mkate_nusu wrote:Ericsson wrote:@VituVingiSana
You are right.The ksh.20bn infrastructure bond floated in May is for paying contractors not the water and energy projects being advertised.
These debts will swallow us alive
If used judiciously these loans can help us but we have shady projects eg NYS that have consumed billions while producing less than what has been pumped in.
Look at political projects that have benefitted the corrupt eg bailouts of Mumias, Panpaper and KQ. These bailouts are at the expense of taxpayers.
If GoK were to STOP (reduce) borrowing from the local market, the rest of us could afford to borrow and build institutions.
Why would a factory owner expand when he has to pay 20%? He would rather put his "downpayment" money in T-Bonds.
Why would a farmer buy more land or build new sheds or plant a new variety when the risk of default is high? He could lose his farm.
I know many local manufacturers and farmers who would EXPAND their production capacity if they could access loans at 8% instead of 20% (or more). Instead, we are IMPORTING many goods/services because the financial risk is very high.
I expect banks to reduce NEW lending but they will restructure & refinance loans of borrowers in distress. I want to see a growth in lending in Agriculture and Manufacturing NOT "imports" and malls!
Greedy when others are fearful. Very fearful when others are greedy - to paraphrase Warren Buffett