This is a very good thread,sadly input will be almost zero...a question i asked in the markets section which I believe @Murchr answered but not exhaustively...why does the govt allow business men to import almost everything?Why do we import clothes,yet we can grow our own cotton nd have our own textile industry,why we import tomato paste and pasta,yet we grow tomatoes and wheat which can be used to make the two...Our economic policies are all twisted...govt after govt doesn't address this vicious cycle that must be addressed thoroughly and in depth...The US is a great entrepreneurial country,something we must emulate to help raise our standard of living...

@maka, @wa_ P, it's important that we become conscious of the structures, processes and trends that we are interacting with even as we try to find solutions to unemployment and poverty.

Firstly, we are now in a globalized system where capital and investment are supposed to be unfettered by boundaries and restrictions. Check on economic partnership agreements especially for African states.

Following closely or perhaps more precisely, happening simultaneously are political maneuvers that ensure that those political entities that are involved get their way in proportion to their power and interests. That is, domestic pressure drives international action and vice versa.

Thirdly, as information technology widens in scope and spread across the world, the separation between consumption and production becomes hazy.

Fourthly, human movement globally is intensifying making the idea of 'local production' obsolete. Every country is bound to be a multicultural center, heavily networked to other multicultural centers.

These and other factors I haven't mentioned like comparative advantage of various countries, financial constraints like debt, and 'disruptive technologies' like robotics provide and imply that we should first strive to develop an understanding of who we are, who others are and what they are up to, and the strategic context of our actions.

We also need to understand the systems we are using now, and how they can be changed optimally.

Then we can design real solutions. Here we need investment from interested parties because such an initiative must be research driven. We need a multifaceted approach because we are looking at change in all social aspects.

Clearly such an endeavour needs an idea champion, the creation of a conducive environment, collection of expertise, creativity and innovation, rapid development of applications and community involvement. It's about taking risk and expecting rewards from it.

I have been working for the last twenty or so years trying to develop simple and workable solutions because I have not only been among the poor youth, but these 'thugs' are my neighbors and friends. And one thing I know is that the best solutions must start with these youth who are inadequately educated and socialized. Programs have to be designed for their families too.

This is something that goes deep and only the daring and seekers of knowledge and wisdom can pull through.

Let's take this furniture example into consideration. If the majority of Kenyans are poor then only a minority can afford expensive imports. Again, the fundis who make good quality furniture compete with these imports in price. So the majority can't access them.

What happens when second hand goods are banned? Think of deforestation, think of how tastes and preferences are cultivated. Such action is likely to generate more problems than solutions. This 'simplification' is called 'suboptimization'. It's a common trap.

But let not my thoughts and contributions damp any ones. I have learned that opinions and thoughts don't have to be convergent. In fact each of us is independent in some way and what counts is what one does.

There's a global competition for scrap metals http://www.cofek.co.ke/i...-affects-every-consumer

The paradigm shift you're talking about has to include rethinking economic models.

You are right... but we cant be worse than the west and the east.... Capitalism is good if it helps grow our economies and create employment.

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here... here! i can give an example of a proud country that consumes all (or perhaps only) what it imports..... and it starts with K but i will not mention names....

Tycho, what would be your suggested solutions to the issues we are facing particularly raised in this thread? Without getting the parliament to pass it, what would you suggest we start doing on a small scale to change the course of where we are?

Good for us in silviculture. We wait for 7, 10, 20 years and sell them to you for furniture!

Am glad you brought it up again. We need a serious paradigm shift if we are to create employment and grow this economy. First, policy should change. Kibaki tried to ban second hand furniture in GOK offices but am sure some smuggle in mitumbas and brand them Kenyan. Sadly these mitumbas take away dollars to other economies and employ low cadre employees.

Can you imagine we dont even make underwear - yes the boxers, vests, bras even baby clothes, are all imported. What we make here(the jeans at EPZ) is almost always exported to other economies because we cant afford the finished product. I understand rivertex is up running, what do they make? We have an opportunity now the county govs can create a market by asking hospitals to source bedsheets and blankets from Rivatex, that should ignite some productivity which will improve efficiency.

Leather - I have never seen a more carnivorous people than Kenyans, yaani we cant process leather? We have a "mido" crass that is obsessed with posh seats and everything classy, these imported faux leather seats go at the same price that real leather seats go for overseas why not jump into this opportunity?

Do we need popcorn eggs from SA oranges from Israel, Wine from SA and Carlifornia yet grapes are rotting in our firms?

Our biggest let down is not just gov but the media too. Apart from K24 that shows some farming episodes the other tv stations are just useless. Soaps and politics day in day out. When recession hit the US, the media was out to showcase the companies that are truly "Made in America", encouraging people to buy from them because that ensures that some American somewhere is employed. Today Americans are very loyal to their brands GM almost died. But its up and running today. This culture needs to be instilled in Kenyan. Why should i wear a suit by Brioni yet Omolo at Kenyatta Market can make one as good?

Sorry to shit on the bandwagon but this build Kenya make Kenya stuff is total bullshit.

Kenyans have and will always want to be employed. let me give you an example

This was posted somewhere online and the guy is supposed to be a genius in writing articles.



Forget the Uhuru part because that's plain stupid. How anyone can expect Uhuru to give him a job is waaaaaaayy beyond me.

But look at the structure and the grammar of that complaint. If you can't see a problem with those 5 lines then you have a problem.

Then imagine that he sent you the same application with the same words, structure and grammar.

Let's be honest. The complaint should not be from job seekers it should be from job creators. I have posted something on wazua today simply because I couldn't get the person we needed.

These kids from school have watched tooooooooo many 50 bob movies so believe that once they have a degree they are golden. Then they conive and stress their parents to get a a masters digireee from a funny college and they expect the rest of the world to bow in mercy.

There are jobs in Kenya for those who wish to create them.

For those looking for Uhuru to create them, all I can say is that I am a Democrat. Voted Democrat and total Kiash. But there's no way I can expect a gov't to feed my kids.

The current crop of shudrens who come from college expect to be owed for being sooooo clever. That unfortunately is the problem.

That is why the next car jacker you meet will be a stupid boy who's only 21 yrs and can't think that the money he stole should be invested in a kaplot not drunk with manwinder.

Let's look for the hustlers who want to work and succeed. Not the idle langas and beach boys who want to be billionaires at 30.