Kenya, which measures 582,646 km2, is endowed with resources of diverse nature, be it minerals, excellent weather, good tourist attraction, quality education, infrastructure and an enterprising, intelligent and highly educated people. Our nominal Gross Domestic Product in 2022 was 110 billion US$, which comes ahead of Ethiopia’s 113 billion, Tanzania’s 76 billion, Uganda’s 48 billion and South Sudan’s 4 billion. At the same time, the GDP per capita in the same period for Kenya is US$ 2,081, followed by 1,245 of Tanzania, 1,105 of Uganda, 1,097 of Ethiopia, and 327 of South Sudan. In terms of energy production, which is key for industrialization and manufacturing, Kenya has 3321.3 MW of installed capacity with 87.5 percent of electricity generated locally being from renewable energy sources. It is only Ethiopia which is ahead at 4500 MW in terms of electricity production while Tanzania is at 1605.86MW, Uganda at 1346 MW and South Sudan at 557.66 MW. These advantages that Kenya has over the neighbours and the continent gives it the comparative advantage which can be leveraged for enhanced socio-economic development. The country should be able to institutionalize issue based and people centred politics in order to exploit the evident comparative advantage in many aspects.
This is why the proposed talks between the ruling coalition and the opposition should utilize the opportunity and tap onto the critical juncture presented by the situation Kenya is at now to ensure accelerated development is entrenched into our country. Critical juncture is defined as a turning point beyond which a state or species experiences a reawakening and redefined sense of purpose and progress. It alters the course of history and evolution for nations and species. Critical juncture theory explains the origin of social order maintenance and occurrence of social change through sudden and big leaps. The constitution promulgation in 2010, which brought in devolved system of government is a critical juncture moment even though some aspects of it have failed to turn to the desired position, progress is however being made. The talks should leverage on the critical juncture and big leap for Kenya towards demystified politics that deals with ideas and ideologies, good idea giving way to the better idea and the better idea giving way to the best idea. Politics is central to the development of any nation that is why Aristotle noted that three things matter: Politics, capital/money and education arranged in that order. Kenya should truly seek and embrace the political kingdom as envisaged by Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s founding president. This will free the nation to focus on the economic kingdom for sustainable development of the nation. Dr Giti is an urban management, public – private partnerships (PPP) and environment specialist. mutegigiti@gmail.com , @danielgiti
Dr. Daniel Mutegi Giti 