Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has publicly criticised Thika MP Alice Wambui Ng’ang’a for suggesting that President William Ruto could sell key public assets such as Safaricom or the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) if he believed it would benefit the country.
In a strongly worded post on social media on Monday, Salasya described Ng’ang’a’s advice as reckless and potentially harmful to Kenya’s long-term economic interests.
While acknowledging their personal friendship, he warned that the sale of strategic companies could undermine national security and economic stability.
“Mheshimiwa, wewe ni rafiki yangu na mtu mzuri aliye na maisha ya mafanikio,” Salasya wrote before issuing a sharp critique of her suggestion.
“Mheshimiwa, wewe ni rafiki yangu na mtu mzuri aliye na maisha ya mafanikio,” Salasya wrote before issuing a sharp critique of her suggestion.
He compared selling such parastatals to a man who marries a widow and then sells off property left by her late husband for personal gain, implying it would be unwise and unethical.
Salasya argued that these companies are not ordinary commercial entities but pillars of national infrastructure.
Salasya argued that these companies are not ordinary commercial entities but pillars of national infrastructure.
He cited examples of other countries, such as Dubai, where the state retains control over transport and communications, and Ethiopia, where the government fully owns its national telecoms firm.
“Any developed country treasures what it owns. Kenya should not hand over critical systems to foreign interests,” he said.
He emphasised that selling Safaricom or KPC would weaken Kenya’s control over vital sectors, potentially compromising national interests.
The comments come amid heightened debate over the Ruto administration’s plans to partially privatise Safaricom and KPC.
“Any developed country treasures what it owns. Kenya should not hand over critical systems to foreign interests,” he said.
He emphasised that selling Safaricom or KPC would weaken Kenya’s control over vital sectors, potentially compromising national interests.
The comments come amid heightened debate over the Ruto administration’s plans to partially privatise Safaricom and KPC.
The government intends to sell a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom to Vodafone, a move projected to raise approximately Sh240.5 billion, which will be channelled to the National Sovereign Fund and the National Infrastructure Fund.
The privatisation plan has faced criticism from opposition leaders, including Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka, who argue that the process is opaque and undervalues public assets.
The privatisation plan has faced criticism from opposition leaders, including Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka, who argue that the process is opaque and undervalues public assets.
Similarly, plans to privatise KPC have faced legal challenges, with the High Court halting the sale temporarily over concerns about transparency and compliance.
Despite the controversy, President Ruto has defended the privatisation efforts as necessary to fund development projects and stimulate economic growth.
Despite the controversy, President Ruto has defended the privatisation efforts as necessary to fund development projects and stimulate economic growth.
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