A few ways to fix a government | Charity Wayua

Summary

The speaker, a Kenyan biochemist turned cancer researcher, returned to Kenya to tackle the 'disease' of ineffective government. With Kenya ranking 136 on the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business Ranking', the President challenged them to reach the top 50. They diagnosed the system, found inefficiencies rather than corruption, and empowered government employees to drive change. In two years, Kenya jumped to 92nd place, becoming a top global reformer.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The speaker's initial aspiration was to study biochemistry and develop medicines to cure diseases like malaria in Kenya.
• 🎓 After earning a PhD in cancer research in the United States, the speaker returned to Kenya with the goal of combating cancer.
• 🏥 Instead of joining a pharmaceutical company or hospital, the speaker found themselves working to improve the Kenyan government's efficiency.
• 🌐 The speaker highlights that a healthy economy depends on the health of its entities, including the government.
• 📉 Upon returning to Kenya in 2014, the speaker found high youth unemployment and a low quality of living index in Nairobi.
• 🏢 The Kenyan government was weak, which affected the entire country, prompting the need for systemic change.
• 🔄 The speaker emphasizes that temporary solutions like setting up alternative schools or building hospitals are insufficient for long-term economic health.
• 💼 The World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business Ranking' was a key metric for the Kenyan President, who aimed to improve Kenya's ranking significantly.
• 📈 The speaker's team used a scientific approach to diagnose and address the inefficiencies within the Kenyan government's processes.
• 🔝 Through collaborative efforts, Kenya's ranking improved from 136 to 92 in just two years, making it one of the top global reformers.
• 🌱 The speaker concludes by encouraging individuals to take action and not be helpless in the face of government inefficiencies.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial career goal growing up in Kenya?

The speaker's initial career goal was to study biochemistry and make medicines to cure diseases like malaria.

Why did the speaker return to Kenya after working as a cancer researcher in the United States?

The speaker returned to Kenya to apply their expertise in curing diseases to their home country, aiming to tackle the high mortality rate from illnesses like cancer.

What was the unexpected 'patient' the speaker found themselves working with upon returning to Kenya?

The unexpected 'patient' was the Kenyan government, which was facing serious issues that impacted the entire country.

What was the state of the economy in Kenya when the speaker returned in 2014?

In 2014, Kenya had a 17% youth unemployment rate, and Nairobi was rated 177th on the quality of living index, indicating a struggling economy.

What was the President of Kenya's goal regarding the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business Ranking'?

The President of Kenya aimed for Kenya to be ranked within the top 50 in the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business Ranking'.

What was Kenya's initial ranking in the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business Ranking' when the speaker started working on it?

Kenya was initially ranked 136 out of 189 countries in the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business Ranking'.

What was the average time it took for a business owner to register property in Kenya before the reforms?

Before the reforms, it took a business owner 72 days to register their property in Kenya.

What did the speaker and their team find as the root cause of inefficiencies in the Kenyan government?

The speaker and their team found that the root cause of inefficiencies was not corruption, but rather a sense of helplessness among government employees who felt they were not empowered to drive change.

How did the speaker's team approach the task of improving Kenya's ranking in the 'Ease of Doing Business Ranking'?

The speaker's team approached the task by using the scientific method, collecting data, making hypotheses, and creating solutions to improve the efficiency of government services.

What was the result of the reforms implemented by the speaker's team in Kenya?

In just two years, Kenya's ranking improved from 136 to 92, and the country was recognized as one of the top three global reformers in the world for two consecutive years.

What analogy does the speaker use to describe the progress made in Kenya?

The speaker uses the analogy of a weight-loss program, where after months of hard work, they see significant progress, but acknowledge that there is still serious work to be done.