XN IRAKI: Why Westlands epitomises Kenya’s bright future

Kenya: If you want to see Kenya’s audacious future, visit Westlands, in Nairobi. Take time to walk around Sarit Centre and preferably have a drink at Java, where you have a vantage view of those streaming into the shopping complex.

Westgate Mall could have provided the same vantage point, particularly at Art Caffe. Seated there, you will see every race represented. They come to shop, and meet. They are North Americans, Asians, South Americans, West Africans, South Africans, Arabs, Indians and locals like me. They are all joined together by the market.

No one has time to find out who is seating next to him or her. They are all pursuing their economic interests, the legacy of Adam Smith. For once, you see the invisible hand of the market at play. Though all these people do not know each other, they behave as if they  are part of a giant orchestra.

Why does Westlands (not really the West!) epitomise Kenya’s bold future? First is diversity, and the great impetus to entrepreneurship. By attracting people from all over the world, Westlands has stood out as one of the most affluent suburbs, powered by money from far and wide. The ‘new people’ bring ideas, new thinking and challenge the old thinking. They bring their past experiences which ensures that past mistakes are not repeated.

Take Sarit Centre built in 1982 for example. It has for the last 30 years remained relevant despite all the other malls coming up. The owners foresaw the need for parking long before cars had become ‘toys’ in Nairobi. That diversity is increasing, with lots of mixed race kids on plums. The race and tribal barriers have been broken at Westlands and the future has arrived prematurely in Westlands without politicians’ intervention.

High-end hotels

This diversity has created an eco-system with high-end hotels, apartments, banks, and restaurants, including KFC and nightclubs too. The recent addition is a Golf shop.  This vibrancy attracts more diversity because the new comers know they will easily fit in.

Noted the number of high-end apartments coming up around Westlands? Is it true crime is also high end at Westlands? The Kenyan dream is to have a nation where citizens are judged not by their colour or origin but their economic and social contribution to the nation.

In Westlands, that dream has already arrived. Westlands has till recently been in harmony with nature with lots of green areas. It is everyone’s dream to live in leafy suburbs surrounded by nature.  The Westlands suburb is not yet crowded but by 2030, that greenery could be gone and Westlands could easily resemble Githurai. When Kenyans want to go to USA or UK or any developed country, they are looking for lifestyles that mimic Westlands. One interesting observation is that some parts of Westlands are not served by matatus, you have to be driving to live there, which leads to self-selection and status.

Can we make the rest of Kenya like Westlands? That means making everyone affluent.  That is possible but shall our governors and leaders see it that way in a country where the belief in zero-sum game — (where participant’s gain or loss of utility is exactly balanced by the losses or gains of the utility of the other participants) is so entrenched?

Shall governors allow their county’s homogeneity to be diluted by diversity?  It is unlikely that despite devolution, all races will flock to the counties the same way they have flocked to Westlands (Kirungii). The counties may have lots of land but how receptive are they to outsiders?

Level of income

Do they see outsiders as threats or assets? Entrepreneurs from all over the world follow opportunities where they can be found. They easily see through the political fog. You do not need to tell them. Light a lamp and moths will follow.  Given opportunities to flourish, entrepreneurs will create lots of jobs, which could raise our level of income and the number of Westlands. Interestingly, most other small towns such as Nyahururu and Nanyuki have Muthaigas but no Westlands. We see affluence in terms of where you sleep, not where you make money! Creating Westlands in other parts of the country will demand a change in our thinking, start seeing each other as an asset not a threat.

That is how US treats immigrants who come to enrich the nation with new ideas .The most affluent parts of the US are New York and California, very diverse like Westlands. Can counties do the same? Let the truth be told, immigrants contribute disproportionally to creation of new firms. That is why Indians and other immigrants are so successful in Kenya. They have diversity of ideas, boldness and past experience to build on.

Rural areas

That also explains why on average those who grew up in the rural areas tend to be more successful than the urbanites who rarely shift to rural areas and have less diversity of ideas excluding those from movies. 

Incidentally, the national government should build very good highways to connect all the counties so that we can move from our comfort zones and enrich other counties with new ideas and perspectives.

We must make East African integration a reality. How did globalisation overtake this integration?  Only then can we exorcise the ghosts of tribalism and poverty- the market way.

 That is the magic of the market, the highway to the bold Kenyan future, envisioned by Vision 2030, Westlands and our common aspirations.