And in Deutschland, Barges are still transporting sand on the Rhine at minimal cost

Very nice article by Kennedy Chesoli on where our priorities should have been instead of pushing SGR to the Rift valley.

I think the point the writer wanted to make is that Jubilee has failed to build on the work done/initiatives by previous govts and prioritize projects. For instance we had vision 2030 which was very noble idea. Mzee Kibaki, in his wisdom, knew that future presidents/govts may not be as well endowed in planning. So he facilitated creation of a strategy that would be acceptable across the board. Following extensive consultations, Vision 2030 was birthed, in the hope that successive govts will no longer be pursuing ad hoc programs but would be guided by a well thought strategic plan. Today, how many people were consulted in formulating Big 4 and does it fit within vision 2030? Sometimes you feel like our leaders who also served in the mwai kibaki govt never learned much from the old man

I know the manuscript exists on some shelf and has gathered quite some dust, if I have to go read it to check if some project is part of the vision then there's a big problem. Please also tell us we don't need a secretariat to monitor implementation of the vision, or the presidency is the secretariat? You're on record in other threads arguing that AHP is poorly thought and shouldn't be implemented, if part of the vision is it good or bad implementation. What jubilee is implementing is their party manifesto prepared by advertising executives not vision 2030. Unless you can also tell us laptop, 47 stadia, implementing projects without feasibility study is part of the 2030 vision then we can start discussing from that level.

Also why do all these UNEP environmentalists drive 4x4 fuel guzzlers? They should all be driving Toyota Prius or other hybrid and electric vehicles as an example of what it means to care for the environment. Infact they should be cycling from their homes in runda to offices in gigiri. They don't need 4x4s to go shopping at village market. They should lead by example on matters "green".

L exactly. They should subsidize cement, steel rods , duty stamp and also ease acquiring title deeds. Allocation of plots should be pegged on someone's payslip. But makes no sense to have my salary cut so as to build a house that I won't live in. Doesn't make sence at all

The two boys are worse than KANU..

[quote=nairobby]I urge everyone to read this article by the Good Dr. on why all this Jubilee mega-project hyped growth has done NOTHING to grow the income in our pockets.

https://www.theeastafric...ng-like-an-asian-tiger/[/quote]
Dr. Ndii is a very highly qualified economist. However, he is often economical with his admirable economic knowledge:
1. "GDP is short for Gross Domestic Product, which means the quantity (not value) of all goods and services produced in an economy"....No, GDP is expressed in Local currency and converted at prevailing exchange rates, say for expression in USD. How can services (transportation, banking, tourism) be expressed as a quantity as opposed to a value?
2. "..The GDP accountants will capture the 25 per cent increase in production, as well as the economic activities created by the imported sugar,
No they won't. Unless all the transporters are listed as sugar-only transporters, distributors, etc. their activities will be captured in the other respective categories and will not feature in the sugar category.
3. "...The recovery of the agricultural sector from drought is in fact the story behind the 6.3 per cent growth figure. Agricultural sector GDP grew 6.4 per cent, just about the same rate as the economy."
Nope. Agri is approx. 21% of gdp. (services circa 60%) ALL other sectors would need to have grown at similar rates on average to achieve the 6.3% overall figure.
4. "....Only maize production is well above the 2016 harvest (see table). Moreover, while production increased, prices for most products were lower in 2018. Maize led the way with prices down 56 per cent, from Sh4,000 to Sh2,260 per bag." Again a clear admission that GDP is measured in prices, even for commodities (see my point 1).

5. He does a decent job of explaining TFP. My version will be an increase in lending activity by digital lenders without a commensurate increase in physical & human resources. That portion of GDP growth that is not accounted for by increased use of tangible resources (labour and capital inputs). While this is a measure often cited by economists for economic efficiency, its predictive capability remains in question as many of the inputs into the calculations are made on the basis of estimates and rules of thumb.

6. "....I do not have growth accounting analysis of Kenyan GDP readily available but as it happens, the most recent edition of the IMF’s Africa Regional Economic Outlook published this past April has just what we need.

really, dude? Prolific economic analysis writer (PHD Oxford) not having EVER interrogated TFP for Kenya? Sloppy/ lazy?

7. The chart cited does NOT have just what we need! The chart on the right actually shows that 2015-2017 TFP contribution to growth using ACTUAL figures (the pink bar) INCREASED compared to the 2000-2014 period. The 2018-2022 is an ESTIMATE / PROJECTION. However, the projection is indeed cautionary and means that countries in Africa need to enhance their focus on supporting innovation / knowledge to change our growth mix.

8. He is on track to give the answer, and I have my own hypothesis on the cause of the disconnect between macro economic growth and micro economic pain.

Dr. Ndii is however, a great mind, very engaging author and can hold his own very well in debates (have seen him in action). I only wish he would stick to genuine economic analysis, rather than twist his vast and impressive economic knowledge to support thematic (whether political, donor-driven, or otherwise) arguments.

True there Obiero
Before The president launched it,the Chinese were not for the low fares GoK announced.
The economy class wasn't supposed to be there,the cheapest fare and class was the current first class which was to be economy class then business and first class just like we have for air travel.