.jpg)
Doing Business in Kenya: Business Community Regains Hope for Better Business in Year 2010
Looking back at the year now ending, the Kenyan business community – and in deed, the Kenyan in general – has much to be happy about. One, the effects of the prolonged drought that saw many animals die is nearly now gone. Although droughts have frequently hit the country, the last was a particularly severe one. Every one of us must have been silently praying and hoping that rains would fall and bring new life to our sisters and brothers – especially the pastoralists.
Two, we are also, as nation, becoming to terms with the crisis occasioned by the last general elections. And the lessons learned are now becoming the guiding principles for mapping out a better future. The new constitution which has just been drafted by the Group of Experts is one result of such lessons. Not everyone is agreed with every clause of the draft constitution. But no one is coming out with a machete or a gun to press their point. We are politely disagreeing and strongly expressing our points of view.
Burning Issues in Mau Forest
And it’s not just the constitution – Kenyans are discussing evictions from the Mau Forest, the country’s largest water tower. We all agreed that the forest should be preserved. But there are many burning issues that we are all not agreed about. For example, should those who grabbed the land in the forest be compensated? It’s a controversial point, especially seeing that many had put up huge investments. Yet again, we are talking. Everyone has their say – without machetes and guns. That’s good.
Personally, I am pleased with the growing readership of this website and its blogs. Often I have expressed unpopular views and the disagreeing emails have been many. But I am happy to say, many times, I have received great support. And that does not mean that I don’t appreciate and welcome those who disagree.
Defining Success and Ethics in Business
I would like to single out the latest entry, “For Kenyan Business Tycoon, Njenga Karume, and Honesty Starts Right on the Cover of his Biography.” I used the occasion of the book review to state a point of view about achievement that considers only the set goal and its achievement. According to this point of view, we should, in judging success, only consider what a person set out to achieve. The sense is obvious. You cannot criticize me for not reaching Mombasa when my stated goal was to reach Mtito. According to Mr. Karume in his book, his set goal was to make money and he actually did make money – a lot of it at that.
Of course, you must appreciate that a business is not a humanitarian enterprise. And neither is a business owner a civil rights activist. The purpose of business is purely to make money for the owner and its shareholders.
Look at the destruction big business in Europe and America is making on the environment. If you have seen the recent pictures of Mt. Kilimanjaro and its fast receding snow, if you have seen the dwindling waters on our lakes such Nakuru and Naivasha, if you have seen the dry riverbed of the world-famous Maasai Mara River, then you have seen the effects of the application of this point of view of business.
That doesn’t invalidate the fact that to come out to make money – and in deed, make it – is a success. Njenga Karume set a goal and achieved it. That is success.
Happy Xmas and Prosperous New Year! And may we all achieve our set goals in the year 2010!
Related posts:
