Road to Singapore: Prof Hino says human capital, not just big projects, will drive take-off
Prof Hino believes Kenya can follow the road travelled by Singapore and South Korea.
Kenya's President William Ruto is set to unveil a national development plan on August 12, 2026, aiming to propel the country to high-income status. The debate surrounding the blueprint, which could be the most consequential since the adoption of Vision 2030, is being informed by Japanese economist Prof Hiroyuki Hino.
Hino emphasizes that Kenya's path to prosperity should be driven by its human capital, not merely big infrastructure projects. He asserts that the key to achieving this lies in the strength of individuals and the institutions that support their productivity.
Hino, an IMF official who has worked with Kenya since the 1990s, argues that the country's development should focus on improving the welfare of its people, including access to clean water, healthcare, and higher incomes. He acknowledges the achievements of Vision 2030, particularly in infrastructure and sustained growth rates, but criticizes the lack of equitable benefit distribution.
According to Hino, the journey to becoming a high-income economy will be challenging, but achievable. He rejects the notion that Kenya's financial constraints are permanent and advocates for innovative financing solutions beyond traditional debt management.
Written by urgent.news from Nation Africa's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
