This is what we should do as a country to spur real economic growth

Retired Major Billow Khalid. [File, Standard]

Kenyans are increasingly becoming aware of major global challenges. These issues include inflation, effects of climate change and the geopolitical tension caused by the Russian-Ukraine war.

Inflation has reduced the purchasing power of consumers, pushed the interest rate up, among others. Inflation is also making the currencies like ours weaker relative to the dollar and other international currencies. 

Climate change can have pernicious effects on the availability and quality of food. Livestock owners are also affected by climate change. The Russian-Ukraine war is similarly contributing a lot to the scarcity of food and the rising prices of fuel in Eastern Africa.

Thus the demand by Kenyans for creative, local solutions for all of these challenges that are making 87 per cent of households unhappy with their financial situations. Every other day, the local press headlines the pains and worries of Kenyans: "Cash crunch as school reopen, fees Sh3 billion; accountability, dead teachers paid Sh353 million; Ghost workers get away with Sh35 billion, Sh800 billion pending bills crisis, Treasury plans to borrow Sh886 billion in 2023 – 2024; Kenya’s massive debt is getting to Sh.11 trillion, pending bills and power struggle rocks the Counties."

With a GDP of $111 billion and culture of hard work, we are a nation of early risers that is highly ranked in Africa, at number seven out of 54 countries. Yet our Gross National Happiness is relatively low, at only 13 per cent. The daily struggles to get cash for most Kenyans are becoming harder. Where did the rain start beating us? There are five leading issues that need urgent action in order to address these challenges and secure Kenya’s future prosperity.

First, public sector leadership and performance reforms. In the growth of nations, nothing is inevitable. Economic, democratic and technological declines are not inevitable. National growth, as we can learn from Singapore is always a choice. The work of the leader is to change things from good to great.

Life is all about performance, the execution of actions to achieve pre-determined expectations. All our three organs of our great State, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary are filled by people with abundance of talent, passion and patriotism.

Time is now for them to unite, demonstrate commitment and run with the ball to make sure the nation is happy going forward. Kenyans are hoping for a huge celebration of achievements in June, 2025, which is on the thousand days of the Senate and the National Assembly since their assumption of office in 2022. 

Second, economic reforms and reducing poverty. The search for sufficient conditions that would make Kenya’s economic adjustment to generate sustained growth will centre on reducing poverty and creating employment, controlling public sector indebtness and investing more in infrastructure development and improve our values systems.

There are to be economic reform measures aimed at economic growth and stability in the short and long terms for Kenyans to rise high soon. Third, protecting our environment. Kenya’s natural resources endowment include land, water and forests. These resources are the principal wealth and the mainstay of a large number of the Kenyan population.

Concerns to us are health issues, deforestation, degradation and drought. The fact that our present population of about 53 million is increasing by 1.9 per cent per year, makes climate change an even more urgent issue.

Fourth, resolving internal conflicts and making it a priority. Kenya’s internal conflicts are becoming major obstacles to achieving our economic and democratic goals. Some people even argue that  “Corruption and weak governance” are some of the challenges facing citizens.

Fifth, Social, educational empowerment. Education is one of the key instrument, for combating absolute poverty and social marginalisation. Quality education at all levels and access to schools and universities remain a big challenge. These challenges need to be addressed effectively to make Kenya the sweet land of freedom and happiness. Poverty, ignorance, diseases and insecurity must no longer remain the nation’s major barriers to economic growth.