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STRAIGHT TALK SEASON 2 EP 1 - SOPHIE MUGURE NJEHIA - GEN Z REVOLUTION
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00:00:05welcome to season two of straight talk the show where we engage bold ideas confront tough questions
00:00:13and unpack the issues shaping our country deborah barraza mr jeffrey mosiria irungu yakera kasmel
00:00:22maka uren wanase ahmed madame sylvia kassanga dr devji a teller by honorable francis oleka paro
00:00:31you know rai laudenga for me was a was a hero he's always been a figure in my life and
00:00:36he is
00:00:37that's like someone meeting superman are you paid what is your motivation behind doing all these
00:00:43even if i was given 40 billion shillings i wouldn't take it who you are electing is completely
00:00:48the reflection of who you are as a people
00:01:02i'm yvonne and tonight we begin this season by examining the state of the nation from public
00:01:10debt youth unemployment activism governance and the realities facing kenyans today joining us is
00:01:21sophie mugure jehia a respected voice on governance public policy and civic engagement
00:01:43is
00:01:48I'm going to get back to the military.
00:01:54I'm going to get back to the military education.
00:01:55I'm going to get back to the school community.
00:01:57I'm going to get back to the military.
00:02:05I'm going to get back to the military.
00:02:29Sophie, welcome to Straight Talk.
00:02:33We are so blessed to have you. Thank you.
00:02:37As we begin, you are an active citizen, youth political activist.
00:02:44Tell us what got you started in this line of business, if I should say.
00:02:54Thank you so much again everyone for having me.
00:02:57I think growing up I always knew I'd want to become a political leader.
00:03:06Somehow, somewhere. I didn't know when.
00:03:08But I always knew I would find myself in this space.
00:03:13But in 2024, I have just gotten my daughter.
00:03:19I'm home and when I don't have a job and finance bill comes out and you're hearing all these things
00:03:29happening in the country and every single thing that is about to be increased taxes on affects me.
00:03:37I'm a single mom. I'm a single mom. I've just gotten a child, my second child.
00:03:43So I'm like, this cannot be, like I cannot just sit here and watch things just unfold.
00:03:51And what can I do about it?
00:03:53So when the protests were called, I found myself going for the protests.
00:03:57The first day of the protests was my birthday and I was like, what better way to celebrate my birthday
00:04:03than doing something that helps my generation and the children that I'm bringing up.
00:04:10So I find myself in that space. I see people shot dead.
00:04:15I experienced the whole trauma and you know the story.
00:04:19But right after that, I realized that this just doesn't end here.
00:04:25We have a duty to participate in the change that we need to see.
00:04:32So that was the moment.
00:04:34I knew I wanted to be in politics.
00:04:36I just didn't know when.
00:04:37But that moment was my wake up call for like, this is it.
00:04:42As we proceed to dive down into your story, we can or let me ask you first.
00:04:48Kenya's public debt is now over 10 trillion shillings.
00:04:53Is the country headed towards a debt crisis?
00:04:57From your opinion, knowing now as an active citizen, a concerned citizen, what do you think of our public debt?
00:05:07Actually, as a matter of fact, our public debt is a little over 12 trillion.
00:05:12It's 12.3 trillion so far.
00:05:15And that debt increases at around 29,000 shillings per second.
00:05:24This government borrows literally 2 trillion, 2 billion shillings every single day.
00:05:31So when you're born as a Kenyan today, you owe the government roughly 230,000 shillings.
00:05:40And one can't compute the value of 2 billion shillings, like in stacks of 2 billion shillings.
00:05:46It's impossible to compute, right?
00:05:48Exactly.
00:05:49And when you go back and you ask, when did the rain start beating us?
00:05:56When Kibaki was leaving, he left us with a debt of 1.8 trillion.
00:06:02And that was more external debt than it was domestic debt.
00:06:07That's then in 2013, 1.8 trillion.
00:06:10Exactly.
00:06:11So when the Uhuruto government came into place, I think, first of all, it is important to note that these
00:06:19people came together as a matter of convenience,
00:06:21not because they really wanted something to come out of their leadership, but they sold it to us as, because
00:06:29it was immediately after 2007 post-election violence,
00:06:33they sold it to us as a reconciliation of two communities coming together.
00:06:38In reality, their candidature was just saving themselves from the ICC.
00:06:44So when they came in, they found a way to manipulate Chapter 12 of the Constitution to allow them to
00:06:50borrow money.
00:06:51But that money doesn't go into the Consolidated Fund.
00:06:54It can go into other funds.
00:06:57And the person who initiated that bill in Parliament was Adendole.
00:07:01Adendole has been in Parliament for the longest time.
00:07:04So when now they gave the provision of money can come in, but it doesn't necessarily have to go into
00:07:12the Consolidated Fund.
00:07:13It can go into other accounts, or it can be paid to the supplier directly.
00:07:17These people took the Eurobond.
00:07:19So Kenyans are generally paying taxes, and those taxes are being poorly managed.
00:07:26That's really what you're saying.
00:07:28Absolutely.
00:07:29Okay, you see, your taxes, it's just like you, if you're working, you're getting a salary, right?
00:07:37That money is supposed to pay your bills, and also help you to plan for your future.
00:07:43So our current taxes go, our debt ratio to our GDP, according to the way the Constitution has put it,
00:07:54is supposed to be 55%.
00:07:56But right now we're at 68%.
00:07:59So the amount of money we are collecting in taxes, we're using 68% of that money to pay debt.
00:08:07For instance, this year, we're supposed to pay $2.3 trillion to debt.
00:08:13And the worst part about these payments are we're not necessarily servicing the debt.
00:08:19We're servicing debt interest.
00:08:22So the debt doesn't...
00:08:23We're not paying back the debt itself.
00:08:26It's just the interest.
00:08:28The interest.
00:08:29So, and practically, the way debt works, the longer you take to pay, the more interest you pay.
00:08:35Yes.
00:08:36So this country, we're not focused on restructuring our debt crisis to lay off the debt.
00:08:43We're working towards just servicing the interest.
00:08:46For instance, last financial year, $1.9 trillion went into paying debt.
00:08:52$1.1 trillion paid debt interest.
00:08:57$800 billion paid the actual debt.
00:09:00This year, we are paying $2.3 trillion out of a budget of $4.2 trillion.
00:09:06So why aren't we considering renegotiating or auditing the debt?
00:09:12We cannot audit the debt because number one, the constitution says, mid-term, long-term debt has to be backed
00:09:21by development.
00:09:22So these people know very well, all the money they took, the euro bond they took, they took it to
00:09:28other accounts.
00:09:29It did not reach Kenya.
00:09:30It did not help build Kenya.
00:09:33The SGR scandal is a very big scandal.
00:09:36We had the money to build that railway system.
00:09:38And we did.
00:09:39But it was inflated.
00:09:41We used that money and borrowed the same amount of money outside.
00:09:46So this money, like if they do the public debt audit, we'll be able to see the loopholes that all
00:09:53this money,
00:09:54because we have borrowed a total of $12.3 trillion, $7 trillion was borrowed in 10 years.
00:10:01They have nothing to show for the $7 trillion.
00:10:03So since 2022 up until now, we have borrowed $4 trillion and $6.9 trillion domestically.
00:10:13So what this new government, this Ruto government has done, they've now mastered the art of borrowing domestically.
00:10:20So if I was to ask you then about transparency in terms of borrowing, you are on the side in
00:10:30which that says the government is not transparent in the manner in which they spend the money in which they
00:10:36borrow.
00:10:37Yes.
00:10:38And because our debt book looks very bad, we can't get more money out of the current debt book.
00:10:44Now we are finding other ways to borrow without using the current debt book.
00:10:49For example, the National Infrastructure Fund is just a new way of borrowing domestically.
00:10:56So you sell estate assets, create collateral, tell people that you have money to pay them off.
00:11:02They give you money, and you're paying with money that you will get from selling estate peristatals.
00:11:07There's the issue of securitization.
00:11:09For example, they raised the road maintenance levy from 18 shillings to 25 shillings.
00:11:16That's a whole seven shillings.
00:11:18These seven shillings, they securitized it, took a debt of around $175 billion to pay off pending bills.
00:11:26But the debt is being paid using these seven shillings, so they know you will keep going to fuel your
00:11:32car, right?
00:11:34You cannot live without fueling your car.
00:11:36So every single seven shilling you're fueling is not going to assisting our country.
00:11:41It's going to pay off pending bills.
00:11:42So they can still create pending bills and then create a way to borrow to pay those pending bills.
00:11:49It's almost like a loop.
00:11:51It's a loop.
00:11:52It's a cycle.
00:11:53But then in the defense of the Auditor General, I'm thinking if I was in her shoes,
00:11:58would I want to be the one to show the world how Kenya is living in audience debt?
00:12:03What does that mean for me?
00:12:05What does that mean for my family?
00:12:07Well, that's her job, isn't it?
00:12:09That's her job.
00:12:10According to the Constitution, that is part of her job.
00:12:13To highlight and to audit public funds and public debt.
00:12:20Exactly.
00:12:20Why is that not happening then?
00:12:22Why do we not see any repercussions to that?
00:12:25Because the body, the arm of government that is mandated to offer the repercussions
00:12:32is in bed with the people who are creating these policies.
00:12:37So if legislature answers to the executive, but when the Auditor General,
00:12:43who does the Auditor General present her audit to?
00:12:47Parliament.
00:12:48Parliament is in the pocket of the executive.
00:12:51So what is she supposed to do?
00:12:55Every single two to three months, she does an audit.
00:12:59She tells us, for instance, 1.3 trillion has been stolen in a citizen.
00:13:05Today in the newspaper, 50 billion has been stolen in Trusha.
00:13:09300 billion went through the treasury bonds.
00:13:12That's her job.
00:13:13She's done her job.
00:13:14The people who are supposed to take the next step is Parliament.
00:13:19But Parliament is a beneficiary of the looting.
00:13:22So you want them to incriminate themselves?
00:13:25No.
00:13:25To hold themselves accountable?
00:13:27Absolutely not.
00:13:28But then the Constitution also provides for independent bodies that are mandated now
00:13:33to oversight government.
00:13:35But these independent bodies are supposed to be made of civilians.
00:13:38So what does Parliament do?
00:13:40It defends the independent bodies so that they're not able to execute their mandate of oversight on them.
00:13:47So who ends up being the serious loser here?
00:13:51The Kenyan.
00:13:52Yes.
00:13:52The ordinary monarchy.
00:13:54The ordinary monarchy.
00:13:54And it's so interesting.
00:13:55Everybody says we have such a progressive constitution.
00:13:58We have great laws and everything.
00:14:02But it also depends on the willingness of those empowered to implement the laws that exist, right?
00:14:12Without motivation by those who we put in place to implement the system, it just doesn't work.
00:14:19It doesn't work.
00:14:19But who does it start with, Sivan?
00:14:21It starts with you and me sitting down to actually look at the people we're putting in power.
00:14:27The problem with us as the citizens of Kenya is we lack drama.
00:14:32We lack populist politics.
00:14:34Sports, this, that.
00:14:35Anyway, we'll get back to that.
00:14:37Let's get back on track and say is youth activism.
00:14:41You're a youth activist, right?
00:14:43And you have come up with the rise of social media, especially after the finance bill
00:14:50and the protests that came up after that.
00:14:53Is it a sign of democratic growth or government failure?
00:14:59I think it's a little bit of both because had the government not failed, then we would not have gotten
00:15:05our awakening.
00:15:07Thanks to the constitution, we are allowed to petition the government when it fails.
00:15:14But when we petition them, they push back at us because they happen to be a government that does not
00:15:21really appreciate criticism so much.
00:15:23How strong is the youth awakening?
00:15:27You say awakening, but there's also been a lot of infiltration, corruption within that awakening as well.
00:15:35How strong is the awakening?
00:15:37We are disenfranchised because the system works to feed itself and to keep itself growing.
00:15:44So this system ensures that the young people are poor, they're marginalized.
00:15:51We keep being marginalized contrary to what the constitution says.
00:15:54So when they keep, he who feeds you controls you.
00:15:57So if they find a way to feed you, then they find a way to control you.
00:16:02And in this country, power, proximity to power is like Njiayaku toka block.
00:16:09The closer you are to power, the more we talk a block.
00:16:12So if they find a way to show you that, hey, come, let's get you closer to where the power
00:16:18is,
00:16:18then you don't think about every other person, just think about yourself and your own interests.
00:16:24That's the problem we're facing right now.
00:16:26But there is a section of youthful people who know and have a form of ideological clarity.
00:16:34We know that we are not doing this for ourselves.
00:16:37We are doing this for gen alphas.
00:16:40We are doing this for gen betas who will come after us.
00:16:44So if we do not stay the cause, what will our children come and find?
00:16:49A very bad system.
00:16:51At least us, we got free primary education.
00:16:55At least us, job was working.
00:16:57So help was working.
00:16:59At least us, we got a certain-
00:17:01The system worked.
00:17:02The system worked.
00:17:03You know, the problem we're having now is we have seen a system that has worked before.
00:17:09So you're trying to get yourselves back to or even above how it was before.
00:17:15Keep banking left us with vision 2030.
00:17:19Uhuru tried to push it, but theft really crept into that government.
00:17:23It crippled the dream.
00:17:25So we have a vision.
00:17:27We have a blueprint.
00:17:28You don't even have to sit and overthink and come up with new things.
00:17:32The blueprint is already there.
00:17:34It was a working formula.
00:17:35It was supposed to trickle down to where we have free university education.
00:17:40The problem is most people now have a price.
00:17:45Yes.
00:17:47And they're able to sell out the movement.
00:17:49We've seen it.
00:17:512024, 2025.
00:17:53Maybe it's 10 million shillings.
00:17:56Maybe it's a car.
00:17:59Maybe it's a position.
00:18:00Whatever it is.
00:18:01Yes.
00:18:01Many youth activists have shown, and that's just a generalization, that they can be bought.
00:18:13How do you fight that as an activist yourself?
00:18:18As how do I ensure I'm not bought?
00:18:23Yes.
00:18:24I give you a hundred million shillings to stop talking.
00:18:29You stop talking?
00:18:32When I sit here and you give me a hundred million shillings?
00:18:35Yes.
00:18:35Conja, this is a very good question, so they can know what will happen when they bring me
00:18:39the hundred million shillings.
00:18:40When we sit here, I'll take the hundred million shillings and I'll take it to the movement.
00:18:44Okay.
00:18:45So that we use it to get you out.
00:18:47Okay.
00:18:47In fact, you will have financed our movement.
00:18:50If you are to call me to give me money, I'll take it and immediately, I'll take it to
00:18:55the movement and I will tell everybody that you have tried to buy me.
00:19:00Me, my price is my life.
00:19:01I mean, look, I'll take the hundred million, but what does that mean for Mama Rex, who had
00:19:06to celebrate her son's 30th birthday without him?
00:19:09On the same day, the court postponed his hearing?
00:19:14What does that mean for her when the killer cop who killed him is still at Central Police
00:19:19Station, living his best life on taxpayers' money?
00:19:22What does that mean for the mom who lost a 12-year-old child, who said her child will
00:19:29forever be 12?
00:19:30What does that mean for Alberto John's dad who only had Albert?
00:19:34He raised Albert all the way and finally when he was getting to where at least it was
00:19:40looking fruitful, Albert was killed.
00:19:42What does that mean?
00:19:44Having the culprits of those who are corrupting and looting our country every single day living
00:19:51their best lives well as we are suffering.
00:19:54So that a hundred million is not worth it.
00:19:56It will only be worth it if my child can come and enjoy free primary education, free
00:20:02secondary, free university.
00:20:03They can go into a hospital, get treated.
00:20:06My parents are growing old.
00:20:08They can get treated in a hospital without us having to go to India.
00:20:12Like it will only make sense if we are all thriving.
00:20:15That's the whole essence of social justice.
00:20:18It has to trickle down from the head to the lowest vessel.
00:20:24Everybody has to feel like they're a part of this.
00:20:27And you see our constitution already provides for that.
00:20:31It's just people who don't have the goodwill to implement it.
00:20:34You know, there's two elements behind it, right?
00:20:37Because sometimes the government can buy you and they also can be very strict
00:20:44and use violence and state mechanisms to implement your tolerance towards their actions.
00:20:53So having experienced all of this, how do you think the government is handling dissent
00:21:03and critique against their actions currently?
00:21:09This government does not like dissent, dissenting voices.
00:21:15This government does not like criticism.
00:21:18And that is why they did everything possible, first of all, to quash the opposition.
00:21:25They had to find a way to get the opposition to be in bed with them.
00:21:30So that first of all, they can quiet that voice.
00:21:35Little did they know there was an uprising of a generation of youthful people
00:21:38who are tired of the opulence, of the wastage, of the pilferage of public funds.
00:21:45But it's interesting, you say we're tired, and yet we have seen that the state house budget in 2026 has
00:21:51increased, yes, off budget by about eight something.
00:21:58Yeah.
00:21:58Yes.
00:21:59They had a budget.
00:22:00So we say we're tired, but not quite.
00:22:05The mechanisms that have been provided for us to express our dissatisfaction are already filled with bloodshed.
00:22:17So the citizenry is afraid.
00:22:20If we're being honest, people's lives have changed.
00:22:23We saw the president say that shoot them in the leg.
00:22:27When they come out of the hospital, they go straight to court where you're put on terrorism charges.
00:22:33You can't leave the country.
00:22:35Like fear is a weapon of the oppressor.
00:22:39So if I would ask you then, describe the state of the nation today, how would you articulate that?
00:22:49Our country has been captured.
00:22:51Our country is being led by crooks, by thieves, by people who have no regard for human life.
00:22:58They will kill children.
00:23:01They will not kill you physically, but they will use the system to kill you.
00:23:05For example, what happened over the weekend?
00:23:09They already knew the disaster was coming.
00:23:12You want to tell me we do not have mechanisms in this country that can tell us we have an
00:23:18impending heavy rainfall.
00:23:21We have an impending drought.
00:23:23Three million people.
00:23:24It's such an oxymoron.
00:23:26Three million people in the NFD counties are dying of drought while we're losing 44 people in the city to
00:23:36excessive water.
00:23:38Like make it make sense.
00:23:39There's so much water outside and inside our houses.
00:23:43We don't have water.
00:23:44You know, the thing I struggle with Kenya is that we are told we have the most progressive constitution, right?
00:23:51That creates all these wonderful institutions, right?
00:23:56We have the mechanisms for greatness inbuilt in how Kenya is created.
00:24:05And yet somehow that doesn't work.
00:24:08Why is that?
00:24:09Number one, because we have a citizenry that has functioned on euphoria.
00:24:20So we are not selective of who we elect.
00:24:23Mm-hmm.
00:24:25We keep recycling politicians.
00:24:28There are politicians that are not even political leaders.
00:24:31Number two, the people we put there have no intention of implementing the constitution.
00:24:36In fact, they find all forms and manners to use that constitution to loot from us.
00:24:43So is it that our institutions are not strong enough?
00:24:46What is the issue?
00:24:48The institutions exist.
00:24:50But the way the constitution is designed, it is supposed to work where this checks this, this checks this.
00:24:58So political will, it's about who we put in place to implement the system.
00:25:06That's the issue?
00:25:07Yeah.
00:25:07Yeah.
00:25:07And the first person on the line is IBC.
00:25:11Because IBC is mandated to vet who goes on the ballot on behalf of the citizens.
00:25:16Mm-hmm.
00:25:17So for instance, in the case of Mbere North, you have somebody who has an impending corruption case.
00:25:22He goes on the ballot and he is allowed to go all the way into parliament.
00:25:27Mm-hmm.
00:25:27Who's failed Kenyans there?
00:25:29IBC.
00:25:30IBC.
00:25:30So IBC is our number one problem in this country.
00:25:35They're the ones who fail us.
00:25:37Because they are also responsible for ensuring that democracy exists within political parties.
00:25:45According to the Political Parties Act, nominations should function almost the same way it happens at the ballot.
00:25:55But people are supposed to go, you're given a choice, but we have cases of direct nominations.
00:26:02So IBC is the first independent institution that has failed this country.
00:26:07But also there has to be an acknowledgement that IBC appointments are politically made as well.
00:26:16Right?
00:26:18So, who vets the commissioners?
00:26:24Article 1, what does Article 1 says?
00:26:27The people exercise their power directly or indirectly through their elected representatives.
00:26:35So these people who are in parliament, who are they supposed to represent?
00:26:39The people.
00:26:41The people.
00:26:41But according to the Finance Bill 2024 and onwards, this government represents the executive.
00:26:47There's almost like a state's capture.
00:26:51Not almost devoid.
00:26:53Well...
00:26:53The state is captured and it's pathetic because that is the first thing they said they wouldn't do.
00:26:59Okay.
00:27:00In the inaugural speech, they were like, we will not capture the state.
00:27:04Mm-hmm.
00:27:04In fact, we will do...
00:27:06In a hundred days, we will do an inquiry at the extent of state capture in this country.
00:27:12Oh, my God.
00:27:13We're so glad.
00:27:14Then what happened?
00:27:16And how?
00:27:17If power is with the people, right?
00:27:20How does state capture happen?
00:27:24We elect these people, do we not?
00:27:27Yes, we do.
00:27:28Yes.
00:27:28Somebody who has accusations of gun violence or murder or rape or paedophilia somehow manages
00:27:38to make it to be an elected member of or a government representative elected by the people.
00:27:48We chose them.
00:27:50For heaven's sake, we chose them.
00:27:52We chose them.
00:27:53Do we not have...
00:27:54Yes, exactly.
00:27:55To the executive.
00:27:56You know, there's some point in which you can't keep blaming the world for your circumstances.
00:28:03Yeah.
00:28:03You have to own it.
00:28:05Yeah.
00:28:05We chose ICC suspects.
00:28:09Yeah.
00:28:09For ten years.
00:28:09So where's our responsibility in that?
00:28:12As a matter of fact, we're going into our 15th year of being led by ICC suspects.
00:28:18Then we were warned.
00:28:18Where's our responsibility as the electorate, as citizens?
00:28:23It's in our mindset.
00:28:24How much do we complain about that?
00:28:26It's in our minds.
00:28:27The minute we wake up, we realize, hey, there's no difference between these people and us.
00:28:34But we never wake up.
00:28:35There's two eyes.
00:28:35You're saying 15 years.
00:28:39Like, as a matter of fact, if we as the citizens know our worth, we will not be given 2
00:28:46,000 to go and scream a certain slogan somewhere on behalf of someone.
00:28:51But we don't.
00:28:53This is my question.
00:28:55But we don't.
00:28:55We don't.
00:28:55We chose 2013 and chose 2017 and chose 2022.
00:29:04That's three consecutive elections in which we have chosen people who were accused ICC suspects.
00:29:12You've even gone far.
00:29:14My county, where I come from, Kiambu County.
00:29:17If you look at the profiles of our governors, it's crazy.
00:29:22One is a suspected drug, viral suspected.
00:29:27The second one stole from us half a billion from our county.
00:29:32The third one has an official death certificate.
00:29:36He's a walking dead individual.
00:29:38Like, we are the problem.
00:29:41The electorate.
00:29:41It is not them.
00:29:43It is us.
00:29:44And the minute we sit down with ourselves and accept that we are the engineers of our own problems, that
00:29:51is the beginning of change.
00:29:53You know, the question is, is the political class disconnected from Kenyan?
00:29:58No.
00:29:59Or maybe they are very connected.
00:30:01Yes.
00:30:02They are very connected and that is what they thrive on.
00:30:04They are a reflection.
00:30:06The political class is a reflection of Kenyan.
00:30:10Yes.
00:30:11That's the sad truth.
00:30:14So the minute we sit with ourselves and accept that we got ourselves in this mess, that is when we
00:30:22will begin to form mechanisms to change.
00:30:25Do we want out though?
00:30:26We do want out.
00:30:27No.
00:30:27It's gotten so bad we want out.
00:30:29I think we're happy with it.
00:30:31If we keep choosing the same thugs, maybe the only thing that we don't like is that I'm not the
00:30:39thug in charge.
00:30:40Right?
00:30:41Yeah.
00:30:41I'm not the thug but benefiting.
00:30:44You see.
00:30:44But perhaps we like the chaos we live in.
00:30:47We do not like the chaos we live in.
00:30:49And you know the beauty about this chaos, and I'm sorry to say this, is now it is equalizing us.
00:30:57Whether you have a job or not, they are coming for your income.
00:31:01Whether you're upper class, middle class, we are all dying.
00:31:04Tunabebo na maji.
00:31:06Tunabebo na maji.
00:31:06Like, this pathetic system is equalizing us to the point now we will have to sit down.
00:31:13Unasema Tunabebo na maji, let me ask you, are recurring floods in Kenya a climate issue or a governance issue,
00:31:20do you think?
00:31:22It's a governance issue.
00:31:25Mm-hmm.
00:31:27You think that a more competent governor of Nairobi could have avoided the chaos we saw in recent days regarding
00:31:40the rains?
00:31:41Yes.
00:31:42Because in this regime, this is not the first time people are dying because of floods.
00:31:49Do you remember when there was, in 2024, there was an impending El Nino, and monies were dispensed to counties
00:31:59to be prepared for the floods.
00:32:02Do you remember what Nairobi's governor said he was going to buy? Boats.
00:32:06Boats, yes.
00:32:08His brilliant mind decided we would buy the boats. We didn't even see the boats last weekend. There were no
00:32:15boats. There's no disaster management team.
00:32:18I think that's the issue is that you really see a lack of preparedness, right?
00:32:23And it's deliberate.
00:32:23It's reactionary.
00:32:25Yes.
00:32:25But really, we were warned, or Kenya was warned, that there would be impending rains. And there is a general
00:32:35perception that the authorities were not prepared for what came. How should we be handling that as the citizens of
00:32:46Nairobi?
00:32:47We must start demanding professionalism from our elected leaders. Our elected leaders are so busy moving around campaigning for an
00:32:57election that is months and months and months away.
00:33:00They have no time to sit down and talk with their teams. They have no time to engage the public.
00:33:06How do you demand professionalism, right? When you just talked about IEBC letting people walk through.
00:33:15But the Constitution gives us mandates on how we can hold these people accountable.
00:33:20What should the citizens of Nairobi County do to hold Sakaja responsible? What do you think?
00:33:26Who should impeach Sakaja on behalf of the citizens of Nairobi? The MCAs.
00:33:32Okay. So again, as a citizen of Nairobi, what should I do if I'm really mad and I want to
00:33:39see my governor held to account? What's my first step?
00:33:44Protest. Protest. Protest.
00:33:48Protest. Petition. Protest. Take a petition. Make your area ungovernable. See these people, camp at their offices, ensure that they
00:33:58hear you. These people hate the noise. They will do anything to quell the noise.
00:34:04But again, you say MCAs as well are very much part of the process.
00:34:08They are. They are. Because who is, who does the governor work with? Like, which is the greatest seat in
00:34:17all these six seats? Which is the one that is closest to the people? The MCAs.
00:34:23Most of these MCAs don't even have ward administrators in their areas. They don't have ward administrators. So they do
00:34:32not know where the drainages are blocked, where the road is bad.
00:34:36They do not know where the drainages are blocked. They do not know where the drainages are blocked. They do
00:34:38not know these things because they are very busy doing other things other than what we elected them to do.
00:34:44So right now it is up to us to demand better and understand that we deserve better.
00:34:51We have a population that is so, like, we are so, to mebebo, like, akiletu mebebo with our daily needs,
00:35:01our lives, our material conditions have clouded us so much that we do not understand that our material conditions are
00:35:09tied to the governments that we have.
00:35:12So, if we just decide, we will take three days and protest. But you will, you will ask me, so
00:35:18what you lay it for these three days?
00:35:20Ni kosa kuanda job ndo ni kuja protest for three days? Apana. But the more unakata kukuja kwa iyo protest,
00:35:27the more nyumba yako ime flood, all the, like, inji ni aparado yako ikochini kwa sababu uli kataku kuja protest.
00:35:37Watu, your family members are dead kwa sababu uli kataku put in mechanisms that hold the government accountable on your
00:35:46behalf.
00:35:46But I also think we place people we elect on a pedestal as well.
00:35:52And that's an interesting, why?
00:35:54I mean, we pay them.
00:35:55Why do we do that?
00:35:56Why do we pay them?
00:35:57But somehow that's something that occurs.
00:35:59You wake up every single morning. Do you see what time Kenyans wake up?
00:36:03Do you see Kenyans sleeping in public transport vehicles?
00:36:07Do you see Kenyans making long queues to go to work?
00:36:10We pay them.
00:36:12For heaven's sake, we should demand something.
00:36:15How do we change that mentality?
00:36:18Recognizing with the ordinary mana inchi that this muheshi miwa, yes, whether MCA, women's rep, MP, whatever it is, is
00:36:28a public employee, right?
00:36:32You work for me.
00:36:33I am your employer.
00:36:35It's not, I shouldn't worship you simply by your post.
00:36:42How do we change that perception?
00:36:44For starters, it's not giving them your time.
00:36:47Your time is your most expensive resource.
00:36:50Okay, we are idle.
00:36:51We don't have jobs, maybe.
00:36:53So we'll give these people our time for a little money.
00:36:56But in reality, these people thrive out of that attention that we give.
00:37:01Without us, they are nothing.
00:37:03Without our attention, they are nothing.
00:37:06Without our money, they are nothing.
00:37:08This country should get to the point where citizens say we are no longer paying taxes because we do not
00:37:13see where our taxes are going.
00:37:16Nairobi citizens should say we are not going to pay those licenses.
00:37:19We are not going to pay for anything, county functions until we get accountability for our money.
00:37:26There's so many mechanisms to hold these people accountable.
00:37:29But it starts with understanding our worth.
00:37:33If you do not know your worth, if you want, let me ask you.
00:37:37There are places in this country where people listen to politicians for 200 shillings.
00:37:41And there are places in this country where people listen to politicians for 5,000 shillings.
00:37:46True or false?
00:37:46True.
00:37:47Because these people...
00:37:4810,000 and 50,000.
00:37:50Yes.
00:37:50Why?
00:37:51Because those ones who are charging more know their worth.
00:37:57So we should be charging more.
00:37:59If it must get to that point where your argument is I don't have a job, so I need this
00:38:07money to sustain myself.
00:38:08And make it so expensive.
00:38:11Or we should learn our value.
00:38:13Yes.
00:38:13That's what you're saying.
00:38:14Yes.
00:38:14We learn our value.
00:38:15And once you learn your value, you will demand value.
00:38:18You will demand value-based leadership that trickles down to something you can't feel.
00:38:25It's not rocket science.
00:38:26It's being done in other countries.
00:38:27That must then click or maybe connect to why Kenya struggles so much with youth unemployment, with so much potential.
00:38:40And so many programs that exist to empower the youth.
00:38:47Why do we continue to struggle with youth unemployment, do you think?
00:38:52The blueprint was there to industrialize this country and to make this country self-sustaining.
00:39:01But capitalism and the greed of our politicians has enabled them to disenfranchise the young people to the point where
00:39:12we thrive on imports.
00:39:14We thrive on taking young people for kazi maju.
00:39:18We thrive on slave trade.
00:39:24We thrive on mkapigwe na warabu for doing pathetic jobs, I'm sorry to say.
00:39:31So from your perspective, then the government isn't doing enough to protect not just the youth but vulnerable communities as
00:39:37well.
00:39:37They don't care about us.
00:39:39They do not care about us.
00:39:41You're just selling labor.
00:39:42Let me ask you, you're selling labor.
00:39:45You're not even equipping me to be competitive enough that even when you take me out there,
00:39:50but I can offer value to this person because I'm so skilled, they'll see, hey, we are fair to have
00:40:01a need.
00:40:01But you're just supposed to maintain yourself.
00:40:04Exactly, because why?
00:40:06The politicians in this country have kept the leadership of this nation so much that they believe after them it's
00:40:16supposed to be their children.
00:40:18So they will empower their children.
00:40:20They will take their children abroad.
00:40:24But their abroad is different, yes?
00:40:27Their abroad is not...
00:40:28Their abroad is not Russia and UAE.
00:40:31And they have the audacity to post for us their children graduating from abroad schools.
00:40:38And we are very fond of this.
00:40:40And theirs is educated as well.
00:40:41It's degrees.
00:40:43It's high education learning.
00:40:45And they come here and they use the opportunities and the networks that their parents have to get themselves in
00:40:52bigger spaces,
00:40:53to come into spaces even where Komon Monanshi is trying to find their niche.
00:40:58They buy a matatu for 15 million.
00:41:02When I work, I had a place here, DJ.
00:41:05Wewe Mwananshi, waka wenda utatoa upi 15 million yakununua matatu.
00:41:08That's a very good point.
00:41:10Because really, how as an ordinary Mwananshi, I can't get 15 million for one matatu.
00:41:16And someone has 15 million for several fleets of matatus.
00:41:22And that is supposed to be your competition.
00:41:24And then they say there's lots of empowerment funds that exist.
00:41:30But how practical are those?
00:41:31Let me tell you stats.
00:41:33Nyota program, the first rollout, a little over 5 billion was given out.
00:41:43But these people are saying 20% of this 5 billion given out, 20% of the 120,000 youth
00:41:51that were given this money,
00:41:52those businesses will not survive.
00:41:54So why are you wasting a whole 1 billion and you know very well these businesses will not survive?
00:42:01Why not compound this money, do something big in every single county that has longevity?
00:42:12But because you're a populist, you like drama, you like people hailing you and saying that you're their saviour,
00:42:21you're willing to waste money and you're seeing it going to waste.
00:42:27Like, I don't understand that.
00:42:29But they know if they empower us, we won't need them.
00:42:34If they bring us industries, for instance, it's being done in Morana.
00:42:39Look at the value addition being given to these people.
00:42:42Your harvest is being taken to the industry.
00:42:45And after it's been taken to the industry, the market is ready to receive your product.
00:42:51Why wouldn't you thrive?
00:42:52Why wouldn't that county thrive?
00:42:54Why wouldn't the people in that county enjoy life?
00:42:58Why wouldn't there be more revenue?
00:43:00You see, these people think if they empower people, the cake will be smaller.
00:43:05It's a small scarcity mindset that they have.
00:43:08But if they empower us, the cake is bigger, there's more for us to share, the country thrives.
00:43:14Well, less resources or more resources.
00:43:17So we fight less over the said resources, right?
00:43:21Everyone, there's plenty to go around.
00:43:23Exactly.
00:43:24So there's less to fight about.
00:43:26But our modest operandi since the day when the white man left and imposed a black white man on us
00:43:34has been profit over everything and profit for a select few.
00:43:41So they will monopolize industries to benefit them and their families.
00:43:47The rest of you are just made to be workers to empower the capitalistic system.
00:43:53That is what we are trying to change as young people.
00:43:57We believe in a different form of rule where everybody can thrive.
00:44:02Equality for all.
00:44:03Equality for all.
00:44:04Do you think our current education system facilitates your train of thought?
00:44:11To feed to feed the capitalistic system.
00:44:14Where you are taught to think of...
00:44:21You're not taught to think as an entrepreneur from the word go.
00:44:25You're not taught to think how you can be self-sustaining.
00:44:29You're taught to see a messiah in everything.
00:44:33When they teach you to be the worker, they will even skill you to be the worker.
00:44:39But in countries where they have progressed, the leaders have always put an education system
00:44:47that empowers the common person.
00:44:50You know, it's so interesting with the floods that happened in Nairobi.
00:44:53I saw one or two comments where people say, God bless me with the money to buy a car.
00:45:01But that's the issue with our thinking currently, right?
00:45:05We should all want a public transportation system that works for everyone.
00:45:11Not that we should need cars, but to have a system that works so that you don't need a car.
00:45:18But I think our mentality is slightly different.
00:45:21Exactly, yeah.
00:45:23And that is what...
00:45:24It will take a while to change that.
00:45:27But we are not lost to the fact that baby steps, the journey of a thousand steps, starts with...
00:45:33And we are not...
00:45:34I will tell you, as a revolutionary, because I am one,
00:45:37I'm not talking about things that are farfetched.
00:45:41I just want my children to grow up in a world that empowers them,
00:45:46that gives them a place where they can thrive,
00:45:48where their skills and their talents and their dreams can be achieved.
00:45:54Our children don't have any other motherland.
00:45:56It's this one.
00:45:58So we have to make sure this one works.
00:46:01And if it's at the expense of select few,
00:46:04first of all, as citizens, we also need to have to start talking about consequences
00:46:10of theft and corruption.
00:46:15If you're caught, you're jailed, up until the point you've done everything you've stolen,
00:46:21once you do, you're hanged.
00:46:25So that the people who come after you in those positions of leadership
00:46:29can know, if I dare to steal public funds, I know I will die.
00:46:36I like how we talk about public funds.
00:46:40How...
00:46:40Yours is a very drastic, and I really do agree with that.
00:46:44But there need to be drastic measures.
00:46:46We need drastic measures...
00:46:47Yes, it's getting out of hand.
00:46:49...to fight corruption.
00:46:50Yes.
00:46:50Absolutely.
00:46:52The flooding, the 44 people who died, they died because of corruption.
00:46:57They died because somebody who has a degree in theology
00:47:00is a disaster management person, vis-a-vis...
00:47:04You know, corruption is not just about theft of public funds.
00:47:07Mm-hmm.
00:47:08It is an exchange of merit.
00:47:11But beyond...
00:47:11You're not there by merit.
00:47:14There should be some competencies, right?
00:47:16Exactly.
00:47:17You are employed.
00:47:18Yes.
00:47:18Yes.
00:47:19There are rules for your employment.
00:47:21Yes.
00:47:22Right?
00:47:22And there are parameters in which you should operate within.
00:47:26And failure to follow that, that is corruption.
00:47:30Mm-hmm.
00:47:30That is corruption.
00:47:31Mm-hmm.
00:47:32Moving away from the said norm and the set rules, that is corruption.
00:47:36But again, we've said Kenya has great systems.
00:47:40Yes?
00:47:41Great rules.
00:47:42Why don't the rules work?
00:47:44Corruption.
00:47:46And how...
00:47:48Because the rules also facilitate for what happens if you don't follow said rules.
00:47:54No, we don't have...
00:47:55So why doesn't that happen?
00:47:58Why doesn't that happen?
00:48:01Because first of all, the people who are supposed to be in charge of the institutions that are supposed to
00:48:07ensure that happens are not selected on merit.
00:48:12Again, you say, like, even parliament has an oversight role.
00:48:16Yes.
00:48:16Yes.
00:48:17Over government.
00:48:18And yet somehow it seems unable to conduct that role as its mandate.
00:48:26But how do we change that?
00:48:31How do we change that?
00:48:56Moving a step ahead in the ladder of life?
00:48:58Moving a step ahead in the ladder of life.
00:48:59That's what we're trying to change.
00:49:00Mm-hmm.
00:49:01Yeah.
00:49:02So the minute we stop having a greedy parliament, the minute we elect people on merit,
00:49:10you say, greed doesn't start when you're a grown-up.
00:49:14You've been greedy since the day you were in class four.
00:49:17You've been greedy since the day you were in class four.
00:49:17You've been greedy since the day you were in class four.
00:49:19It starts from way back.
00:49:25If we can interrogate people and their values and what they stand for and what they believe in,
00:49:32then I believe we can bring a change.
00:49:34It won't happen overnight, gradually.
00:49:36Mm-hmm.
00:49:37But in my head, by 2032, we should see the light.
00:49:43What if I was to tell you that I think we're all greedy?
00:49:46We are.
00:49:48The reason we allow the amount of greed that goes on is that if we were in a similar position,
00:49:54we would probably do the same if not worse.
00:49:58We have not known anything different since the day we were born.
00:50:01Yes.
00:50:01We have seen the reward is not hard work.
00:50:05Mm-hmm.
00:50:05It is greed.
00:50:06Mm-hmm.
00:50:07So maybe that's just us as a people.
00:50:09Maybe we should just accept it.
00:50:11No.
00:50:11Why?
00:50:13What has accepting done to us?
00:50:15If we are all greedy as a population and in nature, right?
00:50:20Accepting that.
00:50:21What stops us from allowing it to thrive?
00:50:24Maybe we set rules around the greed rather than punishing the greed itself.
00:50:29Absolutely.
00:50:31Absolutely.
00:50:31And that is why I'm telling you drastic measures.
00:50:34Singapore, China had to take drastic measures on greed for their lives to change.
00:50:42And now they're very great countries.
00:50:44In fact, we're looking up to them right now.
00:50:46We're still going to Singapore.
00:50:48To Kosing Kaposai, but we are going to Singapore.
00:50:51We're on the road to Singapore.
00:50:54Oh, good.
00:50:54But if we are to actually implement what they did in matters of greed and corruption,
00:51:00I mean, a whole CS is manning a ministry that has now stolen 61 billion and is still
00:51:12the CS.
00:51:19But we don't have an issue with it.
00:51:21That's the thing.
00:51:23We don't have an issue.
00:51:24We do.
00:51:25We don't.
00:51:25We're just too scared to do something about it.
00:51:28We're scared of the change.
00:51:31We do not understand that a change is as good as a rest, but we have to be willing to
00:51:36feel
00:51:36the discomfort of bringing the change.
00:51:39OK, so maybe my question then should be, what makes the Kenyan people so passive to be able
00:51:46to keep seeing stories of corruption day in, day out, over and over and over again?
00:51:56We've talked about floods and the incompetence of the floods.
00:52:01We can talk about the increase of the statehouse budget by how many trillions?
00:52:06Eight trillion shillings, and yet somehow it will, we seem to be very OK.
00:52:14We're not OK with it.
00:52:15We are.
00:52:16We're not.
00:52:172024, we showed that we were not OK with it.
00:52:20We were not just protesting because of the finance bill.
00:52:23It was a anger and a frustration.
00:52:27We were protesting the corruption.
00:52:30But after that, let me tell you, beyond the protests, yes, the opulence has continued.
00:52:36Yes, because we didn't finish the job.
00:52:38Yes.
00:52:39We didn't finish the job.
00:52:40Uh-huh.
00:52:42But the same thing that happened that time, you see the way, let's say you've put milk
00:52:49in the past, that's exactly where we are at right now.
00:53:03The milk, it's just boiling slowly.
00:53:06One day, one day, the systems will change.
00:53:11But we, the people shall, it's coming real soon.
00:53:16When is that day?
00:53:17That's my next question.
00:53:18The anger is ticking.
00:53:19It's ticking.
00:53:21And now I like the fact that everybody is in this loop.
00:53:25The teachers are complaining about Shah.
00:53:27Shah is not working.
00:53:2950 children have died in KU referral hospital.
00:53:33Kenyatta hospital, cancer patients are not being able to be treated because the radiotherapy
00:53:37machine is failing.
00:53:39Three million Kenyans in the NFD are going hungry.
00:53:43Crops have been destroyed.
00:53:46Like, you raise a very significant point, right?
00:53:48We are peak on taxes, peak on expectations.
00:53:53Everyone's pockets are tight, right?
00:53:58And yet we see a lot of excessive public spending.
00:54:02We're heading into election cycle.
00:54:05And the executive seems to be very happy to continue indulging themselves.
00:54:12Yes, because they live in a certain form of limbo.
00:54:15How can Kenyans curb the excessive public spending that we see going on right now?
00:54:22You first of all have to make peace with the fact that you will have to live on your feet.
00:54:32You will have to accept the fact that right now it's a matter of life and death.
00:54:38And if they don't kill you by the gun, they'll kill you by ridding you of your basic needs and
00:54:46creating systems around them that rid you of your basic needs.
00:54:49But these guys seem to live in a limbo.
00:54:52They don't seem to know that we have tough economic times going on.
00:54:55Someone is in Dubai every other month.
00:54:59How do we curb their excess?
00:55:03How many of them are there and how many of them are we?
00:55:06How many of us are we?
00:55:08The moment we understand the strength in our numbers, it is the moment that things will change.
00:55:14Either through a revolt or through the ballot.
00:55:17The moment we understand the strength in our numbers, it is the day things will change.
00:55:23And the day you will all get tired of your circumstances, it is the day you will wake up and
00:55:28do something about it.
00:55:29And it starts by making peace with your death.
00:55:32Just make peace with the fact that you are a walking dead anyway.
00:55:36You have to talk with a vox wagon, you have to go on Friday, you have to go home.
00:55:40You have to go home, you have to go home, you have to go home, you have to go home,
00:55:44you have to go home, you have to go home.
00:55:46Like this system will kill you either way.
00:55:49So you either arise, get on the street and finish the job or you sit down and accept your misery
00:55:57until the day the ballot comes and we all come out and remove the skies.
00:56:01We have a choice to make.
00:56:03Politicians tend to, amongst this whole, because most Kenyans were all in the same bucket, right?
00:56:11It's us against the politicians.
00:56:14they really are eating us alive
00:56:15and then somehow
00:56:18within an election cycle
00:56:20somebody tells you oh this one is
00:56:23Kamba
00:56:23this one is Kikuyu
00:56:25this one is this one
00:56:26somehow tribal tensions
00:56:29come into the mix
00:56:31and we forget about the fact that
00:56:33these the political
00:56:36class is literally eating Kenya
00:56:38alive how should we
00:56:40fight that
00:56:40and that is why for us as young
00:56:58people we are constant on being
00:57:00tribeless because that is what
00:57:02the system has used for so long to
00:57:04sustain itself and it's using it
00:57:06and it will keep using it
00:57:08and it will succeed off it as
00:57:10well exactly yes but
00:57:12if you look at the previous
00:57:14cycles there has not been a
00:57:16generation that has woken up and
00:57:17said
00:57:18hey our problems do not know our
00:57:21tribe
00:57:21our problems are our equalizer
00:57:24and and that pegs the question
00:57:26what is the election question
00:57:27going forward
00:57:28what is the election question
00:57:30going forward
00:57:32it is the equalizer
00:57:34our economy
00:57:36our economy
00:57:38ukwewewe ni middle class
00:57:40ukwewewe ni upper class
00:57:41ukwewewe ni wa ukuchini
00:57:43taxes zinatuhua
00:57:45na hatu party services
00:57:46for those taxes
00:57:46it is the equalizer
00:57:48so right now when we go to the
00:57:50ballot
00:57:50ukwiwa po pekiako
00:57:51secret ballot
00:57:54when you are voting
00:57:55you should vote and see
00:57:56yourself there
00:57:57you see the life you are
00:57:59living
00:57:59before you vote for
00:58:01sofia's MCO of
00:58:02Thika you see the life
00:58:03you are living
00:58:03great
00:58:04so that's really
00:58:05going to be from your
00:58:07perspective the pressing
00:58:08question
00:58:09exactly
00:58:09going into the next election
00:58:11we know
00:58:11the economy
00:58:12our pockets
00:58:13yes
00:58:14our livelihood
00:58:15our livelihood
00:58:16our children
00:58:19you know these floods
00:58:20killed a 4 year old boy
00:58:21in the
00:58:22in the arms of his mother
00:58:23his mother had to
00:58:25alimuachili aju
00:58:26it was no
00:58:27either
00:58:27either of the two
00:58:28hangeweza
00:58:29this lady has
00:58:31brought up a child
00:58:31until they are 4 years
00:58:32and then that boy
00:58:33is gone
00:58:34he's gone
00:58:35gone
00:58:35he was so handsome
00:58:36gone
00:58:37gone
00:58:38so when you go into
00:58:39that secret ballot box
00:58:41area
00:58:42you are seeing your life
00:58:43you are seeing that
00:58:45could easily be my
00:58:464 year old boy
00:58:46I was maybe
00:58:48in the clinic
00:58:51and he's gone
00:58:52and I'll never
00:58:53and I'll never see him again
00:58:55when you go into that
00:58:56ballot
00:58:57you are seeing your pocket
00:58:58you are seeing your
00:58:59pay slip
00:59:00you are seeing the
00:59:02hospitals
00:59:02this time round
00:59:03yes
00:59:04we have been
00:59:05voting against
00:59:06something
00:59:07and against
00:59:07someone
00:59:08and we will still
00:59:09vote against
00:59:10a regime
00:59:11that has killed us
00:59:12oh so deliberately
00:59:13but this time round
00:59:15for once
00:59:16we will vote
00:59:17for ourselves
00:59:18Kenyans will vote
00:59:20for the life
00:59:20they want
00:59:21this time round
00:59:23that's the difference
00:59:23between this election
00:59:24and all other elections
00:59:26and that's where
00:59:26you'll see
00:59:27politicians
00:59:28going somewhere
00:59:29to talk
00:59:29and people
00:59:30will chant
00:59:30them out
00:59:35because it is
00:59:36about me
00:59:37this time round
00:59:38and not about you
00:59:39and it doesn't
00:59:40matter your status
00:59:41even the wife
00:59:42of the former
00:59:43prime minister
00:59:43was chanted down
00:59:45you will be
00:59:46chanted down
00:59:46you know I think
00:59:48I tell people
00:59:49this often
00:59:50we are all
00:59:51related to someone
00:59:52yes
00:59:53you all know
00:59:54someone
00:59:54I know an MP
00:59:56you know an MCA
00:59:57we all know
00:59:58someone
00:59:59I think
00:59:59where we are
01:00:01right now
01:00:01it kind of
01:00:02equalizes
01:00:03the playing field
01:00:04we all could
01:00:05be someone
01:00:06that doesn't
01:00:07make you anyone
01:00:08just do your job
01:00:09be
01:00:10just be competent
01:00:12yes
01:00:12right
01:00:13and right now
01:00:13that is the awakening
01:00:14that is happening
01:00:15all over the country
01:00:17people are demanding
01:00:18results
01:00:19it is no longer
01:00:20about the euphoria
01:00:21because they have
01:00:22realized once the euphoria
01:00:23dies down
01:00:24it is you and your
01:00:25problems
01:00:26we are no different
01:00:28than anybody else
01:00:29when the floods come
01:00:30they'll find us all
01:00:31and nobody's coming
01:00:32to save us
01:00:33I think that is the
01:00:33realization we have
01:00:34also sat with
01:00:35and accepted
01:00:36that we are our
01:00:37own salvation
01:00:39and we are more
01:00:40than them
01:00:41so we can kick
01:00:42them all out
01:00:43so going forward
01:00:44then what should
01:00:45be our top
01:00:47political priority
01:00:48as a nation
01:00:50do you think
01:00:51heading towards
01:00:522027
01:00:53it is accepting
01:00:55that our economy
01:00:56is in shambles
01:00:56it has been in
01:00:58shambles for a long
01:00:59time
01:00:59we have just been
01:01:00trying to survive it
01:01:01it is accepting
01:01:02that this nation
01:01:03is deep in the heart
01:01:04of public debt
01:01:06we need a public
01:01:07debt audit
01:01:08ASAP
01:01:09and we need
01:01:10a leadership
01:01:11that is going
01:01:11to be willing
01:01:12to do a public
01:01:13debt audit
01:01:14it is for us
01:01:16to understand
01:01:17that this time
01:01:17around we are
01:01:18not voting
01:01:19against someone
01:01:20the priority
01:01:21is voting
01:01:21for ourselves
01:01:22in our future
01:01:23it is understanding
01:01:25that right now
01:01:26it is more about
01:01:26value-based leadership
01:01:28and not more
01:01:29about the euphoria
01:01:31and the drama
01:01:31and the populist
01:01:32narratives that
01:01:33they come up with
01:01:34it is about
01:01:36calling out
01:01:36bad leadership
01:01:37and it is about
01:01:38having conversations
01:01:39about the consequences
01:01:41of what will happen
01:01:44once the next
01:01:45leadership takes place
01:01:46what will happen
01:01:47to those people
01:01:48who have stolen
01:01:49public funds
01:01:50so that the next
01:01:51government
01:01:51it is only a fool
01:01:53who does the same
01:01:54thing and you
01:01:54expect different
01:01:55results
01:01:55so if we do not
01:01:56establish mechanisms
01:01:57to have consequences
01:01:59for theft
01:02:00and plunder
01:02:02of public resources
01:02:05then we will not
01:02:06be able to move
01:02:07forward
01:02:08so this time
01:02:09around 2027
01:02:10it needs to look
01:02:12like
01:02:12it is us
01:02:13on the chopping
01:02:15board
01:02:17so if you
01:02:18vote wrong
01:02:18you will be
01:02:19chopped
01:02:20literally
01:02:22you will be
01:02:23burying your
01:02:24children
01:02:24if you give
01:02:26this regime
01:02:26another chance
01:02:28so even as
01:02:29a campaign
01:02:31strategy
01:02:31the next person
01:02:32wants to come
01:02:33in should start
01:02:34by saying
01:02:34they won't
01:02:35kill children
01:02:37okay
01:02:38I think
01:02:39the one thing
01:02:41I really
01:02:41struggle with
01:02:42before we
01:02:43wrap up
01:02:45there's a
01:02:46phrase
01:02:46everyone
01:02:47has
01:02:48a price
01:02:49how would
01:02:50you fight
01:02:51that
01:02:51how do you
01:02:53fight
01:02:53if you
01:02:54theoretically
01:02:55were running
01:02:56for
01:02:57thicker
01:02:58MCA
01:02:59let's say
01:02:59in 2027
01:03:00and I
01:03:03come in
01:03:04with
01:03:04I'll give
01:03:05you 50
01:03:06million shillings
01:03:07to compromise
01:03:07your values
01:03:08how do you
01:03:09fight something
01:03:10like that
01:03:10if I'm
01:03:11empowered
01:03:12I will
01:03:13not see
01:03:14the lucrative
01:03:18thing around
01:03:19that
01:03:21so first of
01:03:22all it's
01:03:24I might
01:03:25not be
01:03:26empowered
01:03:26enough
01:03:27to refuse
01:03:2750 million
01:03:28right
01:03:30and many
01:03:31people aren't
01:03:32it's a lot
01:03:32of money
01:03:33it's all
01:03:33of us
01:03:34this is what
01:03:34happened
01:03:35this is
01:03:35I ask
01:03:36this question
01:03:37because
01:03:37during the
01:03:38protests
01:03:39in 2024
01:03:40we saw
01:03:42many
01:03:43up and
01:03:44coming
01:03:46influencers
01:03:46take
01:03:48money
01:03:49and find
01:03:50a softer
01:03:51life
01:03:53from
01:03:54whoever
01:03:55the
01:03:55generous
01:03:55benefactors
01:03:56were
01:03:56and
01:03:57you know
01:03:58you can't
01:03:58judge
01:03:59someone
01:03:59for that
01:04:00you know
01:04:0010 million
01:04:01shillings
01:04:01is a lot
01:04:02of money
01:04:025 million
01:04:03shillings
01:04:03is a lot
01:04:04of money
01:04:04how
01:04:05do you
01:04:06fight
01:04:07that
01:04:07if
01:04:08somebody
01:04:08was to
01:04:08come to
01:04:09you
01:04:09and say
01:04:10compromise
01:04:11your values
01:04:11for this
01:04:12amount
01:04:12of money
01:04:14what would
01:04:15you do
01:04:16that just
01:04:16comes down
01:04:16to you
01:04:17as a
01:04:17person
01:04:18what do
01:04:19you stand
01:04:19for
01:04:20what do
01:04:20you believe
01:04:21in
01:04:21so
01:04:22for one
01:04:23I think
01:04:23it's just
01:04:24you interrogate
01:04:25what you
01:04:25stand for
01:04:26and what
01:04:27you believe
01:04:27in
01:04:27and what
01:04:28is bigger
01:04:28is it
01:04:29your belief
01:04:30or the
01:04:31money
01:04:31because
01:04:32honestly
01:04:33but like
01:04:34you say
01:04:3450 million
01:04:34is a lot
01:04:35of money
01:04:36if we're
01:04:37being honest
01:04:3750 million
01:04:38is a lot
01:04:39of money
01:04:40it's life
01:04:40changing
01:04:41I wouldn't
01:04:43judge anyone
01:04:44who would
01:04:45take it
01:04:45so
01:04:48what stops
01:04:49you from
01:04:49doing it
01:04:50from compromising
01:04:51your values
01:04:52from your
01:04:52perspective
01:04:53my resolve
01:04:54my resolve
01:04:55is clear
01:04:56I want
01:04:56a better
01:04:57nation
01:04:58I do
01:04:59not want
01:05:00to see
01:05:00Kenyan
01:05:00suffering
01:05:01we have
01:05:02so much
01:05:02potential
01:05:03oh god
01:05:03I wish
01:05:04we were
01:05:04a desert
01:05:05nation
01:05:05I wish
01:05:06we were
01:05:07so
01:05:07disenfranchised
01:05:08by nature
01:05:09or by
01:05:10by
01:05:10you get
01:05:12like
01:05:12but we
01:05:12have
01:05:13everything
01:05:13within us
01:05:14to make
01:05:15ourselves
01:05:15a superpower
01:05:16in this
01:05:17continent
01:05:18in 20
01:05:19around
01:05:202050
01:05:21Africa
01:05:22will have
01:05:23the youngest
01:05:25youthful
01:05:25population
01:05:27in the
01:05:28world
01:05:28what are
01:05:29we going
01:05:30to do
01:05:30about that
01:05:30heck
01:05:31for heaven's sake
01:05:31Kenya
01:05:32has a
01:05:32median
01:05:32age of
01:05:3319
01:05:35we're
01:05:35just
01:05:36sitting
01:05:36here
01:05:36watching
01:05:37young
01:05:37people
01:05:37go
01:05:38their
01:05:39life
01:05:39go down
01:05:39the drain
01:05:40on
01:05:40drugs
01:05:40so you're
01:05:42saying
01:05:42and being
01:05:43idle
01:05:44let your
01:05:45principles
01:05:46power you
01:05:47through
01:05:48yeah
01:05:48and
01:05:49and
01:05:49despite
01:05:50the
01:05:5050
01:05:51million
01:05:51and
01:05:52you're
01:05:52foresight
01:05:52and you're
01:05:54imagining
01:05:54in
01:05:552052
01:05:56Africa
01:05:57rules
01:05:57the
01:05:57world
01:05:59we've
01:06:00taken
01:06:00advantage
01:06:01of the
01:06:01of our
01:06:02resources
01:06:02and our
01:06:03youth
01:06:03and our
01:06:04and Africa
01:06:05rules
01:06:05the world
01:06:06we'll do
01:06:08what in
01:06:08Kenya
01:06:08we'll do
01:06:09what India
01:06:09did
01:06:10we'll
01:06:10close
01:06:11ourselves
01:06:11here
01:06:11we'll
01:06:12stay
01:06:12with our
01:06:12tea
01:06:13for two
01:06:13years
01:06:14we'll
01:06:14tell you
01:06:15we're not
01:06:15giving you
01:06:15our tea
01:06:16and our
01:06:17coffee
01:06:17and when
01:06:18we open
01:06:18our tea
01:06:19and our
01:06:19coffee
01:06:19to you
01:06:20you're
01:06:20buying it
01:06:20at all
01:06:21you see
01:06:21what
01:06:21Traor has
01:06:22done
01:06:23first you
01:06:23go out
01:06:24we stay
01:06:25with our
01:06:25own
01:06:25things
01:06:25you see
01:06:26the value
01:06:26of our
01:06:27own
01:06:27things
01:06:27and then
01:06:27we sell
01:06:28you at
01:06:28the price
01:06:28that we
01:06:29want to
01:06:29give it
01:06:29to you
01:06:30Africa
01:06:30must rule
01:06:31the world
01:06:32in the
01:06:33next 20
01:06:33years
01:06:34you want
01:06:35to see
01:06:36prosperity
01:06:36absolutely
01:06:37of Africa
01:06:38of our
01:06:39people
01:06:40so for me
01:06:42where I'm
01:06:42seated
01:06:42it's not
01:06:43about me
01:06:44it's not
01:06:45about now
01:06:45it's about
01:06:47Kenya
01:06:47and it's not
01:06:48only about
01:06:49Kenya
01:06:49it's about
01:06:50Uganda
01:06:50and Tanzania
01:06:51thriving
01:06:52it's about
01:06:53DRC
01:06:54not being
01:06:55in war
01:06:56it's about
01:06:57every single
01:06:59African country
01:07:00coming together
01:07:01having a
01:07:02borderless
01:07:02Africa
01:07:03and telling
01:07:04these white
01:07:04people
01:07:05hey
01:07:05we have
01:07:06the resources
01:07:07now we're
01:07:08the bosses
01:07:09you're going
01:07:10to respect
01:07:10this black
01:07:11skin that
01:07:11you hate
01:07:12so much
01:07:12or just
01:07:13giving
01:07:13every African
01:07:14the freedom
01:07:16to live
01:07:17their life
01:07:17they want
01:07:18free from
01:07:19oppression
01:07:19free from
01:07:20poverty
01:07:21free from
01:07:23disease
01:07:24ignorance
01:07:25yes
01:07:25to be able
01:07:26to live
01:07:27the life
01:07:27you want
01:07:28it doesn't
01:07:28mean that
01:07:28we have
01:07:29to be
01:07:29the richest
01:07:31it's just
01:07:32to be able
01:07:32to live
01:07:33your life
01:07:33independently
01:07:34we are
01:07:36the richest
01:07:37they depend
01:07:39on us
01:07:39look at
01:07:40what France
01:07:40look at
01:07:41what happened
01:07:41to the economy
01:07:42of France
01:07:42when Traoré
01:07:43refused to
01:07:44give them
01:07:44their gold
01:07:45France almost
01:07:47crumbled
01:07:48they're struggling
01:07:49to get themselves
01:07:50back on their
01:07:51feet
01:07:51I envy
01:07:53those people
01:07:54so much
01:07:55I love
01:07:55that phrase
01:07:57Sophie
01:07:57Mugure
01:07:58Jehia
01:07:59thank you
01:08:00for joining
01:08:01us
01:08:01and sharing
01:08:03your perspectives
01:08:03she didn't
01:08:04ask me
01:08:05if I have
01:08:05any political
01:08:06ambitions
01:08:06I do
01:08:07we kind of
01:08:08spoke about
01:08:09it
01:08:10we kind of
01:08:10spoke about
01:08:112027
01:08:13tell us
01:08:14tell us
01:08:15so you're
01:08:16better elect
01:08:172027
01:08:18we see you
01:08:19on the ballot
01:08:20yes
01:08:21in Thicca
01:08:22Township
01:08:22Ward
01:08:22MCA
01:08:23we look
01:08:24forward to it
01:08:25we need
01:08:26more youth
01:08:26on the ballot
01:08:28we need
01:08:29more women
01:08:30on the ballot
01:08:31and we need
01:08:32more Kenyans
01:08:33like Kenyans
01:08:34for Kenyans
01:08:35people who
01:08:35believe in
01:08:36we should
01:08:37call it
01:08:37the Kenyan
01:08:38dream
01:08:38I don't
01:08:38know what
01:08:39we call
01:08:39it
01:08:39something
01:08:40like
01:08:40what we
01:08:41aspire to
01:08:42as a
01:08:43people
01:08:43the Kenyan
01:08:44African
01:08:44dream
01:08:45say it
01:08:46again
01:08:46yeah
01:08:47the Kenyan
01:08:47African
01:08:48dream
01:08:49thank you
01:08:50so much
01:08:51for tuning
01:08:52in this
01:08:53episode
01:08:53and to
01:08:54season
01:08:54two
01:08:55of
01:08:55Straight
01:08:55Talk
01:08:56and we
01:08:57continue
01:08:57to ask
01:08:58difficult
01:08:59questions
01:09:00and create
01:09:01spaces
01:09:01and host
01:09:03conversations
01:09:03about our
01:09:05country's
01:09:06future
01:09:07I'm Yvonne
01:09:09keep the
01:09:10conversation
01:09:11going
01:09:23and
01:09:29on
01:09:29one
01:09:29two
01:09:30one
01:09:30two
01:09:30two
01:09:30You