Stockdale paradox it is on Kenyan development context vis a viz current challenges

The much-waited 2023 is firmly here with us. As a nation, we face many challenges that have been with us for some time, but which will be addressed this year and other years to come. These issues need to be addressed through the appreciation of the working of the stockdale paradox (paradox because on end, it calls for faith and optimism that things will improve and work well and in the other end, calls for acceptance and appreciation of the current realities to the effect that things might not work over night) that is driven by two major propositions. First, we need to retain the faith, optimism and courage that we will prevail in the end as a country regardless of the difficulties that we face currently, and that we shall not follow the route other nations have followed and failed to revive their economies. Secondly, and at the same time and breadth of having the optimism and faith, we must confront the most brutal facts and truths of our current realities, and be able to face them head-on. We must never burry our heads in the sand but face it with the optimism and faith that things will improve. The stockdale paradox will enable citizens to support drastic and hand biting reforms that the government will introduce like removal of subsidies which in the long run is not effective as an economic stimulator.

The country will need to come up with three major programmes to move us out of the challenges we are in. First, adequate strategies to create more jobs and employment opportunities through production and investment are needed. The competitive advantage of Kenya in producing a variety of goods and services should be exploited by national and county governments. Secondly, once opportunities are there, the government will need to expand the tax base such that more people pay taxes and hence support the economic growth. Approximately 85 percent of registered voters in Kenya don’t pay taxes, despite the fact that 19 million are eligible to pay taxes. Thirdly, there is need to reduce debt levels and allocate more funds for development which leads to more taxable incomes. Counties should allocate more that 30 percent of their funds on development projects and be innovative to implement other life changing programmes and projects through methods like Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) among others.