Nipate
Forum => Kenya Discussion => Topic started by: RVtitem on September 13, 2014, 11:24:57 PM
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*This country, and much of the continent, is in the grip of a cargo cult. It is now an article of faith that grand infrastructure is the fairy ship that will deliver all the goodies we have ever dreamed of possessing. What else are we to make of this?:
*The underperformance of our railway service has nothing to do with the gauge of the track. Neither is it on account of the low speed or load capacity. The single most important reason for its underperformance is lack of trains.
*Over the last decade, the economy has expanded by about 60 per cent. Electricity consumption has increased by about the same. These figures are based on the current GDP, which we expect to be revised upwards shortly.
More at: http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/bullet-trains-delusions-mega-techno-cities/-/440808/2450902/-/s9mfcxz/-/index.html (http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/bullet-trains-delusions-mega-techno-cities/-/440808/2450902/-/s9mfcxz/-/index.html)
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Mr Ndiis thinking is too sophisticated for our lazy kleptocrats it's almost comical. The mega projects are designed to steal. Nothing more.
I think I read somewhere that SGR will run diesel locos? So why the need for massive electricity generation?
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I also like Dr ndii articles though they are mostly optimistic (realistic). There is need for policy informed by facts, evidence, sciences, projections, feasibility studies, and the works.
Lapset for once i believe is project that is not well thought of...just way too many risks...
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I also like Dr ndii articles though they are mostly optimistic (realistic). There is need for policy informed by facts, evidence, sciences, projections, feasibility studies, and the works.
Lapset for once i believe is project that is not well thought of...just way too many risks...
The value for vast infrastruture projects takes decades to realise and we must always take a long term view. I live quite close to the UK's first motorway and it was interesting to read that when it was first designed and built, morris minors and other weak motors graced the roads.
That motorway is paying dividends today sixty years later, making 200 mile trips a doddle and easily completed in 2-3 hours (if you drive within the speed limit). Combined with the railways, inland manufacturers and companies have access to the coast and also other markets.
I think a good railway and road system will cut the cost of transporting a tonne of stuff by some stretch. Currently it costs $1800 to transport a metric tonne from MSA to Kitale and it will take a whole week if not more. I can ship the same weight of stuff by air from London to JKIA in 15 hours for exactly the same amount. No ifs no buts.
On the road, it will cost me £190 to transport the same from London to Edinburgh, all done on a guaranteed next day delivery.
We need more roads, rails and even canals if they can. Let's move the stuff and lower the cost of moving goods.
The only health warning is that our leaders lack the requisite capacity and integrity to deliver these projects.
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Right. Our infrastructure esp transport and energy are amongst the world worst.
The value for vast infrastruture projects takes decades to realise and we must always take a long term view. I live quite close to the UK's first motorway and it was interesting to read that when it was first designed and built, morris minors and other weak motors graced the roads.
That motorway is paying dividends today sixty years later, making 200 mile trips a doddle and easily completed in 2-3 hours (if you drive within the speed limit). Combined with the railways, inland manufacturers and companies have access to the coast and also other markets.
I think a good railway and road system will cut the cost of transporting a tonne of stuff by some stretch. Currently it costs $1800 to transport a metric tonne from MSA to Kitale and it will take a whole week if not more. I can ship the same weight of stuff by air from London to JKIA in 15 hours for exactly the same amount. No ifs no buts.
On the road, it will cost me £190 to transport the same from London to Edinburgh, all done on a guaranteed next day delivery.
We need more roads, rails and even canals if they can. Let's move the stuff and lower the cost of moving goods.
The only health warning is that our leaders lack the requisite capacity and integrity to deliver these projects.