upepo
Elder Lister
When President Uhuru announced that Kenya was adopting visa-free entry for visitors from the African continent, the move was greeted with mixed feelings. For those who champion greater intra-Africa trade and integration, this declaration was hailed as highly progressive. However, for the ordinary citizens, the declaration was seen as a careless move that would leave the country open to undesirable visitors. This sentiment from the publics is understandable since most news coverage on foreigners often involves crime cases; the public rarely gets to see foreigners in positive casting. Despite these misgivings, a keener look at the decision reveals it to be strategic, even necessary.
A video grab of Kenyans manning a beverage factory in Somaliland. Source: Wode Maya
Many experts are in agreement that the superficial political fragmentation of Africa is a major contributor to its poor economic performance. In Africa, it is not uncommon to find a problem and its solution juxtaposed across a border, unable to connect with each other due to unnecessary red tape or unfavorable policies. Think about a school with staff shortage on one side of a border and idle unemployed teachers on the other side, with both parties unable to connect due to onerous policies. This would be a classic case where smoother intra-continental movement mechanisms would yield better outcomes for all parties, and lack of which would leave both parties at a loss.
The issue of enabling intra-continental movement is particularly relevant to Kenya for two reasons. One, Kenya has excess and idle manpower that could benefit other African countries, and which would be almost impossible to substitute with manpower from other parts of the globe without huge cost penalties. Two, the country is a beneficiary of intra-African migration, not just presently but also in the past, although the circumstances that enabled such migrations were not exactly noble. For instance in the 80s, most big schools in Kenya were staffed by large numbers of Ugandan teachers running away from the turmoil back home. This group left a huge mark on the Kenyan education sector which, at the time, featured diploma holders in most teaching positions. Similarly, the health sector benefited a great deal from the influx of Ugandan doctors at a time when most hospitals were struggling to fill positions.
Presently, there are many African immigrants contributing positively to the economy but we rarely get to hear about them. In places like Kayole and Umoja, you are likely to find hundreds of Congolese running small businesses like barbershops, salons, tea kiosks and the like. Similarly, various professionals and business people have found a home in Kenya. It would be beneficial if other African countries, like Kenya did, opened up their borders for other Africans. This way, some of the many unemployed youths in the country could easily find opportunities within the continent. We can conclude, therefore, that Kenya’s strategy is to encourage other African countries toward less restricted intra-continental movement through leading by example.
A video grab of Kenyans manning a beverage factory in Somaliland. Source: Wode Maya
Many experts are in agreement that the superficial political fragmentation of Africa is a major contributor to its poor economic performance. In Africa, it is not uncommon to find a problem and its solution juxtaposed across a border, unable to connect with each other due to unnecessary red tape or unfavorable policies. Think about a school with staff shortage on one side of a border and idle unemployed teachers on the other side, with both parties unable to connect due to onerous policies. This would be a classic case where smoother intra-continental movement mechanisms would yield better outcomes for all parties, and lack of which would leave both parties at a loss.
The issue of enabling intra-continental movement is particularly relevant to Kenya for two reasons. One, Kenya has excess and idle manpower that could benefit other African countries, and which would be almost impossible to substitute with manpower from other parts of the globe without huge cost penalties. Two, the country is a beneficiary of intra-African migration, not just presently but also in the past, although the circumstances that enabled such migrations were not exactly noble. For instance in the 80s, most big schools in Kenya were staffed by large numbers of Ugandan teachers running away from the turmoil back home. This group left a huge mark on the Kenyan education sector which, at the time, featured diploma holders in most teaching positions. Similarly, the health sector benefited a great deal from the influx of Ugandan doctors at a time when most hospitals were struggling to fill positions.
Presently, there are many African immigrants contributing positively to the economy but we rarely get to hear about them. In places like Kayole and Umoja, you are likely to find hundreds of Congolese running small businesses like barbershops, salons, tea kiosks and the like. Similarly, various professionals and business people have found a home in Kenya. It would be beneficial if other African countries, like Kenya did, opened up their borders for other Africans. This way, some of the many unemployed youths in the country could easily find opportunities within the continent. We can conclude, therefore, that Kenya’s strategy is to encourage other African countries toward less restricted intra-continental movement through leading by example.
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