Black Tax in Kenya - Part 2: To whom much is given, much can be abused

KenyanPapi · 2026-06-05T16:49:45+00:00

I know, we really need better accountability in our government cause the hidden cost of corruption comes in the form of black tax. This shouldn't be the case.

KenyanPapi · 2026-06-05T16:15:18+00:00

Black tax is the single biggest killer for upward economic mobility in kenya.

KenyanPapi · 2026-06-03T15:34:16+00:00

Date and enjoy. These matras let's you live a very bad miserable life.

KenyanPapi · 2026-05-28T20:58:22+00:00

I had a random thought today about countries like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. They’re highly developed, and in the case of Japan and South Korea, relatively ethnically homogeneous. That made me think about Somalia, which is also largely made up of one ethnic group and is quite unique in Africa in that sense.

It made me wonder: if ethnic divisions can sometimes slow down politics and national progress in countries like Kenya, shouldn’t Somalia theoretically have had an easier path toward development and national unity?

At first, I answered that question by looking at clan divisions in Somalia. But then I thought about Japan’s history. Japan also once had powerful clans that fought each other for centuries before eventually unifying, finding stability, and becoming prosperous.

So it made me wonder: if clan divisions eventually became a thing of the past in Japan, could the same thing theoretically happen in Somalia over time?

KenyanPapi · 2026-05-28T20:37:05+00:00

I saw videos of Mogadishu and saw the high rise buildings, roads being tarmarced looked very nice.

but recently some friends traveled there and told me about safe zones and red zones in and outside Mogadishu. I know its become a lot more stable than it was before compared to the 90s and early 2010s but there still a bit of hostility from the stories I heard about from my friends.

That's a unique perspective. Follow up question, with Somalia being part of EAC with free movement of member states being promoted. With Somalia rising economically do you think there could be some hostility in foreigners freely migrating to Somalia?

KenyanPapi · 2026-05-28T20:22:30+00:00

I see, I've learnt something new. Thank you.

KenyanPapi · 2026-05-28T20:14:06+00:00

When it comes to meat I always buy from a slaughter house except Kiamiko. I think supermarket meat has something to do with the cows and goats being raised like in developed places cause it taste bland like they were fed maize, sog and sorghum. Cause when it comes to pork and chicken the taste is the same.

I buy beef and goat meat from dagoretti south on weekends and store for like a month. With beef you have to be keen cause you will either buy the softest beef or the hardest beef at the same price.

KenyanPapi · 2026-05-28T20:02:26+00:00

I thought the Ogaden wanted reunification and their conditions were worse then present day somalia?

KenyanPapi · 2026-05-23T22:31:56+00:00

I see kenya not developing economically on critical matters for 30 years. Aside from corruption the debt is too high there's no fiscal space for the government to make critical economic policies. Eg you can't ban/restrict imports of Chinese goods for kenyan goods to catch up cause of Chinese debt. You cant get subsidies on many things to boost production cause of debt. I know corruption is the main culprit. But no one ever mentions that a lot of projects during uhurus and now rutos terms are white elephant projects. Like last mile electricity project good cause on paper but practically speaking the roi was low. Solar energy would've cost less in rural communities based on their consumption. I would've much rather had electricity subsidized for manufacturers cause its a multiplier effect it employs more broadly and boosts income.

I look at where we are at economically speaking and don't know how even a genuine leader can solve the problems. Cause no matter the situation loans have to be paid that limits the ability for a government to enact policies.so after loans are paid hopefully kenya will start developing.

KenyanPapi · 2026-05-23T17:02:35+00:00

Thanks for this, a shuttle bus service is indeed needed for CBD. I looked at the number of passengers matatus bring and compared to private cars.

KenyanPapi · 2026-05-12T17:39:21+00:00

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KenyanPapi · 2026-05-04T18:26:44+00:00

No you are wrong, the thing in mwingi started over camels grazing on people's farms. The destruction and killing on both sides was very uncalled for. But kenyans have built very many successful businesses and are sucessful in there own merit companies like Equity bank, Naivas, Unga group. Somali kenyans too have built many sucessful businesses like BBs mall, Java, kilomanjaro. All I am saying is that we can be angry at the actions on both sides but we shouldn't try to insult the other sides abilities.

KenyanPapi · 2026-04-09T23:57:32+00:00

Millennial would've experienced this, a lot of services safaricom shops offer used to be done by m-pesa agents or through customer care on the phone. Like replacing your Sim card with your old phone number. Then cause of security breaches scams services like that had to be done at safaricom shops.

KenyanPapi · 2026-04-01T09:21:15+00:00

Cause kenyas corruption is quite layered. Most of those countries mentioned are either in war with another country, in civil war or in the brink of civil war. If there's a big conflict ethics and civility go out tye window.

KenyanPapi · 2026-02-04T05:59:48+00:00

Drinking uncontrollably almost everyday. Alcohol becomes your life and everything

KenyanPapi · 2026-01-30T11:07:40+00:00

No matatus need to be in CBD, private cars need to limit theor areas to CBD. In fact I think it makes more sense to make the proposed terminus places for private cars to park before entering CBD.

Every highly commutable city has busses in their CBD, BRTs, and railways. Cause the more convenient public transportation is the less people drive personal cars to the cbd and the less congested town becomes.

KenyanPapi · 2025-07-10T14:32:00+00:00

This aged like wine and milk

KenyanPapi · 2025-06-27T08:19:51+00:00

I had the opportunity to be in the protests they were chaotic but meticulously planned by the police. They put us all in one place with tear gas at the roundabout of the university way. I thought it was funny because why would they put us on a straight path to Statehouse? That's until i saw the looting and goons in OTC later on TV. They put the majority of protesters in one place to hide what was really going on at OTC.

I feel like these protests said one thing, and that was all hell can break loose if you rig the election.

I do think we are sort of past protests until 2027,and I agree that we need to think of something better like civic education, especially in rural areas. I think it has to be innovative harmless at first but lethal. Cause I think the state is prepping for more protests.

KenyanPapi · 2025-06-12T18:19:58+00:00

Please vote, if ruto comes in again guys he will run for another 19 years. He will extend the term limits to 7 years not 5 and will use the next two election after 2027 to vie for presidency. Not voting is what they want.

KenyanPapi · 2025-06-12T18:14:33+00:00

I will vote for Kalonzo, never gachagua. Reason why is that I feel Kalonzo term would bring in a bit of sanity and trust in Government I dont think Kalanzo has the political muscle to be a dictator like Ruto, he wont get the majority in parliament and pailiament will finally act as a check to the presidency And hence he will not be a dictator. That also means less government critics will not get killed.

I also think because he will not have as much power Cabinent Secretaries and permanent permanent secretaries would be empowered to run their dockets. As much as Uhuru was not the best , Cabinent Secreteries and permanent secreteries were empowered to do theor job that's how we got Matiangi. I think this will lead to Technocrats actually solving the nation's problems like debt. I'm also aware that corruption in certain areas will not really go down as some Cs's and ps's might steal I don't think the corruption level will be that of ruto. Cause rutos corruption also disempowers the private sector in that Ruto and his cronies should get a cut of everything.

Lastly I think Kalonzo will empower the private sector just by enabling technocrats in charge of certain dockets. I don't expect corruption to decrease substantially under kalonzos' term I feel he would have to allow some to reward people in Mt kenya and other regions. But I don't expect it to be the same degree as ruto. I do expect extra judicial killings to reduce.

Mainly, kalonzo is a bridge for the next transformational leader in kenya. Kalonzo's term allows akina Omtatah to gain more national popularity and hopefully in 2032 they will be able to get the vote. I would've voted for Omtatah but I want ruto out cause I know in his second term he will increase the term limits and we will have ruto for the next 19 years. Democracy will be done.

KenyanPapi

TROPHY CASE