The 2018 Finance Act, one of the most controversial in recent times, was passed into law on 21st September 2018 despite public opposition. Today we're joined by Mokeira Nyagaka, a research analyst at the International Budget Partnership Kenya, to talk about public finance, which is the management of a country’s revenue, expenditure and debt through government institutions.
Do our public finance policies help us achieve growth, stability, equity and efficiency? Are they in line with our constitution? What is a finance bill, and what is its role in public finance? What are the other laws that govern public finance in Kenya, and how do they interact? Is revenue shared equitably between the national government and county governments? What does Kenya's debt position mean for our future? What is the role of the Kenyan public when it comes to public finance? Press play to find out!
Resources
The 2018 budget speech in full
The Public Finance Management Act (2012)
The Budget Policy Statement (BPS), 2018
The Consolidated Fund Services (CFS) Report by the Controller of Budget
Quarterly Economic and Budgetary Review
How Much Should Counties in Kenya Receive in 2018/19?
How Fair are Revenue Sharing Mechanisms in Fighting Intra-County Inequalities in Kenya?
Budget Transparency: Kenyan Perspective
Deliberating Budgets: How Public Deliberation Can Move Us Beyond the Public Participation Rhetoric
The Kenyan Public Finance Management Act 2012 FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) For Citizens
Public Participation Under Kenya’s New Public Financial Management Law and Beyond
Beginning September 1st 2018, 16% VAT was applied on petroleum products, sparking nationwide uproar. This tax on petroleum products was first proposed by the VAT Act (2013) and scheduled to kick in in September 2016. However, in 2016, it was postponed by another 2 years. Before the price increase, petrol was KES 113.73, diesel was KES 102.74 and kerosene was KES 84.95 in Nairobi. After VAT was applied on September 1st, the price of petrol became KES 127.80, diesel KES 115.00 and kerosene KES 97.41.
Kenyans are now paying 44% in taxes per litre of fuel. We're joined by Ramah Nyang, a journalist, to discuss this increase in tax and the effects it will have on Kenyans' lives. Press play!
Resources
Fuel VAT to raise prices by up to Sh17 per litre
Treasury to take Sh57.57 for every litre of petrol sold
Kenyans big losers if fuel prices rise
Tough times ahead as prices of basic goods, services set to rise
Minority Whip Junet Mohamed seeks to delay tax plan on fuel
Uhuru cuts fuel VAT to 8%, State hospitality expenditure
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: Economic Survey 2018
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: INFLATION TRENDS 1961-PRESENT
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: Integrated Household Budget Survey
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: Consumer Price Indices and Inflation Rates for August 2018
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics: Quarterly Gross Domestic Product Report First Quarter, 2018
In the August 2017 general election, we had 9 women running for Governor, 25 for Senate, 115 for Member of National Assembly (MNA), and 261 for Member of County Assembly (MCA). That was a total of 410 women aspirants, which was even lower than the number in the 2013 election, which was 449. To compare, the total number of candidates for these positions was: 210 for Governor, 1,893 for both MNA and Senate, 11,858 for MCA, and 8 men are running for president. Only 9% of the candidates were women.
Three women made history by becoming Kenya's first female governors, and three others became the first elected female senators (in 2013, all women in the Senate had been nominated). We're joined by Nanjala Nyabola, a writer, humanitarian advocate and political analyst, to talk about women and the 2017 elections, and where women are based on the findings of a book she co-edited: "Where Women Are: Gender & The 2017 Kenyan Elections". Press play!
Resources
Where Women Are: Gender & The 2017 Kenyan Elections
A Gender Analysis of the 2017 Kenya General Elections
Key Gains and Challenges: A Gender Audit of Kenya's 2013 Election Process
Flower Girls, Girlfriends and Sexist Discourse: The Politics of the Two-Thirds Gender Bill
Women Contributions in Parliament
An Overview of the 2017 General Election
Women gear up for elections in Kenya
“They Were Men in Uniform”: Sexual Violence against Women and Girls in Kenya’s 2017 Elections
OUR UNLAWFUL LAWMAKERS: Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Gender Principle
Why we cannot change the Constitution without violating it
Last Week, BBC Africa Eye released a three part series titled Sex and the Sugar Daddy (or Sugar in short) that has driven a lot of conversation about sponsors both online and offline. Today we’re joined by the film-maker behind the series, Nyasha Kadandara, to talk about why she made the series, what she learned, and what she thinks the way forward is. Press play!
Resources
Bridget Achieng: "Baby girl, nothing goes for nothing" - BBC Africa Eye
"If he's asking me to sleep with him, I will" - BBC Africa Eye
"Sometimes, sex ain't wrong at all" - BBC Africa Eye
Sugar dating in Kenya: An investigation of ‘Sponsorship’ among female university students in Nairobi
Image Credit: BBC