This archive report was first published on 8 December 2019.
Kenya's stagnation is a stark reminder of the continent's untapped potential. Despite having some of the sharpest minds and intellect, Africa's progress remains hindered by factors that are often unknown to its citizens.
Take Kenya, for instance, a country with some of the best doctors, engineers, and mathematicians. Yet, a simple railway construction project, which should be a straightforward task, has been left to foreign contractors, with Chinese workers dominating the workforce. The irony is that even ticket issuers are Chinese nationals, while Kenyan workers are subjected to whipping by their Chinese supervisors, with no tangible action taken to rectify the situation.
The $3.6 billion railway project, with its outdated locomotive, is a stark contrast to the Ethiopian Standard Gauge Railway, which is electric and covers a similar distance. Meanwhile, the Tanzanian government has started constructing a longer railway, cutting across the country to Rwanda, with a minimal cost after cutting ties with Chinese contractors and hiring Turkish companies.
So, the question remains: why spend millions training engineers who cannot even lay water pipes from the source to the point of use? Did the Chinese or Americans hire foreign workers to construct roads and bridges for them? Why can't we start engaging our engineers to construct feeder roads as an exercise for bigger projects?
It's rumored that a Kenyan engineer, Nyabuto, was part of the team that designed the Kigamboni-Nyerere Bridge. Meanwhile, the Rwandan President has embarked on a transformation to ensure the country shuns external influence and corruption to spur growth and development.
Unfortunately, Kenyan Members of Parliament are more concerned with the 2022 presidential campaign, ignoring the plight of the common man who has been left to suffer. News about food contaminated with carcinogens and alcoholic drinks laced with dangerous chemicals is not a serious issue. Hospitals are overwhelmed, lacking infrastructure and basic drugs, making death a looming reality for many.
Politicians have already drawn their support base, and their poor and myopic supporters will listen to what they tell them, employing all means to ensure they win in the general elections and remain in power. The cycle will continue unless something is done.
Every sector, including the Judiciary, Police, and Education, is crying out for support from the Treasury to achieve their goals in service delivery. The recent launch of the Building Bridges initiative may be a solution to the imbalance in government appointments and historical injustice bedeviling the nation.
