Sufuria Economics

Generally, if you have lived in Kenya at any time in the past 25 years, then you are aware that the GoK has probably the worst imaginable record as far as management of any kind (and of anything) is concerned. We appoint our houseboys to lucrative parastatal jobs, and regularly use any revenues accrued from these parastatals to buy socks for our children who are enrolled in “proper” schools abroad. Any losses are simply written off, or offset by printing more money. Needless to say that our energy and communications sectors are among the worst hit by this cancer, that had reached the highest stages during Moi’s latter years in power. As a response to this, we have a new found fanaticism for privatization, which in my opinion, is intellectual poverty of the highest degree. Don’t get me wrong, privatization is great, but as America showed us over the last few years, the free market can be extremely brutal and unforgiving.     

Every Kenyan loves tarmac. Indeed in our great land, you cannot prove to anyone that your area is developed, if you have no tarmac. It is the most complete sign of prosperity and development in these parts and especially in these times of CDF and LATF. Nevertheless, I have a theory that, some tarmac is a total waste of money, and further that some is ill advised. The Eldoret International airport, for instance, is a great example of tarmac that was sorely miss-placed, (but that is another article). My focus today is to share my thoughts on the Thika road project which to me is a painful reminder of the intellectual poverty that afflicts our policy makers.