Kenya, April 24 -- Doanh Chau, President of Vietnam Gas, has ignited a firestorm of debate with a scathing LinkedIn post criticizing Kenya's economic planning, pointing to a "lack of execution culture" and an overreliance on foreign investors.
The post, which has garnered thousands of reactions and comments, highlights Kenya's struggling electricity infrastructure as a major barrier to sustainable growth, drawing sharp comparisons with Vietnam's development model.
In his post, Chau contrasted Kenya's power generation capacity of 4 gigawatts (GW) for a population of 50 million with Vietnam's 70+ GW for 100 million, arguing that reliable electricity is the bedrock of economic progress.
"No investor will build a factory where the lights flicker every day," Chau wrote, emphasizing that Vietnam's prioritization of energy infrastructure has been pivotal to its industrial boom.
He criticized Kenya's leadership for touting ambitious infrastructure and investment goals while failing to address fundamental systems, particularly power reliability.
The remarks come at a time when Kenya is grappling with frequent power outages, with businesses and households facing disruptions despite government promises to boost capacity.
Kenya's Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country into a middle-income economy, has been hampered by delays in energy projects and a heavy dependence on foreign-funded initiatives, such as geothermal and wind power expansions.
Chau's post has sparked intense online debate, with some Kenyans on social media echoing the statements over the slow country's progress.
"He's not wrong. We've been talking about power for years, but outages are still routine," wrote @KenyaRising on X.
Conversely, @NairobiHustler argued, "Kenya's challenges are real, but comparing us to Vietnam ignores our unique context and strides in renewable energy."
Analysts note that Kenya's energy sector faces systemic issues, including transmission losses and underinvestment in grid infrastructure. The country's installed capacity, heavily reliant on hydropower and geothermal sources, has struggled to keep pace with growing demand.
A recent World Bank report estimated that Kenya needs to double its power generation by 2030 to support industrial growth, a target that remains elusive amid fiscal constraints.
Chau's praise for Vietnam's model-prioritizing energy before industrial expansion-has prompted calls for Kenya to rethink its strategy.
"Vietnam invested heavily in power plants and grid reliability early on, creating a stable base for factories and exports," said Dr Esther Mwangi, an energy economist at the University of Nairobi.
"Kenya's focus on attracting foreign investors without fixing basic infrastructure is putting the cart before the horse."
The Vietnamese executive's comments have also drawn attention to Kenya's broader economic planning.
Critics argue that the government's reliance on public-private partnerships and foreign loans has led to bloated projects with limited impact.
The Standard Gauge Railway, for instance, has been cited as a costly endeavour that has yet to deliver promised economic benefits.
Government officials have yet to respond directly to Chau's post, but Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi recently announced plans to fast-track 1 GW of new capacity by 2026, including solar and geothermal projects.
Businesses on the Kenya Association of Manufacturers report that power disruptions cost the industrial sector billions annually.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.