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WHY AFRICA WAITS WHILE ASIA BUILDS: A Hard Look at Kenya



I met with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and President William Ruto in Nairobi. They spoke with energy about Kenya’s future— investment, infrastructure, and public housing. But behind the polished language was a painful truth: there is no serious execution culture.

Kenya’s real problem is not a lack of money or talent. It’s the absence of long-term vision and the dominance of short-term gain. Leaders talk big, but systems don’t move. They wait for outsiders to bring business, rather than build an environment for it.

The biggest indicator? Electricity.

Vietnam: 100 million people, over 70 GW of power.

Kenya: 50 million people, only 4 GW.

This is not a side issue—it’s the foundation of economic development. No investor will build a factory where the lights flicker every day. Vietnam knew this. It built power generation before free trade zones, and now it’s a global export hub.

In Kenya, basic energy supply is unstable. And yet, the government built a fancy expressway from Nairobi to Mombasa—without an export industry to support it. Meanwhile, millions live in slums and huts, with no access to reliable utilities.

Tourism is another missed opportunity. Safari bookings require 90-minute check-ins at park gates—even with reservations. After 9:00 PM, everything closes. There’s nothing for visitors to experience or spend on beyond a Masai market that’s essentially a souvenir stand.

President Ruto wants to build public housing, but investors are scared off by petty corruption, and legal instability. There are no credible incentives, no serious risk guarantees. In short, no real initiative to make it happen.

Compare this to Vietnam or Singapore:

. Leaders are up at 5 a.m. working on execution, not speeches.

. Power supply is constant.

. Policies are consistent and data-driven.

. Incentives align with performance.

Africa doesn’t lack potential—it lacks a mindset shift.

Leadership must stop performing for the next donor visit or summit. It must build systems that attract local and global investment, reward builders, and guarantee follow-through.

The global window is closing. Asia isn’t waiting. If Kenya and much of Africa want a real economic future, they must turn off the microphone—and turn on the power.

-Doanh Chau
 President at Vietnam Gas / Energy Science Group (Battery Energy Storage Systems)

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