Raila Odinga Opposition leader has cautioned the government against move to sell some strategic state corporations warning it will be counterproductive. Odinga  singled out Kenya Pipeline Corporation arguing that it will lead to increase in oil prices in the country. He said KPC is very critical to the country’s economy to be left in private hands.

Speaking during the thanksgiving ceremony in Kisii for Governor Simba Arati, the former prime minister said that  , he will give a comprehensive statement on the implications of selling the company state corporations.

“The government wants to sell state corporations, Kenya Pipeline Corporation and National Oil Corporation are among them. KPC is a critical investment that should not be sold under any circumstances. But the government wants to sell it. If Kenya Pipeline Corporation goes into private hands, fuel prices will go high and the cost of living will also be high. KPC is a critical investment that should not be sold under any circumstances.” Odinga said.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and governors Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Paul Otuoma (Busia), Raila was accompanied by, among other leaders accompanied Raila Odinga. The Azimio leader also criticize Kenya Kwanza for blaming retired President Uhuru Kenyatta one year after taking office. He said blame game is a confirmation that the government has no solution to the current mess ravaging the country.

“From blaming the retired President Uhuru Kenyata to increased taxation, this government has all the markings of failing to deliver on its mandate. They have been blaming Uhuru Kenyatta for their problems and that he left empty coffers, but it’s been one year, something should be happening. The Kenya Kwanza government has failed to deliver on its mandate to the people and that’s why it keeps increasing taxes.” He added

Kalonzo said Azimio  la umoj party leader Raila Odinga will push for a meaningful intervention in reducing the cost of living, which he noted that has pushed most Kenyans to the edge and some can not  afford  some basic needs.

“We have seen many officers resorting to suicide after their payslip have been invaded, we will ensure we have some of these taxes reduced,” Kalonzo said.

Raila said the move is ill-advised and that the corporations should not be sold to private hands. Others are Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). Kenya Literature Bureau, National Oil Corporation, Kenya Seed Company Limited, Mwea Rice Mills, Western Kenya Rice Mills Limited, Kenya Pipeline Company, New Kenya Cooperative Creameries, Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers Limited, Rivatex East Africa Limited and Numerical Machining Complex.

“We have identified the first 35 companies that we are going to offer to the private sector. We have another close to 100 we are working with financial advisers on what to do,” President William Ruto said when opening the ceremony African Stock Exchanges Association’s annual meeting in Nairobi.

The government revealed that one of the reasons it was selling the Kenya Literature Bureau and KICC was because the two parastatals needed to be incorporated into limited companies. Kenya last privatised a state-owned company in 2008 with an initial public offering for 25 per cent of the shares in telecommunications firm Safaricom.

 By Janet Namalwa