All Talk, No Action: Vietnam Boss Dresses Down Kenya After Meeting Ruto, Mudavadi

Doanh Chau, the President of Vietnam Gas, openly called out the Kenyan government for arguably its biggest flaw: all big talk but no execution.

Chau in a recent post on LinkedIn, which has now gone viral, shared details of his meeting with President William Ruto and Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS) Musalia Mudavadi, outlining Kenya's future goals revolving on investment, infrastructure and public housing.

Amidst all the passionate conversation from the two leaders, Chau discovered one serious problem, a tough truth pill for those holding positions of power to swallow; that Kenya does not suffer from a lack of ideas or talent but suffers from a chronic execution deficit.

"Kenya’s real problem is not a lack of money or talent. It’s the absence of long-term vision and the dominance of short-term gain," he wrote.

A photo of Doanh Chau, President of Vietnam Gas. /LINKEDIN

"Leaders talk big, but systems don’t move. They wait for outsiders to bring business, rather than build an environment for it."

According to Chau, a major indicator of Kenya's lack of execution is electricity. Comparing Vietnam to Kenya, he noted that the Asian nation with 100 million people produces over 70 gigawatts (GW) of power while Kenya, with half that population (50 million), barely scrapes four GW.

He argued that such measly power production in Kenya was making investors hesitate to build a factory in a country notorious for blackouts and inconsistent power supply. 

"Vietnam knew this. It built power generation before free trade zones, and now it’s a global export hub. In Kenya, the basic energy supply is unstable. 

"And yet, the government built a fancy expressway from Nairobi to Mombasa—without an export industry to support it. Meanwhile, millions live in slums and huts, with no access to reliable utilities," he did not mince his words.

Chau even exposed a weakness in Kenya's tourism industry, calling it a 'mess', and lamenting that safari bookings require 90-minute check-ins at park gates, even with reservations. Further, the closure of most businesses after 9.00 pm has made it impossible for visitors to experience or spend beyond "a Masai market that’s essentially a souvenir stand."

He also threw a jab at President Ruto's desire to build public housing under the Affordable Housing Programme, saying investors are scared off by petty corruption, and legal instability. "There are no credible incentives, no serious risk guarantees. In short, no real initiative to make it happen," he continued.

Drawing comparisons to Vietnam and Singapore, Chau hailed the nations' leaders for rising as early as 5 am prioritising execution over optics. Through this, their power supply never cuts out, their policy is data driven and stable, and their incentives are aligned with results.

"Africa doesn’t lack potential—it lacks a mindset shift. Leadership must stop performing for the next donor visit or summit. It must build systems that attract local and global investment, reward builders, and guarantee follow-through," he advised.

Giving an example of a closing global window, which Asia isn't waiting for, he appealed to Kenya and much of Africa to "turn off the microphone—and turn on the power" if they want a real economic future.