Let's make Kenya beautiful and future-proof

While our neighbour, Ethiopia with a population of 132 million has presently GDP of $127 billion, Kenya with lesser population of 56 million has a GDP of $113 billion, only about a 12 per cent difference. The world ranking of Kenya’s higher education performance and cultural sporting values is good. The democratic constitutional governance practices have also remained respectable since December 12th, 1964 when Kenya became a republic. 

Despite all these steady political, economic and social progress during the last six decades of our independence, the anxieties of a majority of Kenyans are rising. They feel cold breezes of poverty, joblessness and maladministration blowing shortfalls of economic goods and services. Local newspapers scream in their daily headlines these worries of citizens, among others.

“A survey shows 49 per cent of Kenyans unhappy, Kenya’s public debt now reaches $80 billion. The greatest problems facing Nairobi today are poverty and population density, University for the rich, Misplaced priorities”. What is not going on right? How can Kenya, the beautiful, future-proof its political, economic and strategic visions for the decade ahead, 2025-2034? 

To this end, five problem-solving levers can ensure a happier, greater Kenya during this decade before us, starting next year, 2025. First, future-proof high-performance standards of national values for economic, political and governance services. We are a nation of courage, discipline and achievements. Kenya is also a nation of peace, love and unity.

All key branches of the national and county governments have to play well their systemic parts, knowing that the whole of anything is greater than its parts. Kenyans are calling for policy executions without excuses that sound daily like, “The dog ate my homework”.

Second, sustainable economic growth. To deliver growth demands smart investments in strategic sectors such as agriculture, livestock, manufacturing, tourism and technology. Our GDP has to reach over $130 billion soon to cater for all the needs of our population growing at 2 per cent yearly. Kenya’s international friends such as UK, US, China and Japan can become handy here.

Third, a high-quality infrastructure and energy. High-quality infrastructure and energy provide better efficiency, increased public safety and effective delivery of goods and services. Fourth, conservation of our natural environment. 

Fifth, competitive, vibrant education and employment creation. As a nation, we have done well in the education sector generally where Kenya ranks 7th in Africa with 55.4 points and 78.7 per cent literacy rate. Presently, however, there are funding problems with the universities while the teachers’ unions are not satisfied with their remunerations.

The country can grow from third-world to first-world standards in a few decades. Let our experience-based deep smarts in the national and county governments work smarter, and plan ahead to make Kenya, a beautiful, future-proof performance, asset-light nation.

The writer comments on topical issues.