A Vietnamese energy mogul has delivered a sobering critique of Africa’s chronic development paralysis, warning that failure to prioritize basics like energy in countries like Kenya is fatal to economic progress.
Doanh Chau, president of Vietnam Gas and Energy Science Group, compared Asia’s execution-driven model to Africa’s vision-heavy, results-light approach—saying it is the key reason nations like Vietnam have surged ahead while African countries remain stuck in cycles of promise.
“In Kenya, systems don’t move. Leaders talk big but build little,” Chau said after meetings with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and President William Ruto in Nairobi.
The LinkedIn post added: “It’s not a money or talent problem—it’s a mindset problem.”
He spotlighted Kenya’s unstable electricity supply as a stark illustration: “Vietnam has over 70 gigawatts of power for 100 million people. Kenya has just 4 GW for 50 million. No investor will build a factory where the lights flicker.”
Chau's critique, shared in a viral LinkedIn post titled “Why Africa Waits While Asia Builds,” underscores how Vietnam invested in power before special economic zones, transforming into a global manufacturing and export hub.
Meanwhile, Kenya, despite building modern expressways and promising public housing, lacks the foundational infrastructure to sustain investment.
“This isn’t a side issue—it’s the foundation of development,” he added. “Vietnamese leaders are up at 5am working on execution, not speeches. Policies are consistent. Incentives reward performance.”
Chau's reflections revive a familiar yet painful truth: in the 1960s, countries like Uganda, Kenya, and Singapore shared similar development profiles.
Today, Singapore is an innovation and finance powerhouse; Vietnam is surging with exports; and much of East Africa is still pleading for investor confidence.
Tourism, Chau said, also suffers from poor planning and limited imagination.
“Park check-ins take 90 minutes even with reservations. Cities shut down by 9pm. There’s no real experience economy.”
Still, Chau's message wasn’t just critique—it came with a call to action and commitment. In a heartfelt rejoinder, he offered to support African communities ready to adopt clean energy.
“If you’re serious, I’ll bring solar panels and batteries,” he wrote. “Microgrids worked in Vietnam, China, Thailand—they can bring light and dignity to Africa too.”
Chau’s remarks echo a larger sentiment: the window for Africa to compete globally is narrowing fast. Without a radical shift from summit statements to concrete systems, the continent risks being left behind—for good.
“Turn off the microphone. Turn on the power,” he urged.