Kenyans are generally cautious optimists.
They are ready to welcome the new year of 2023 with passionate prayers and great hope for brighter future. As has been said, “The book is called opportunity and its first chapter is Hearing the New Year’s Hoofbeats”.
Some have described last year as the year of the Tiger, where the tiger is associated with bravery, courage and strength. During the general elections of August, Kenyans demonstrated strong faith in their institutions. Their courage and loyalties were put to the test and with the grace of God, the nation passed the test with high honours. Nevertheless, the year was one of the most difficult moments for Kenyans and even for the rest of the world because of the effects of Covid-19 and climate change among others.
The three factors that made last year the toughest times for Kenyans are weak governance, Covid-19 and the economy. Governance is the first pillar for the prosperity of any country. Here governance is the exercise of political, economics and administrative authorities to manage the affairs of Kenyans at all levels in accordance with the Constitution and other laws and deliver great results of satisfaction. Governance is bearer of the emblem of national greatness and strategic choices for better tomorrow. There is no such thing as inevitability in the history of nations. Through more effective leadership gene pool, we can make Kenya a greater, richer and happier nation.
The effects of what Prof Ali Mazrui described as the paradox of the Acquired mal-administrations, professionals ethics deficiency syndrome (AMPEDS), are seen daily on the headlines of our newspapers. Some of such depressive headlines include, “ The debts of Nairobi County reaches Sh.100b; Sh17b paid to unavailable wind power to Lake Turkana wind power; fees shocker for varsity students; the value of stalled projects Sh9tr, pending bills of both national and county governments are Sh600b. County ghost workers got paid Sh35b”. It is not surprising that some communities have this saying, “Bad governance-management is worse than famine, drought”.
The wave of Covid-19 has had much negative effects on the lives of many Kenyans as elsewhere globally. Covid-19 had decimated tourism, created more unemployment within households and increased prices of basic commodities. Covid-19 impacted heavily on the education sector. These effects of Covid would be with us in this New Year. Kenyans could appear frustrated optimists but we are resilient people.
The year in review our economy has experienced another formidable challenge. By Africa’s standard, Kenya’s GDP and budget are impressive, $109bn and over Sh3.2tr. In such a context and with a new Administration of President William Ruto having got the torch of the Nation’s chief executive, we can make the nation a country of surplus, where these four words of the year for better 2023 drive our purpose. These words are ‘SEAS’- surplus, efficiency, abundance, satisfaction. It is my believe that the spirit of these words would guide us to assure Kenya features well in the world’s Happiness Report of this year and the next, 2024.
-Writer is Strategic Consultant
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