I wish so too. I mentioned in the thread on Nigeria's elections that I don't prefer democracy for Kenya. Third world countries need benevolent dictatorship with a focus on economic growth

Our best leader should have been Moi. But he wasnt. Instead, him and his predecessor majored in raping the country. It is true that Rwanda and Singapore have limited rights even today. Singapore ranks low in media freedom and media is state owned. Try bring some of those things here and civil society will be on your case!

Fantony, expound

I had these sam thoughts a fey days back,what if we had Kagane for president?

Maybe he would last but as usual civil society groups would be up in arms.Waht i think we do need is a man who has no ties with the political elites in Kenya.These people have vested interests in a lot of companies in Kenya.

Such a man or woman would have the moral authority to take a firm stand on corruption and fight it without the fear of burning his fingers.We need someone who for lack of a better will whip us back into shape.

@Fantony Kagame probably looks at all those factors and asks... "Is the economy growing?" If the answer is yes, then kazi iendelee.

@Gordon Gekko and @fantony,you both raise valid points...poleni sana for your bad experiences. So do you think Rwanda is trying to create a perception for future investors that is totally different from the reality on the ground?

Since French is the official language (i stand to be corrected), how do you interact with the locals/govt officials..translators or is swahili widely spoken?

On the other hand, do you think that these are some of the hiccups that Rwanda and other economies will have to go through as they pursue this transformation?

@kenyanlyrics - is the economy growing despite this factors.. yes. the unsavoury truth though is majority of the skilled personnel were either killed or left the country in between 1973 and 1994.. they realised their skills are valuable elsewhere... rwanda has about 2 million people in diaspora... its local popn is 10 million...

there is abit of FDI going into rwanda.. question is whether areas it is invested in can sustain themselves...??

there is a certain level of discipline in rwanda.. the streets are the cleanest in africa.. the security in the capital outstanding.. the only place expatriates jog after dark..

this has taken corruption underground.. say if arrested on a traffic offence.. you will loose a whole hour before you realise you can get away with a bribe.. in kenya.. its a bribe PAP! and you go back to your economic activities..

@ story teller french was a language perpetuated by the belgian colonisers post 1918... kagame however has introduced english as a language of business to align Rwanda to the EAC and the commonwealth..

most rwandese however speak to each other in kinyarwanda.. swahili is rarely spoken.. a good portion of government officials and businessman know either of english or swahili depending on where they spent their exile years..

english for those who spent exile years ('59-'73-'94)in kenya and uganda.. swahili for those who spent time in tanzania..

most of the upperclass have sent their kids to USIU and other kenyan colleges e.g. baraton.. there is a small number of belgian, france and american trained technocrats... they some times are a tad bit shady... kinda similar to kenya under moi...

i have tried to think, even sought the opinion of others... even if i earn money there i will keep it in kenya.. we burn our country every 5 years with minimal damage... with these guys you can't tell when something will happen

you will need expats in the growth phase of a country.. what you need to ensure is they get understudies to train and learn under them to facilitate technology transfer...

by the way every kenyan i know can serve coffee.. i just can't get why it takes a rwandan 3 times the normal time to deliver the same cup..

Kenya is way ahead of Rwanda.Kenyans are innovative and hardworking.our major problem apart from poor leaders is that majority of us have been siezed by the 'get rich quick no matter how' mentality. Just look at how matatus operate and you will understand the average kenyan.we are also like the bibilical jews.we are always on the lookout for a messiah to save us.problem is like the jews we are looking out for the one who shouts the loudest,has charisma and style and is a militant .....like Kagame.as a result we end up ignoring the still small voice,that says I am the way,the truth and the life.follow me and you shall not perish

Fantony, thats on point