Ships must leave Mombasa port full of what we plant

The current story of Kenya is not all gloom and doom. At least, it is now easier to do business in Kenya than it was 10 years ago. The World Bank’s 2019 Ease of Doing Business Report has revealed that Kenya is among economies with the most notable improvement in doing business.

We now rank 61 in the world and fourth in Africa behind Mauritius, Rwanda and Morocco, thanks to an inter-ministerial lean team that focuses on Kenya’s business reforms and transformation headed by John Mwendwa.

Congratulations are therefore in order for the government policies and private sector dynamism that have made this possible. However, as Helmut-Schmidt, the former German Chancellor, once said, “the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement”. In this regard, it is critical that we build on the gains that have catapulted us into a top spot as one of Africa’s preferred investment destinations.

We must also ask ourselves why Tanzania is ahead of us in scooping more Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). For starters, we need to step up our trading with the world. As the World Bank responded on ease of doing business, I see so much room for our improvement.  

According to the shipping container population breakdown of end of September 2019, Kenya was handling a total of 10,409 units of containers. Of these, 4,738 were imports, 3,648 were exports or transshipments and embarrassingly 2,023 were empty containers awaiting export.

Isn’t it quite disturbing that many shipping containers arrive in Kenya full of imported products but return to their countries of origin empty? This is symbolic of the import-export imbalance. We are buying more than we are selling, which can’t augur well for our economy. No wonder we cannot supply basic human needs for our people.

Imports generate jobs and revenue for other countries at the expense of local jobs and revenue. Although the value of exports increased from Sh594 billion in 2017 to Sh613 billion in 2018, there is still a lot of room for improvement.

Against this backdrop, government agencies like the Export Promotion Council and Kenya Investment Authority must work to ensure that our exports and FDI grow significantly and steadily for several years.

Avocado and other fruits, coffee, tea, fish and even cement present an excellent opportunity to boost exports. Last week, Colombia hosted the World Avocado Congress. Kenya was a key player at the event as we are now the leading avocado exporter in East and Central Africa and the third fastest growing avocado exporter globally.

I have a special attachment to fruit trees because of their sustenance to domestic food security, household income and their positive environmental impact. As such, grassroots farmers need to feel benefits of increased avocado (and other fruits) exports by becoming part of the global avocado value chain.

Why should shipping containers return to China empty instead of overflowing with products that we can easily grow in Kenya? We need to grapple with such questions much more than some of the political arguments that consume our time. 

When political leaders hold a rally in your backyard and call their opponents all manner of names, ask them what solutions they have for your produce to be sold in China, Colombia, the US and across the world.

The 47 counties need to have healthy competition about their export scores. Did Elgeyo Marakwet export more mangoes than Makueni? How does Nairobi’s overall exports compare with Mombasa’s? These statistics need to go beyond boardrooms and become part of our national conversation.

If we do this, we will learn from Murang’a avocado breakthrough, support it and even compete with it as we upscale production and exports. The same applies to all other agricultural products that other counties excel in.

I challenge President Uhuru Kenyatta to lead a national conversation about quality agricultural production and exports. I also challenge my fellow citizens to demand such conversations from our leaders.

We must be able to sell much more of what we plant to the world. This can only happen when we think and act green.

— The writer is founder and chairperson, Green Africa Foundation. www.isaackalua.co.ke