rvp2018:
Reducing import bill is not neccesarily a good thing.
Kenya doesnt import a lot of finished goods but imports will continue to grow.
You can expect we will continue to imports lots of machinery, refined oil, cooking oil, cars and equipment.
Why would we reduce that? China continues to grow it imports and exports. This what a growing country does.

Kenya import 23 billion dollars of finished products , food, medicine and etc.

If your own manufacturing base can't contribute to a reduction in import, then you're manufacturing nothing at all.

Why do you think Donald trump was so eager on reducing the US import bill ?


No growing country takes pride on and import bill higher than export... Everyone needs a trade surplus in order to have a strong economy.

There more you import, the more you lose economic base

Yes, there is no doubt some of mt kenya counties are already in upper middle class - mexico/south africa level - what is dragging kenya down is the other regions who need to catch up. Devolution is helping that.

kikuyu1:


Mzee,thanks for this! Even though the target audience of Sakawa boys and Okadamen will just grin and screech their usual incantations even louder some of us are here such data. Ofc,more,much more needs to be done but the biggest takeaway is we're getting there.

rvp2018:
The largest manufacturing bases in absolute terms can be found in Nigeria and South Africa, followed by Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia and Tanzania
https://set.odi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Manufacturing-in-Africa-Factors-for-Success_June-2018.pdf

The largest manufacturing base in Africa goes like this

SA
Morocco
Nigeria
Egypt
Algeria
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Libya
Ethiopia
Before Kenya or Angola

There is no major problem with our imports (maybe 3B dollars in cooking oil/rice/wheat and few finished goods) otherwise we will continue to import more refined oil, machinery, equipment and cars for quite some time.

Our problem is the exports are not catching up.

A growing economy - both imports and export should grow.

If you imports are not growing you have bigger problem - your domestic economy is dead.
If your exports are not growing - then your running on one engine (domestic consumption) like kenya - and that could be a problem.

So our major problem is to grow our exports to 23B from 6B...

Just40:
Kenya import 23 billion dollars of finished products , food, medicine and etc.

If your own manufacturing base can't contribute to a reduction in import, then you're manufacturing nothing at all.

Why do you think Donald trump was so eager on reducing the US import bill ?


No growing country takes pride on and import bill higher than export... Everyone needs a trade surplus in order to have a strong economy.

There more you import, the more you lose economic base

Just40:
As usual... Doesn't contribute anything substantial and just the usual dumb twits comment

Contribute where and to who?

The only person spewing intelligence at the moment is RVP, why should I debate him?

For zombies like you with zero brain cells are just ranting for its sake.

Usual madness. Sub-sahara Africa - almost every thing - remember South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. That is default order of any ranking. South Africa is the southern pivot. Kenya the eastern kingpin. Nigeria the arsehol of Africa but the shinning light (from darkest part) of West Africa.

Ghana is rarely on top 10.

Just40:
The largest manufacturing base in Africa goes like this

SA
Morocco
Nigeria
Egypt
Algeria
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Libya
Ethiopia
Before Kenya or Angola

rvp2018:
There is no major problem with our imports (maybe 3B dollars in cooking oil/rice/wheat and few finished goods) otherwise we will continue to import more refined oil, machinery, equipment and cars for quite some time.

Our problem is the exports are not catching up.

A growing economy - both imports and export should grow.

If you imports are not growing you have bigger problem - your domestic economy is dead.
If your exports are not growing - then your running on one engine (domestic consumption) like kenya - and that could be a problem.

So our major problem is to grow our exports to 23B from 6B...

There's everything wrong with that, especially when your import isn't growing as much to clean out your trade deficit.

Shma:


Contribute where and to who?

The only person spewing intelligence at the moment is RVP, why should I debate him?

For zombies like you with zero brain cells are just ranting for its sake.

You don't know much so you don't contribute intelligently to anything

rvp2018:
Usual madness. Sub-sahara Africa - almost every thing - remember South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. That is default order of any ranking. South Africa is the southern pivot. Kenya the eastern kingpin. Nigeria the arsehol of Africa but the shinning light (from darkest part) of West Africa.

Ghana is rarely on top 10.

there's nothing like sub Saharan Africa when we are mentioning Africa.

Manufacturing contribute to to 18% to employment in Ghana.

Kenya manufacture nothing hence why your import is as high as 23 billion dollars... Sector was growing, it will show in your energy consumption... It will also show in a reduce important bill.

You see how Ethiopia energy consumption is growing , that is what manufacturing does.

Just40:
You don't know much so you don't contribute intelligently to anything

It doesn't matter whether I know much or less, you're not in my brain. But the fact that I can debunk 90% of your so-called 'intellectual submission' speaks volumes.

Sit down, observe and learn. Old man.

Shma:

It doesn't matter whether I know much or less, you're not in my brain. But the fact that I can debunk 90% of your so-called 'intellectual submission' speaks volumes.

Sit down, observe and learn. Old man.

how will you be able to debunk something when you don't even have the brain cells to understand it?

Dont argue with empirical data. That should have been lesson no 1 in your school. You throwing numbers as always carelessly. Learn to support your verbiage with some thing. Anything.

Just40:
there's nothing like sub Saharan Africa when we are mentioning Africa.

Manufacturing contribute to to 18% to employment in Ghana.

Kenya manufacture nothing hence why your import is as high as 23 billion dollars... Sector was growing, it will show in your energy consumption... It will also show in a reduce important bill.

You see how Ethiopia energy consumption is growing , that is what manufacturing does.

Just40:
how will you be able to debunk something when you don't even have the brain cells to understand it?

That is the question you should be seeking answers to. A madman will never know how deranged he is unless told.

You might be the dumbest human in the skirt of intelligence - from your miasma of fantasy. You won't be this bamboozled.

rvp2018:
This most nonsensical post of the day.
The economy is not just manufacturing - it's the entire spectrum of economic activities - from agriculture, education, healthcare, transport, construction, real estate, hotels & accommodation, retail & wholesales, trading,
A country that develop sustainably does so by developing all these sectors - they diverse their economy.
So that if you get a problem in agriculture (say drought or disease) then retail & wholesale will sustain you.
If you have problem with tourism (due to covid-19) - the other sectors can sustain you.
Of course manufacturing is very important - because it's highest multiplier (of 10) - meaning one manufacturing job will create 10 jobs
And to get manufacturing working - you need basic of electricity (cheap), roads & railways, and of capital (investment).
Countries that have pursued what you're suggesting - import substitution (replacing imports with domestic goods) have not gone anywhere.
In fact those that had contrary thoughts - export led manufacturing - are the ones that have developed.
That seek first to manufacture and export - to rich countries - use the money you get from export to develop - and grow economy
Once you're rich - then you can manufacture for domestic economy.
If you start from manufacturing for your local economy - who will buy those things - yet people are POOR?
The same for food - dont grow flowers - grow yams.
But if people are poor - who will afford your yams? It's better if we grow flowers, get the dollars, use it to buy yams from you.
In short Africa countries should follow beaten path - that South Asians have proven - export led manufacturing.
Manufacture these stuff you dont need that people out there need first- for example Veitnam are making 12B dollars manufacturing bicyles for export.We dont biycle in Africa - but Europe need bicyles - and they are paying money for it. We surely can build bicyles.
From the proceeds of exports - grow your local economy until the time people are rich enough - to afford manufactured goods.
Import substitution FAILED in 1980s in Africa.
Stupid Nigeria and Ghana now are REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKES.
Nigeria and West Africa with excess labour should be doing what Veitnam and Bangladesh are doing now - export led manufacturing.
Kenya too is not seriously engaged in this....and we know have about 15M idle labour force that should be manufacturing things for export.

Wow. So you are this brilliant and sensible?

Just40:
The largest manufacturing base in Africa goes like this

SA
Morocco
Nigeria
Egypt
Algeria
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Libya
Ethiopia
Before Kenya or Angola

Where is the evidence/source? This is the reason people don't take Ghanaians seriously. You don't really have to lie and cheat yourself through life. Give it a rest hobbit.

rationalhuman:
Kenya does not have a refinery as it is not viable, we are not a oil rich nation.

Nigeria is exporting crude for decades and how many refineries do you guys have? Dangote is making the first one in now. That tells us we Kenyans are much better at planning and execution then nigerians.

I tell you why, You had Oil but did nothing. we had geothermal and Kenya is the proud nation that is making 30% of its electricity from that clean source. By 2024 Kenya will be the number one in geothermal energy.

You talk like a regular little Indian.
South Africa is not an oil producing country but it has the largest refining output in Africa.
Don't let me add you to the list of people I don't respond to when they quote me here. Please reason like a human being.

obaaderemi:
The problem Kenya has now is it's lack of essential mineral resources like Nigeria and Ghana. Mineral resources have rebounded seriously these days when most African countries are reeling seriously from the effects of covid and Ukraine war.
Before now, most African countries have racked up massive debts. Countries that lack mineral resources to export are going to have a lot of problems like Kenya is facing currently. How are they going to pay back the debts incurred to build all the Chinese infrastructures they gloat about here?
Now they can't even meet up with subsidies for fuel.

Kenya's prognosis are indeed frightening. I told them years ago that there was no way they could sustain a 50m population on a < $100bn economy. They hated and insulted me for it, calling me all kinds of names. Now the shitt has hit the fan and ordinary Kenyans are crying.

You don't need oil and gold when you have brains. Nigerians are still using generators to power homes and you discovered mineral resources in the 60s. Nigeria still imports refined petroleum products. Why would any country aspire to be like shithole Nigeria?

obaaderemi:
You talk like a regular little Indian.
South Africa is not an oil producing country but it has the largest refining output in Africa.
Don't let me add you to the list of people I don't respond to when they quote me here. Please reason like a human being.

Nigerians were too busy being silly, good for South Africa.

GeneralDae:

But even with all your mouth, Kenya is still not a giant in manufacturing of finished goods or even export of services. South Africa is by far number one in that aspect in Africa (and even they are lagging behind seriously compared to Asia and Europe) followed by Morocco and Nigeria.

So we know that Kenya is not at the standard of Europe yet or Japan in terms of human capital so maybe the little resources you have may help if you make use of them while you build Human capital to the extent where it sustains the economy.

I looked at the record and apart from probably Morocco(but on a very small scale), more than 60% of the exports of all African countries are largely raw materials. South Africa is the most diversified economy in terms of manufacturing of finished goods but it is still resource dependent to an extent compared to Morocco with a smaller economy.

South Africa, Morroco, Japan etc. Why don't you compare with Nigeria? Show more patriotism man.

gallivant:


South Africa, Morroco, Japan etc. Why don't you compare with Nigeria? Show more patriotism man.

Nigeria also is not exporting enough finished goods.

rvp2018:
Dont argue with empirical data. That should have been lesson no 1 in your school. You throwing numbers as always carelessly. Learn to support your verbiage with some thing. Anything.

so why are you arguing against the empirical data?

Your energy consumption does not support your claims
Your import and export Data does not support your claim.
Your employment data does not support your claim.

Even your manufacturing data does not support your claim


Get back to reality

Shma:

That is the question you should be seeking answers to. A madman will never know how deranged he is unless told.

You might be the dumbest human in the skirt of intelligence - from your miasma of fantasy. You won't be this bamboozled.

as usual, a waste of time ...
Empty head person

South Africa during apartheid sanction pioneered the production of oil from their coal as they couldnt find oil easily. Sasoil - one largest companies in the world - refine oil - not from crude - but from their coal.

Kenya for 50yrs until 2010 or about had oil refinery that was meeting local and regional demands - producing 50,000 barrels per day - however it went into disused - new refining standard came (no lead/sulfur) - and Indians simply built world most efficient large refineries that put many small refinieries worldwide out of business. In 2010 - we sold half the share to Essar (I think part of Indian Reliance - oil biggest refineries) - but for some reason they couldnt revive the plant - and we bought it back.

Kenya doesnt produce oil - for Nigeria - the shame is beyond the pale

obaaderemi:
You talk like a regular little Indian.
South Africa is not an oil producing country but it has the largest refining output in Africa.
Don't let me add you to the list of people I don't respond to when they quote me here. Please reason like a human being.

gallivant:


Where is the evidence/source? This is the reason people don't take Ghanaians seriously. You don't really have to lie and cheat yourself through life. Give it a rest hobbit.

from WB
Statista, the conversation, the UN and etc

Infact they would have fared much better if they stuck with palm oil - where they were world leaders during colonial period. Palm oil value chain is great - from farm - and it's used to manufacture almost 1000 of finished goods - maybe apart from metalic or wooden things - everything has some palm oil in it - and Malyasia/ indonesia have benefitted greatly. But Nigeria dropped everything and got high on crude oil - military left the barracks and joined the party - and the country is still high when oil prices go high - but mostly dealing with withdrawal symptoms.

Natural resource curse or the Nigeria curse.

And the Obaboon is wishing Kenya was suffering from the same fate

gallivant:


You don't need oil and gold when you have brains. Nigerians are still using generators to power homes and you discovered mineral resources in the 60s. Nigeria still imports refined petroleum products. Why would any country aspire to be like shithole Nigeria?

The Giant :
President Buhari commissioned the new Medical University in Uburu Ebonyi State, build by the state government and to become a Federal University of Medical Sciences

Just glimpse:
National Housing Programme (NHP ) housing units in Taraba state and was officially opened yesterday. many of such projects are scattered across the state and Nigeria at large

Still in Ebonyi state: the president also commissioned the largest market in West Africa, this state Governor is building far more projects than the whole of Kenya

Development spreads across all region :
29km dual carriageway rural road that links Etinan with Ndon Eyo of Akwa Ibom State was recently commissioned

68816419:
Still in Ebonyi state: the president also commissioned the largest market in West Africa, this state Governor is building far more projects than the whole of Kenya

Please take it easy with the emotions.

Just40:
from WB
Statista, the conversation, the UN and etc

You know very well you can do better.

Abuja Maitama Nigeria.