set to benefit from these proceeds,” Hon. Mangale stated.
The proposal to sell the entire 15 per cent stake exclusively to Vodacom also attracted scrutiny from stakeholders. Dr. Mutegi Kabisani, an advisor to the Tharaka Nithi Governor, called for comprehensive due diligence on the telecommunications firm, raising concerns about its recent performance trends.
“It is not clear why the government has proposed to offload the entire 15 per cent stake to Vodacom and not any other multinational firm within the sector,” Dr. Kabisani said.
Youth leaders and local representatives also raised broader concerns about the long-term sustainability of selling government assets to finance development projects.
“Are we going to sell all government assets to fund development projects?” posed Mr. Michael Kimathi from Maara Constituency.
Echoing similar sentiments, youth leader Ibrahim Muthengi warned that young people are increasingly worried about the future management of public resources.
“As young people, we are worried about what is happening. We expect the government to safeguard our resources for the future. We are raising concerns because we are worried about our future,” he said.
In response, Hon. Mboni clarified that the government’s broader strategy involves reducing reliance on underperforming state corporations that continue to strain public finances.
“We are spending a lot of money to fund the operations of parastatals every year. The government should not be actively in business but rather provide a conducive environment to spur economic growth,” he explained.
He concluded by assuring residents that all views collected during the public participation exercise would be incorporated into the committee’s final report to the National Assembly once the nationwide hearings are concluded.
