Even as Kenyans First, We Will Be Global Citizens by Default -Tupende Tusipende

By Mwangi Wanjumbi- Newtimes BS Chief Trainer/Consultant

Two or three days before the general elections of 4^th March 2013, something unique appeared in the newspaper advertisement pages. One political party placed a booklet of about 8 full colour pages depicting the situation of the country in 2018. This translates to 5 years since assumption of power by the said party. That to me and many others was quite captivating. Wasn’t it?

In strategy, it is referred to as future forward planning. It is about envisioning the future and crafting it today.  It entails working out ways and means of getting into that future state. Obviously, it also involves foreseeing any challenges that may be encountered and minimizing or eliminating their impact.

In that light, I have in the recent years envisioned numerous occurrences, which have eventually come to pass. In a 2006 article in the Nation Newspapers, I trashed the economic aid so much associated with the west those days. I insinuated that the benefits from the aid accruing, was only 20 % or less of the package after all, the rest being ploughed back to the “assisting” countries.

Instead, I elaborated on the focus towards entrepreneurship growth, which was then and even now the global engine of poverty eradication, through employment and wealth creation. The same year, I conceptualized the successful implementation and disbursement of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, a Ministry of Youth Affairs project, which is now one of the key strategies of achieving the aspirations of Vision 2030.

Another inescapable occurrence is visualizing the “Chinese Invasion” through a December 2007 article published in the Business Daily. The invasion (which has now come to pass) was to happen if we continued not be careful with our policy on foreign investors. In fact, we recently witnessed Nairobi traders up in arms and demonstrating against Chinese traders, who have now infiltrated every sector of the economy.

Did you also realize that the government eventually yielded to pressure and accepted to control the activities of oil marketing companies? That was another sphere of post-colonial control of African economies, as I clearly elaborated in another article published in the Standard Newspaper, sometimes in December 2009.

As a natural strategist, critical analyst and thinker, I can now foresee the Kenyan Nation joining the league of developed nations sooner than may have been envisaged. Why? Safe for the presidential elections whose outcome is in the hands of the Supreme Court, the rest of the stage has been set and there may be no going back.

The nation’s agenda seems to have taken shape. Besides, it is perceived to have aligned itself to one side of the global economic powerhouses. Apparently, the earlier well known cold war era has somehow made a comeback. This time it is not about political ideology, but rather about economic interests, especially now that communism is no longer a factor in the global set up.  In the earlier days, the global economy was driven by a clique even now known as the TRIAD (North America, Europe and Japan).

A second force is now firmly in place and is fondly referred to as the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and lately South Africa).  Do you now see why Kenya is close to getting there? Ideally, Africa has already contributed a driving force to the global economic order as Kenya continues dominating the economy of the Eastern Africa region and only surpassed by Egypt in the COMESA.

Meanwhile, Kenya has in the recent years firmly aligned itself to the BRICS. Obviously, this does not sink well with our western brothers, who have now largely lost the ‘80% benefit’ from aid arrangements that they had been used to. That probably explains why they are seemingly uneasy with the Kenyan political direction this time round.

So, as Kenya acquires its voice through continued alignment with the BRICS, it is inevitable that we all get focused towards fully benefiting from the arrangements. That MUST happen to all of us as individuals as well as organizations. Whether as entrepreneurs or corporate employees, there will be no exceptions.

Realistically, we will now be Kenyans first, but global citizens by default, tupende tusipende. Inevitably, we MUST become part of the global revolution for us to remain relevant in a fast changing world. We MUST be part of the achievements envisaged in the next 5 years, even as we race towards Vision 2030. But do we know what it takes to be part of the revolution?

That is why we at New times Business Solutions formulated some unique and practical solutions aimed at aligning all, with the ongoing global trends and mindsets too. The same include:-

1. A three day Staff Motivation and Capacity Building Training Solution for non – management staff or

2. Our 4 day Business leadership and Performance Management Training Solution for Managers,
Middle Level Staff and professionals. Or

3. Three day Strategic Leadership and Management Training Solution for senior management

Whereas no 3 is periodic and especially about continued alignment with change dynamics, the other two are now necessary more than ever before. Why?

• They have been tested widely in varying organizations in the different sectors of the economy.
• They are discretely researched solutions that aim to alleviate or minimize the occurrence of performance inhibitions.
• They are multipurpose in that they empower staff with not only performance, but also culture change skills now absolutely necessary in a dynamic business environment. The same is now greatly influenced by social media dynamics, technological advancements and global dynamics too.
• The solutions help in achieving enhanced organizational unity of purpose and direction in a changing world.
• Further, they inspire immediate change of perceptions and outlook of the participants. This undoubtedly leads to instant organizational transformation as is supported by the continued feedback that we have been receiving (see our attached profile).

Actually, the solutions are now invaluable as we prepare to settle down in a new national leadership regime, which may yield inevitable opportunities as the country accelerates towards achievement of vision 2030.