BY LEONARD WANYAMA
Kenya’s merchant class has been relatively quiet on the debate about mega infrastructure projects. Indeed they have taken to their traditionally timid approach while the discussion has been vociferous or dichotomized between those in support of the government action and those against it.
This seems to come from a tradition in which the private sector has come to relinquish any manner of critical inquiry when it comes to matters they consider to be greatly political. It also stems from ‘practical’ needs to align with emerging opportunities from the: improvement of facilities; accessing resources; broadening of markets and development of future prospects.
Nonetheless, despite these associated benefits, the private sector must not shirk from the responsibility of looking at the: cost of these projects in the long term; implementation plus the surrounding developments of related activities; strategic value; historical contexts of past projects; effects on debt; public information and community awareness.
A matter of particular interest in recent times is how the financing of projects through borrowing will affect the lives of citizens and the economy in future.
Despite hopes of greater business community involvement through public private partnerships, Kenya’s merchant class, like their colleagues in the region, are still averse to the business in mega infrastructure projects thanks to high political if not implementation risks involved.
While the private sector does voice its issues to government in a more cordial fashion than its other civil society counterparts, it should be seriously concerned with the extreme centralization of decision making with regards to mega infrastructure projects.
Aside from accusations of kleptocratic tendencies within the conduct of processes, this centralization is causing serious unintended consequences to the public.
Effects such as these should concern businessmen and women, as they are part of the society in which they operate. Firstly is the matter of acquisition and compensating property. Mega projects involve acquisition of properties and the relocation of families away from areas earmarked for roads, railway or port construction.
Demolition of existing homes or business premises and subsequent construction of new structures causes challenges in the movement of traffic. Other inconveniences relate to the disposal of material or even disruptive lighting during night construction invariably affect resident populations in a given area.
These cases must be handled humanely and to their satisfactory conclusion so as not to stoke existing grievances nor offer a platform for new ones.
Secondly, the private sector must raise serious issues in relation to environmental concerns. Ecological disruptions stemming from construction works are affecting significant elements of flora and fauna, and wetlands.
While this aspect is normally considered as a mainly non-governmental organizations (NGO) realm, business entities must remember that a great deal rely on the environment for resources.
Business has to therefore encourage comprehensive thinking that goes beyond simple mitigation along destroyed ecological sections on paths of construction. This could go as far as consideration of displaced animals or mention of consequences from drained riparian areas.
Also, the matter of inconsiderate project designs and flaws has to be looked into. In particular, execution of the road projects is increasingly characterized by flaws that are proving dangerous to affected communities.
The lack of proper parking areas for trucks or matatus means that they stop on roadsides. They therefore significantly block sections of the road resulting in accidents as other motorists or pedestrians attempt to maneuver away from them. This poses great risks along these points.
Lastly the new nodes which infrastructure opens up to opportunity tend to experience socio-cultural shifts that could affect commerce negatively if not examined. Behavioral changes are to be expected with increased traffic movement and establishment of leisure facilities such as clubs and hotels as seen popping up all over especially at the county level.
Fears of the spread of infectious sexually transmitted diseases among others could result out of increasing migration. Beyond social realities on the aspect of the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, small town communities are becoming increasingly very worried about changes in their cultural morals.
The influence from an influx of truckers, merchants and immigrants unsettles indigenes because of the great risk they feel is posed to their way of life. Grievances can very likely mutate into the politics of autochthony especially as the country moves closer to an anticipated high stakes electoral cycle.
Commercial concern and social responsibility for communities in the context of Kenya should therefore be wide reaching. Business entities and their representative organizations can speak out louder next time a road is built with poor drainage or construction disrupts the habitat of lions. If they speak out for clients and their challenges (which are most likely experienced by the private sector as well), someday they too could speak on your behalf.
Writer is a lecturer of International Relations at the Technical University of Kenya
