Economist Kwame Owino’s most vicious responses during Housing Fund debate

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) CEO Kwame Owino has become an overnight rock star on Twitter after he effortlessly tore apart the government's hugely-unpopular Housing Fund rigmarole.

Speaking during a debate on the Finance Bill hosted by Citizen TV on Wednesday night, the straight-shooting economist delivered countless knockouts as the visibly dazed Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga looked on.

In a viral interview that has since found a life of its own, Owino deconstructed the Housing Fund saga, poking holes into the entire idea while at the same time taking Kenyans back to class on matters government priority.

While pulling no punches, Owino floated around the topic, delivering quotable gems which immediately lit up the internet and made rounds across all Kenyan social media platforms.

"Kenyans…anybody who has the chance to listen to me, I am not an elected Member of Parliament, I’m not seeking election and I don’t work for the government. Let me tell you, this is a bad idea,” he started off.

In a sustained broadside against the proposed fund, Owino went on, even as Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria struggled to calm the waters by injecting a few anecdotes here and there.

Here are a few of the now popular economist’s most quotable quips from Wednesday night's wild and memorable TV storm:

"The jobs you are promising will not come. There are 14 million households in Kenya, if 14 million households have not created jobs, why do these guys think that creating 250,000 in one year will create those jobs?"

"The income level when the housing fund started in Singapore was three times what it is in Kenya today."

"The problem you are trying to solve is not a housing problem, it is an income problem to begin with!"

"I respect the professionalism within government, but I have to tell you that you’ve got the economics and funding model wrong."

"This is a bad idea. The problem is not a housing problem. The problem is that people do not have enough income to be able to pay for houses."

And as the flames swept Twitter, a defiant Owino doubled down on his sentiments, telling off his critics in classic fashion.

"Dear Kenya Kwanza blowhards. I know my interview today blew away your bubble about terrible & unpopular housing ideas. Calling me an Azimio supporter is not even half as smelly as your Housing Levy Slush Fund. Just grow up!" he tweeted.

For a man aptly named Kwame, he sure is living up to his name.