Time for Africa and Kenya to Wake Up: Reclaiming Our Economic Sovereignty

As I sit in Nairobi, waiting in a Japanese-manufactured car to pay toll fees to a Chinese operator for using the Expressway, I can’t help but reflect on the state of economic dependency Africa—and specifically Kenya—finds itself in. Soon, airport parking fees will be collected by India’s Adani Group, following the increasing trend of foreign ownership and control over key national infrastructure. Meanwhile, our African presidents are packed into a school bus in London, as if they are mere children, attending global summits where their voices are often drowned out by larger geopolitical players. This situation should prompt serious reflection on why we, as a continent, must reclaim our self-respect, agency, and economic independence.

The Dangers of Outsourcing Critical National Infrastructure

Kenya, like many African nations, is rapidly developing. Major infrastructure projects such as the Nairobi Expressway are hailed as signs of progress. Yet, beneath the surface lies an uncomfortable truth: much of this infrastructure is being funded, built, and managed by foreign entities. Japan, China, India, and other global powers are playing pivotal roles in shaping Kenya’s future. This raises an essential question: Are we truly in control of our own destiny?

The Expressway, constructed under a Chinese public-private partnership model, and soon the Indian control of airport services, signals a worrying trend of economic dependence. While foreign investment brings immediate benefits, such as job creation and infrastructure development, the long-term effects can be debilitating if not carefully managed. By allowing foreign corporations to control critical assets, we risk handing over our economic sovereignty and decision-making power.

Why Foreign Dominance Persists

The dominance of foreign companies in critical sectors reflects our failure to develop competitive local industries. It is easier, and often quicker, for our governments to outsource massive projects to foreign entities that have the experience, capital, and technology to execute large-scale infrastructure developments. However, this convenience comes at the cost of economic autonomy.

Kenya’s reliance on external funding for projects is rooted in historical debt patterns and a lack of long-term planning. This has opened the door for countries like China to make significant inroads, offering loans that, while filling an immediate need, often lead to unsustainable debt obligations.

The Issue of Leadership and Self-Respect

Our presidents, who should be leading the charge for African self-sufficiency, are often treated as mere attendees at global summits. The incident in London, where African leaders were shuffled into a school bus to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, serves as a stark reminder of how the world views our continent: as a subordinate, not a partner.

This disrespect is not just ceremonial. It reflects the global power dynamics in which Africa remains on the periphery, despite being rich in natural and human resources. The indignity African leaders face on the global stage is a mirror of our continent’s diminished influence in shaping its own future. Until we address the root causes of our economic dependence, this subjugation will persist.

The Path Forward: Building African Capacity

Africa must wake up. For Kenya, the first step is prioritizing the development of local industries. Rather than outsourcing every infrastructure project to foreign players, we should be investing in our own people, technology, and companies. This requires long-term thinking, where the immediate profits of foreign partnerships are weighed against the long-term need for self-sufficiency.

To achieve this, there are several critical actions we must take:

1. Invest in Education and Skills Development: Kenya has a wealth of talent. By focusing on training our engineers, architects, and entrepreneurs, we can ensure that the next major infrastructure project is built by Kenyans for Kenyans.

2. Promote Local Enterprise: The government must provide incentives for local businesses to participate in national projects. This could include favorable loan conditions, tax incentives, and the development of industrial parks to incubate local talent and innovation.

3. Negotiate Better Deals: When foreign companies are involved, we must ensure that the terms are favorable to us. Kenya should demand joint ventures that ensure local businesses and professionals are part of the deal, ensuring that skills and technology transfer occurs.

4. Encourage Regional Cooperation: Africa is stronger together. By building stronger economic ties between African nations, we can reduce our dependence on foreign entities. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to create a self-sustaining African economy.

5. Cultivate a Culture of Self-Respect: At the heart of our transformation must be a shift in mindset. We need to believe in our capacity to lead, build, and sustain our economies. It’s time to reject the narrative that we must depend on foreign entities for our development. Self-respect means taking ownership of our future and being unapologetic in our pursuit of economic autonomy.

Conclusion: Time to Reclaim Our Future

Africa, and Kenya in particular, stands at a crossroads. The choice is ours: continue down a path of dependency where foreign nations control our critical infrastructure, or take the bold step towards economic independence and self-respect. As long as we continue to wait in Japanese cars to pay Chinese operators and bow to foreign investors for basic services, we will remain on the sidelines of global power dynamics.

It’s time to wake up. We must start building for ourselves, developing our own industries, and reclaiming control over our infrastructure and resources. Only then will we earn the respect of the world—and more importantly, of ourselves.