Are we poor because we are black? If not, what holds us?

By Donald B. Kipkorir

The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree and I ate.”Genesis 3:12

For the last two weeks, I was on holiday with my friends in Hungary and Austria, and we saw the consequences of choices by countries. Between 1867 and 1918, Austria and Hungary was a dual monarchy known as the Austro-Hungary Empire under the Habsburgs Family. The monarchy ended at the close of WWI.

The two countries were rudderless till the end of WWII, when Austria joined the Western part of Europe and Hungary became a satellite state of the USSR.  Both are now members of European Community. No two countries sharing same history, near same area and similar population have taken such different routes. The GDP of Austria is $399 Billion and Hungary is $127 Billion.

The foundation for the economies and development of both Austria and Hungary were laid by Emperor-King Franz Joseph [1830-1916] during his long reign lasting from 1848 to 1916. The infrastructure he established is still in use today. Around the same time, Africa was basically one huge terra nullius, with tribes roaming across borderless land.

Africa blames its current under-development on colonisation, yet I see no better alternative had the narrative been otherwise. Kenya like most other African countries have been free of colonial rule for over 50 years, yet we are still suffering from and solving problems, diseases and disputes that belong to the 19th Century. It is time for brutal introspection. I do not suffer from any racial inferiority complex but at times, wonder, whether our under-development is because we are black. Carl Linnaeus [1707-1778], a Swedish Professor of Medicine, François-Mariet Arouet aka Voltaire [1694-1778], French Philosopher and Writer, and Immanuel Kant [1724-1804], German Philosopher, are among the intellectual giants of all time, who espoused the idea that race matters. Thank God, modern science has now shown that race and intelligence have no co-relation. If this be so, then why are we still solving problems of two centuries ago?

Empirical road map

As we enter our jubilee year of independence, Kenya needs to retrace its steps and find new ways to be a rich country. Teachers have been forced to end their strike because the Government doesn’t have the money to pay the salaries they justly deserve. Banditry and killings are still a weekly occurrence across the country. Grinding poverty affects over 70 percent of our people. We suffer from inadequate if not complete absence of proper schools, hospitals, drinkable water, power supply and transport infrastructure. We are ranked near the bottom in Human Development Index for our low life expectancy, education and incomes.

Our Government is staking its future on Vison 2030. I have argued repeatedly that unless we are shown an empirical road map, this vision will never be realised. To be middle-income by 2030, Kenya needs to grow its GDP from current $40 billion to nearly $700 billion, a growth change of over 1,750 percent. This cannot be achieved with Government aim of GDP growth of 10 percent p.a. Maybe it is time, we look for alternatives to achieving this dream. Or maybe pray for a miracle.

What is holding us back?

For long, we looked for scapegoats for our under-development. We cannot do it anymore. As set out above, Austria and Hungary were given choices after the end of  WWII. Both took choices and are reaping the gains or feeling the pain. Both countries, like Kenya, don’t have minerals for export. Over 70 percent of their respective GDP is from service industry. Kenya is renowned for its human resource, but are we doing anything to tap it into a vehicle for service industry?

Science tells us that we are not stupid or poor because of race. Studies show that natural resources don’t translate to transformation of a country. Nigeria, Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo are incomparable to few countries in the world for their immense natural wealth, yet they are as poor, sclerotic and chaotic. History shows us that countries have transformed because of the leaders they have. China and Singapore transformed under Deng Xiaoping [1904-1997] and Lee Kuan Yew [1923- ] respectively. Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdogan is transforming before our eyes. Then, what is holding us back? Why are we poor?

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Are we poor because we are black? If not, what holds us?