I think we have exhausted fiscal and monitary tools to fix the economy. Apart from debt & budget deficit; everything else look good on paper, VAT now is mostly 16 percent, interest rate is single digit (base), commercial loans are going for 15-16%, inflation is single digit; the KSHs is fairly stable in current environment; all look good, stable and predictable.
Yet the private sector is not growing to match public sector appetite for investment (infra+social spending).
Something is broken. When I check - I see gov of kenya that is in private sector space. In 1990 kenya had something close to 250 SOES. They privatize about half - and retained about half. Those they privatized they still retain control - they never really sold out - or the little sold were bought by NSSF - and other public entities.
So we have problem of a small private sector - and large SME informal sector (that doesnt pay taxes) - gov that is HUGE in private space - sometimes they are monopolies. KPLC for example - Uganda Umeme is partly owned by South Africa Eskom.
Way forward gov has to prioritize privatization completely - and use the money to fund public investment. Sell all shares of KCB, Kengen, Safaricom, name them;
Then once the gov control is removed - these 200 plus SOES will become the engine of private sector growth. If I was Ruto I will sell them all - KCC to farmers - name them - fire sale. Get the money - use it to fund the budget - for 3yrs - then deficit will be down/budget will balance.
And the private sector will grow - and gov can survive on taxes & debt - gov should not own anything big in private sector.
And of course focus on SME - that is really bottom up opportunity
I believe in stimulating the economy using fiscal policies to increase goods and services(supply side) not government spending (keynesian). Kibaki first cut taxes 18-16 vat, reduced bank reserves, lowered interest rates, broadened the taxbase with etr. After jumpstarting the private sector, the regime then invested in infrastructure and social stuff. David ndii with anyang nyongo wanted social spending first kibaki only agreed to free education.
Basically an economy led by private sector growth not government spending. Private sector growth is what funds public investment. A simple rule of thumb, keep 4% or below budget deficit. David ndii want to tax everyone to support government spending and maintain fiscal sanity.