David Ndii (born in Kiambu, Kenya) is an economist, a columnist, and an author. The Telegraph has described him as "one of Africa's best known economists and an outspoken anti-corruption crusader".[1]
David Ndii | |
|---|---|
David Ndii, 2017 | |
| Born | David Ndii Kiambu, Kenya |
| Nationality | Kenya |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation(s) | Economist, columnist, journalist |
| Spouse | Mwende Gatabaki |
Early life and education
He is a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University and an Eisenhower Fellow.[2] Ndii holds a doctorate and master's degrees in economics from Oxford, masters and bachelor's degrees from the University of Nairobi.[3]
Politics
For several years,[when?] he was chief strategist of the National Super Alliance.[4][5][1]
In recent years[when?] he has been an open critic of the economic policy of the Uhuru Kenyatta administration, writing several open letters and tweets criticizing the government's economic policies and borrowing of loans. This, among other things, led to him being barred from accessing the Technical University of Mombasa for "security reasons".[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][excessive citations]
Ndii opposed Kenyatta and Prime Minister Raila Odinga's signature handshake project, the Building Bridges Initiative. Together with other activists, he petitioned the High Court of Kenya in the landmark David Ndii & Others V. Attorney General & Others case which was argued all the way to the Supreme Court of Kenya leading to the collapse of the Building Bridges Initiative.[15][16]
He would go on to support the presidential bid of William Ruto. He subsequently was involved in the crafting of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto which was anchored on the bottom-up economic agenda.[17][18] After Ruto won the Presidency, Ndii was appointed the chairperson of the President's Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) in President Ruto's State House.[19][20]
More recently, David Ndii has been responding to tweets on X (formerly Twitter) about government policy with what one news source called "unspeakable language" that implies he lacks confidence in the government.[21] In one instance, he tweeted, "We will leave Kenya as corrupt as we found it. On this Sunday I suggest you contemplate your own life and leave the other sinners to contemplate theirs. Tomorrow we go back to matters Ceaser."[22]
Career
He is the chairman of the board of Zimele Asset Management Company Limited and the managing director of African Economics.[23][24]
Ndii has previously served as an economic advisor to the Government of Rwanda and led the NARC Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) taskforce which was widely credited with the post-2003 economic recovery in Kenya.[25][26][3] He cofounded Kenya's first independent policy think tank, the Institute of Economic Affairs, together with Prof. Anyang' Nyong'o.[27]
Ndii lectured at Strathmore University.[3]
References
- ^ a b Blomfield, Adrian (4 December 2017). "Opposition campaigner David Ndii arrested in Kenya as political crises deepens". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "David Ndii, the scholar and economist who designed graft index". Daily Nation. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "Safaricom Journalism". www.sbs.strathmore.edu. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ Ruto, Japhet (19 February 2020). "Uhuru has no legacy, his govt has impoverished Kenyans – David Ndii". Tuko.co.ke – Kenya news.
- ^ Shiundu, Linda (5 March 2018). "NASA strategist David Ndii renounces his Kikuyu tribe in favor of Luo". Tuko.co.ke – Kenya news.
- ^ Nyaguthie, Racheal (7 April 2020). "Sit on a pin: Mutahi Ngunyi tells off David Ndii over Uhuru's radio interview in Kikuyu". Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ Ndii, David. "Open Letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta". Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "About David Ndii on kenyans.co.ke". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Kitimo, Anthony. "Top activists meeting cancelled for security reasons". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Mbati, John. "Kenyan Activists Who Ruffled Govt Feathers in 2019". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Launch of the Okoa Mombasa Coalition on 2 November 2019". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Economist David Ndii insults Uhuru in vernacular over division of revenue". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Otieno, Brian. "Okoa Mombasa to sue TUM for going back on deal". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Kenyans react to reports that China may take over Mombasa port". Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ Muriungi, Muriuki. "The Kenyan High Court's BBI Judgment – I: Constitutional Amendment through Popular Initiative | OHRH". Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Kenya's Supreme Court declares BBI unconstitutional". The East African. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ Muia, Joseph (6 July 2022). "David Ndii Explains Kenya Kwanza 'Special' Strategy Of Fighting Corruption". Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ KISIA, ALLAN (3 May 2021). "Ruto, Kibaki era economists agree on 2022 power plan". The Star Kenya.
- ^ Thiongó, Josphat. "William Ruto names key State House officials ending anxious wait". The Standard. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Ruto hands his allies plum State House jobs". The Star. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ NTV Kenya (2024). David Ndii defends G-to-G fuel deal and government borrowing in heated online debate. Retrieved from https://x.com/ntvkenya/status/1738633962644287600.
- ^ Ndii, David (2024). Commentary on Kenyan governance and corruption. Retrieved from https://x.com/DavidNdii/status/1835250784071499931.
- ^ "Board of Directors – Zimele Asset Management Company". Zimele Asset Management Company. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ "About David Ndii on nation.co.ke". Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ Mabinda, Amos. "Profiles of President Ruto appointees". The Standard. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Board of Directors". Zimele Asset Management. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Institute of Economic Affairs". onthinktanks.org. Retrieved 4 November 2022.