Our leaders' appetite for more money is insatiable

The Court of Appeal rightfully quashed the payment of a staggering Sh8 billion to Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs), who believed they were entitled to such allowances despite not working for them. An earlier ruling by the High Court had them walking on air.

The Court of Appeal's decision saved taxpayers from further extortion. The debt that we will pay, the loans borrowed to pay the debts we have, all these resources have been mismanaged by our leaders with responsible authorities struggling to explain such occurrences.

Despite gains made by devolution, our leaders are bleeding this country dry. They will fight each other politically but become friends when it is time to fight for more money. Just the other day, leaders from rival parties angrily protested against proposals to cut down their pay.

Despite their public rivalry, both sides of the political divide were united in a monetary marriage. The leaders also control vast resources which they use to bribe their way back to power in every election. However much they have, they still seek for more at the expense of the poor.

The heroes we celebrate today put the people’s needs before theirs. They did not clamor for better pay. Some never had cars. They walked, cycled and used public means of transport; their children went to local schools. This is the kind of leadership we have buried in trusting our so-called ‘enlightened’ and 'digital' leaders of today.

Money, they say, is never enough. But it is time someone put a leash on our leaders’ appetite for our money. If this fails, we should consider holding a referendum and take back some of their powers.