A chief executive friend in financial services called the other day to discuss the state of the nation. He observed that Kenya in 2019 looks very much like 1999 at the height of the “Kenya in economic ICU” moment of the time. He then made the point that today we are many more Kenyans — especially young people — so any deepening crisis is a social tinderbox.
By the middle of 2002, Kenya had completed its first ever Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). Elections were due shortly, and yote yawezekana (it is possible) was the tune of the day.
The election happened, the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) assumed power after decades of Kanu rule.
Eliud Kipchoge’s amazing #nohumanislimited marathon run last Saturday morning also reminded me of that moment. Brigid Kosgei’s women’s marathon record the next day was the icing on the cake.
Back to 2002. Building on the yote yawezekana euphoria, at a time when Kenyans were rated the most optimistic people in the world, Narc developed a three-year Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS).