The million-dollar question

From ‘Made in Kenya’ to hustle economics: what is the 2022 voter buying?

By Jeff Otieno

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Posted on September 20, 2021 12:40

 © Kenya Central Bank Governor Patrick Njoroge displays the newly designed Kenyan shilling bank notes during a news conference at the Central Bank in Nairobi, Kenya, June 3, 2019. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
Kenya Central Bank Governor Patrick Njoroge displays the newly designed Kenyan shilling bank notes during a news conference at the Central Bank in Nairobi, Kenya, June 3, 2019. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Kenya’s presidential race has been whittled down to economic matters as top politicians try to outclass each other with unique models. Whose framework will carry the day?

Late July, legislator Alice Wahome made a mockery of herself when she tried to explain an economic model that has become a campaign slogan for William Ruto, Kenya’s deputy president, ahead of next year’s presidential election.

Asked by a television show host to distinguish, in simple terms, between bottom up and trickle down, Wahome – a staunch supporter of Ruto – appeared dumbfounded and clueless. “Eerr… working from the bottom down… from up to, eerr, you know … from top to bottom,” she said.

Her response elicited sharp reactions from Kenyans who criticised politicians for taking them for a ride by championing economic models that they themselves do not understand.

In the recent past, the battle to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta has been narrowed down to economic matters, with top politicians trying to outdo each other by unveiling unique economic models, which they hope will

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