CS Treasury Ukur Yattani accompanied by other leaders fromNorth Eastern speaks during a press briefing held at Serena Hotel Nairobi on Thursday, 2nd September.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani has defended the government’s heavy borrowing, saying that it is strictly for development purposes.

Speaking to Radio Jambo on Friday, the CS said that the development needed will not be achieved with what the country has.

“Mambo ya deni si sisi peke yetu, ni dunia nzima. Ukitaka maendeleo ya haraka ni lazima ukope. Hatuchukui deni kulipa watu mishahara, tunakopa kufanyia maendeleo,” said Yatani.

This translates to, “We are not the only ones borrowing, the whole world does. If you want fast development you have to borrow. We don’t borrow to pay salaries but for development.”

He added, “It would take us years to build infrastructure like roads, water, communication and electricity but with borrowing we get development and Kenyans have access to faster service delivery and a conducive business environment.”

He went on to say that the government has a plan for repaying the debts and that Kenyans should not worry.

Yatani noted that if the government had enough resources, there would be no need to tax citizens.

During the interview, the CS also defended the move to form Upya Movement, a team of leaders from Northeastern Kenya believed to be allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

According to Yatani, the movement’s aim is to bring together Kenyans and have them focus on one agenda.

On who they will support in 2022, the CS said, “We decided to support our president because he cares about us. Whichever direction he gives that’s where we’ll go.

“He also noted that politics affects the economy, which is the reason he decided to bring the leaders together.