Self-Interested Politicians in Kenya

Some people try to downplay the role of local political leaders in explaining sub-Saharan Africa's dismal economic performance.  A recent vote in Kenya suggests they should not.

The 2004 Nobel peace laureate Wangari Maathai has criticised her fellow MPs for increasing their travel allowance.  She told the BBC that the government had been wrong to approve a rise to some $4,500 a month at a time of food shortages and destructive floods.  MPs had threatened to block famine relief legislation unless it was paid.

There you have it.  They will vote for famine relief only if they can use more public money for travel.  Story here.