There’s more to gain in free trade deal with US

President Uhuru Kenyatta and US President Donald Trump.

After President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the first post-African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) free trade deal with US President Donald Trump, commentators across the continent expressed reservations.

In terms of largest African economies, Kenya is not in the top five, which is historically led by Nigeria. In fact, the West African nation’s GDP is over four times larger than that of our nation. Some Nigerian commentators are bewailing Kenya jumping the queue with the Americans and asking what may have gone wrong in their nation and figuring out if it is connected to President Trump’s recent travel ban extending to their country.

From whichever angle you look at it, these are not the right questions they should be asking.

It is not so much of what countries like Nigeria may have done wrong, but more about what Kenya has done right.

Over the last few years, President Kenyatta has undertaken a massive diplomatic blitz and international charm offensive, coupled with important reforms that have allayed concerns by potential investors and those keen on trade deals.

The World Bank, long looked at to provide an indicator of a nation’s economic growth, praised President Kenyatta’s long-term vision as a way to stimulate growth.

“Growth will also be driven by ongoing key investment to support implementation of the Big Four development agenda and improved business sentiments,” the World Bank wrote in a recent report. It credited significant political, structural and economic reforms that have largely driven sustained economic growth, social development and political gains over the past decade. These factors were also recognised by the US.

“Kenya is a recognised leader across the continent, an important strategic partner of the US, and there is enormous potential for us to deepen our economic and commercial ties,” US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said. The point that needs to be made is not that other African economies and societies have lagged behind, but that Kenya has leapfrogged them with a sustainable vision of development and investor-friendly conditions. The signing of the free trade agreement with the US is the rubber stamp of Kenya’s new-founded capacity.Other African nations can look at the Kenyan model and replicate it. To do so, they need to ensure corruption is dealt with in a systematic manner, and that the rule of law is equal to all, big fish or small. They also need to see the foundations of a long-term vision to stimulate the economy by increasing healthcare programmes, creating jobs and building homes.

Vision 2030

While almost every African nation has some type of enunciated vision, Kenya’s Vision 2030, suffice to say, is well on course.

Kenya has significantly lessened child mortality, has near universal primary school enrollment, and reduced gender gaps in education. The government’s increased spending on health and education are having a positive effect. Under President Kenyatta, Kenya is seen as a leader and has the potential to be “one of Africa’s success stories.”

Nairobi is seen by many now as the gateway to the continent. It is one of the safest bets and has a leadership which is calming concerns about waste and corruption.

It is investing its funds to build the foundations for a middle-income nation, which will leave no one behind. Access to health, education, running water, electricity and internet are all on the rise. Kenya is literally connecting its counties by networks of quality roads and rail lines.

When nations like the US look at Kenya, they see a nation on the move with great aspirations, perhaps like it was itself a few generations ago. It likes what it sees and is ready to do business with like-minded leaders.

All of these factors are what pushed Kenya to the forefront. Now it is up to other African nations to take stock and try and emulate our national policies or risk falling further behind.

-The writer is a specialist in development outreach and communication.