Opinion: Kenya-Japan disquiet could jeopardise trade ties

Kenya should invest seriously and vigorously in its relationship with Japan and should not attempt even for a second to treat Japan as second fiddle as it has contributed greatly towards the economic development of Kenya since independence. Japan currently is the biggest trading partner of not only Kenya but the whole continent as it is committed to see Africa develop and grow economically.

The on-going disquiet between Japan and Kenya especially on the tendering process of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Concession and grant assistance is not a good sign and can easily jeopardise the existing good and long term friendship and relations that both Japan and Kenya has enjoyed for decades even before independence.

Japan is a leading trading partner in the world that every country is dying to partner with so Kenya should count itself lucky and privileged to be associated with it and should work even harder to enhance such relationship. It will not be for Kenya’s interest to treat such important partner like Japan casually in a way that belittles its status and high integrity.

The recent visit to Kenya by leading Japanese top executives is applaud able and a good initiative  hoping that the Kenyan government will take full advantage of  it  to steer its own economic  growth and development. That was a great opportunity that Kenya should not just let go without deep indulgence and involvement for the sake of its development.

 However, Kenyans are still waiting to know of the outcome especially what happened during the Round table- discussions between the Japanese executives and His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House. It is shameful that the Kenyan government does not take such opportunities seriously just like other African Heads of State  during international forums and meetings such as TICAD, FOCACC, and America- Africa Summit etc. Kenya as a developing nation must always have its own agenda for discussion on the table whether economic or political.

From reliable sources, Japanese business Executives were treated like school children. They were clamped together and asked to raise their hands to ask questions for five minutes and not given ample time to present their companies and interest in doing business in Kenya. Most of them are top businesses not only in Japan but in the whole world with high net value, capability and capacity to sponsor or even run a whole economy like that of Kenya.

The function started late, the programs were changed mid-way many times without explanation or apologies and yet it is the same government who invited them and coordinated their visit. Despite their tight and business schedules the business Executives flew in a few hours before the function to attend the meetings and Round table forums because of their commitment, dedication and great value for Kenya.

You don’t fly all the way in a first class to a forum or a meeting where you are only allowed five minutes to ask a question and not to comment and yet you are a top business operator in the world who are not only interested in making profit but also seeing the country or partner develop to another level. This is a fallacy and a joke of the highest order by a government which claims to cherishes good governance practice, friendship, relations and development.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade should seriously conduct a SWOT analysis to re-evaluate the foreign policy of the country to ensure that opportunities of the moment are captured and not taken lightly and casually. It is important that relations and friendship are harnessed for better tomorrow. It is Kenya’s big disadvantage if they treat great friends like Japan and other developing partners as second fiddle simply because  they don’t support or codon corruption which has become a societal norm of doing business in Kenya.

Japan like other developed nations has developed to become world economic powers because of hard work, strong economic and leadership policies and integrity. Developing countries like Kenya should emulate them and has a lot to learn from their great experiences but not to discard and disrespect reducing such important relations and engagement as if they don’t matter at all.

Big investors from Japan prospecting for business opportunities in Kenya are really getting frustrated as they are not able to penetrate government systems to make their proposals perhaps because they don’t support corruption and are interested in doing business according to international world standards.

President Uhuru Kenyatta should move in swiftly to stamp anti-corruption authority and to restore confidence and hope among Japanese people and investors in the country. Signs and writing are on the wall that all is not well with Japanese investors and relations. It is upon the Kenyan leadership to ensure that investors are wooed and made to feel at home to invest in an enabling investment environment.

It might become too late for Kenya to attract any foreign investments in the country if it does not change its ways of making itself more appealing for investments. Kenyan does not belong to the political leadership or financial wheelers but to the majority ordinary Kenyans who looks to its future for the benefit of their families and children.

I was privileged to attend a special dinner in honour of African Presidents and Heads of States nearly three years ago by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the TICAD V conference in Yokohama, Japan. The entire Japanese government including former Prime Minister Mori, Presidents, Chairmen and Chief Executives of leading Corporates in Japan attended unlike recently when I attended a special dinner hurriedly organised for Japanese business Executives at Intercontinental hotel which was hardly attended by prominent Kenyan business men and women, Cabinet Secretaries and top government representatives except Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Amina Mohammed and  a handful Kenyans connected to the Japanese companies like Ambassador Mood Awori and Isaac Kalua.

The Kenyan leadership must become serious with issues and not play around with important occasions with lots of potentials for the development of the country. As Kenyans, we should be able organised and ready to appreciate, recognised and tap opportunities otherwise we shall continue to remain behind poor, disenchanted and dis- organised as usual wasting much time on social issues such as local and tribal politics, tribalism, corruption and nepotism which in the long run has no benefit to the country or to the people.

The writer is the Director General, Institute for Democracy & Leadership in Africa- IDEA.