The government’s proposal to sell a 15% stake in Safaricom to Vodacom has ignited a firestorm in the villages. In Mbale, Vihiga County, a public participation forum turned into a heated referendum on the state’s economic strategy, revealing a nation deeply divided over the sale of its "family silver."

The proposition is high-stakes: raise a colossal Ksh 204 billion to plug the budget deficit and fund infrastructure, or hold onto the shares of the region's most profitable company. For the residents of Vihiga, the abstract billions were less important than the tangible fear of losing national sovereignty over a strategic asset. The room was split, mirroring the schism in the national psyche between desperate pragmatism and patriotic protectionism.

"Selling the Cow to Buy Milk"

Critics at the forum, led by vocal residents like Idi Sufuria, accused the government of short-termism. "Why rush to sell a company that gives us golden eggs?" was the recurring sentiment. The fear is that by ceding more control to Vodacom—a foreign entity—Kenya is effectively outsourcing its digital sovereignty. They view the transaction not as a business deal, but as "blunt theft" of public heritage.

Conversely, supporters argued that the country is drowning in debt and cannot afford to sit on liquid assets. For them, if selling shares means building roads in Vihiga and keeping taxes stable, it is a bitter pill worth swallowing. This faction sees the sale as a necessary evil to unlock development funds that are otherwise unavailable.

• The Price Tag Debate: The deal is priced at Ksh 34 per share, a premium over the current market rate of roughly Ksh 29. While the government calls this a "too good to ignore" offer, skeptics wonder if the long-term dividend loss outweighs the one-off cash injection.
• The Accountability Deficit: The loudest demand from the floor was not about the sale itself, but the proceeds. "If this sale happens, the money should help all regions," residents warned, reflecting a deep mistrust in the government's ability to use the windfall prudently.

A National Dilemma

The Vihiga forum is a microcosm of the wider Kenyan anxiety. The Safaricom share sale is more than a financial transaction; it is a test of the social contract. Can the government convince the people that this divestiture is for their good, or will it go down in history as the moment Kenya sold its crown jewel to pay the rent?

As the parliamentary team led by Dr. Daniel Manduku compiles its report, the message from Mbale is clear: Proceed with extreme caution. The people are watching, and they are doing the math.