Wouldn't the country be better of if a lot of smart people who spend their time and money speculating on the stock market used those resources to actually create businesses and employment? Isn't it likely that more wealth would be generated that way? Wouldn't the gurus here on Wazua probably generate more wealth building businesses that tracking the ticker?

Co-signed

You have a point. Many people think they know how to trade stocks but are just speculators. Those people should look for other ventures.

Kila nyani na starehe zake!

Well I'm specifically referring to the fact that a majority of players here in Wazua for example are mostly watching for a way to make quick profits on companies. They'll do some research on companies and decide that this company will do better this year and so I'll put my money there.

If you're smart, its probably easy money. All I'm saying is that there's likely a lot of brains going to waste here because the truth is we are not really adding much value to the economy as a whole in terms of productive use of resources and skills gained.

It's a matter of priorities. For example, it used to be that in the US a lot of the smart people would join a company like GE or IBM where they'd be involved in helping create products and services for the economy.

Now most of the smart guys immediately go to Wall Street where they spent all their time structuring complex derivatives which don't really add much value. The result is that US competitiveness has gone down while banking has become less of an enabler but more of a source of problems.

All I'm saying is that that could be true for Kenya as well.

And as a cautionary tale, that the best way to create real lasting wealth is to provide products and services that improve people's lives.

I'm saying that the number of business ventures per capita in Kenya is quite low. I'm not saying that everyone should start a KCB, I'm just saying that we shouldn't wait for Americans or Israelis to come here and start restaurants for example (Java & Art Cafe).
There's tremendous opportunity in this market or Africa in general to start ventures that create value but unfortunately most of the few Africans with money prefer to park it in the stock market, idle land speculation or treasury bonds.

If you invest in the market and make some profits, which allow you to employ a couple of people, you have added value to society. Adding value does not have to be through doing business, though I do agree with you that entrepreneurship should be encouraged. People can do both, investing in stock market and entrepreneurship, they don't have to be mutually exclusive.

1. What is the business ventures per capita in Kenya?

2. This statement implies most restaurant owners in Kenya are foreigners

For me it's a method of saving money. It's better I gain or loose money trying to get money instead of it lying stagnant In a bank. I bet the bank would also play around with my money.
And not everyone is in kenya to manage his business.