Ours is a complaining nation. Murmurs of discontent with the leadership and economy are part of every conversation. Our media is awash with ‘experts’ giving opinions and analysing the situation from different angles. And in most cases, they do not have the "correct" and comprehensive answers.
Every ‘expert’ has an opinion about some aspects of the problem and about what needs to be done. One thing we cannot fail to notice is that the common thread is a leadership problem. This problem is primarily the cause of our economic predicament as a country.
In growing democracies such as Kenya, most of the "big" issues of modern life—social, economic, environmental, and technological—are likely to be controversial. Interestingly, Kenyans will make light of these issues on social media, perhaps as a coping mechanism.
Contextually, the big issues that Kenyans face are indeed very real—they shape our daily lives every day. Many of these issues seem messy and intractable. In a political year like 2022, these issues are fodder for politicians.
The other reality is that the election fever will soon be a thing of the past and we shall be preoccupied with our own growth as individuals and that of the country. The growth of the country through economic prosperity should be the single most important agenda as we go to the polls. It is not surprising that the politicians seem to be aligning their agenda along the aspiration of growing the economy.
What next for the growth agenda?
Today, more than ever, every discussion around economic growth comes with a caveat around corruption and the need for a strategic and tactical approach to stop all forms of corruption. This calls for assertive leadership that is bold enough to tackle some of the systemic structures that allow corruption to thrive unabated.
This goes beyond the rhetoric that we have seen in the past. It requires a renewed zeal to reset the country’s growth trajectory for success. In the new world, the millennials and Generation Z will demand leadership from their tribes, parties or patrons. We must be bold and change the course of our destiny.
These are some of the big questions that will shape discussions around economic development for years to come that are responsive and inclusive to the realities of the day. As one of the leading economies in the region, we cannot continue on the same pedestal of leadership malaise that is characterised by the poverty of aspirations that we see in the spheres of influence.
In the end, the people must set the agenda of what they want and craft a clear pathway to find solutions to their problems. The greatest impact will come from defining and deciding on the quality of leaders who must lead us. This is an area Kenyans have failed purposefully in the spirit of expediency.
Kenya is for us all. Everyone must feel so
Beyond the political thought that power must move to other tribes and regions, the real game changer is ensuring inclusive growth. This is through an economic policy that can ensure social shifts to generate economic opportunities and possibilities.
I think this is what we were gearing up for through Vision 2030 and the 'Economic Recovery Plan for Employment and Wealth Creation', an economic blueprint by the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) government.
Such policies can catalyse new approaches, spur innovation and utility of transformative technologies while encouraging the evolution of institutions that support robust social relations. This resets society to a new level of growth beyond the current situation of social agony and misery.
The murmurs about equal sharing of the "national cake" are not an option. This should not be attached to political inclinations or voting patterns, as has been the norm previously.
The government that comes after 2022 must work to equalise the imbalances of development and purposefully share the benefits of growth widely. This will be a big boost to the counties that, despite devolution, are still lagging behind in terms of creating a development system and policies that can catalyse and sustain economic growth.
Growth in itself is not sufficient. Sustainability must be the anchor on which policies and models of growth rest to ensure that future generations are positioned for success.
As the population grows as a result of positive development, local economies must respond to the need for jobs and public goods without being overburdened. This is one area where our economy has failed to the extent that we continue to have a large number of unemployed citizens.
Different mindset to economic development
It is still unclear how the economic development pledges made by the two major contesting coalitions in the 2022 election will be converted into action.
More importantly, we must consider how the winning coalition would stabilise the economy, create jobs, eliminate social inequities, and assist millions of people in overcoming poverty over time.
Because businesses are still dealing with the effects of the pandemic, creating an enabling climate to help the private sector recover and have a lifeline beyond externalities will be critical in the near future.
This should concentrate on large corporations as well as small and growing businesses that can be helped by government action to become more commercially self-sufficient rather than relying on government assistance.
The Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on every industry. This crisis made us realise how important it is to strike a careful balance in policymaking between public trust, democratic legitimacy, and successful development programmes. We need to be willing to think and act in new ways.
Communications and public policy consultant | [email protected]
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