Six years later, ‘Boy Economist’ sees a ray of hope in economy

By  Emmanuel Were

Kenya: During the 2007 Budget Day, one young boy touched the hearts and minds of Kenyans.  Full of youthful enthusiasm, Trevor Kibet got a chance to speak his mind and express his version of the budget.

At 13, Kibet, a student at Brook House School at the time, wrote to then Finance Minister Amos Kimunya, asking why Kenya can’t be like Singapore or South Africa. 

Master Kibet wondered whether Kenya would ever build infrastructure and roads as he had seen during a trip to South Africa in 2007 where he had attended a Young People Conference.  His thoughts and argument, which formed the closing remarks of Mr Kimunya’s Budget Speech, were beyond his years. He therefore earned the title, “The Boy Economist”. 

And six years later, The Standard caught up with him.  “That letter was not looking for attention,” he said. But attention is what he got.  He says it opened the door for him because he was able to meet with senior government officials. 

On his expectations of this year’s budget and whether he has lived up to his word of contributing “in the smallest way possible” to make Kenya better, Kibet said:  “I am more realistic and have no doubt Kenya will grow.”

But he was also quick to consider what so many economists have asked about Kenya’s growth.  “Will the economic growth create more opportunities for the normal mwananchi?”

In this year’s budget, Kibet said he would have an eye on the infrastructure. “I will be particularly keen on its spending. Infrastructure is everything because it enables the exchange of goods and services,” he said, adding:  “Young people can be part of the budget and empower themselves.”

Kibet said construction of infrastructure is one of the tangible evidences of economic growth. “The completion of Thika Superhighway was such a tremendous step former President Mwai Kibaki helped Kenya take,” he said.

And true to his word, Kibet is also helping Kenya grow in the smallest way possible.  He has co-founded the Young Entrepreneurs Challenge, which teaches entrepreneurship to high school students in Kenya and Uganda.