When Professor Joseph P. Kaboski returned to Strathmore University in July 2026, he wasn’t simply making another academic visit. During his one-week engagement as a visiting lecturer in the Master of Science (MSc) in Economics programme, the internationally recognised development economist shared his expertise with students preparing to address some of Africa’s most pressing development challenges. His return reflected more than an academic collaboration. It signalled his confidence in a programme he believes is both timely and distinctive. “This Master’s in Economics programme is exactly what is needed here, and I was happy to contribute,” Professor Kaboski said.
Professor Kaboski first visited Strathmore earlier this year when the University hosted the Structural Transformation and Economic Growth (STEG) Annual Conference and Theme Workshops, the first time the global gathering had been held in the Global South. The conference also marked the launch of the STEG Visiting Fellowships Programme, an initiative that brings leading economists to universities across the Global South to teach, collaborate with local researchers and mentor students.
The invitation to return, however, was about more than the fellowship itself. He was particularly drawn to the vision Dr. Godfrey Madigu, Dean of the Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences (SIMS), is bringing to the Master of Science (MSc) in Economics programme, a vision centred on combining rigorous economic training with values-based leadership. This approach reflects Professor Kaboski’s own belief that economics should not only advance knowledge, but also serve human flourishing and address real-world development challenges.
Although he earned his doctorate at the University of Chicago under the supervision of two Nobel Prize-winning economists, he believes meaningful development research must be rooted in the communities it seeks to serve. “There are limits to what you can learn about development from Chicago,” he explained. “That’s why we have the Fellows Programme; to bring frontier knowledge here, where local scholars who understand their own contexts can push research forward,”. Strengthening African universities, he believes, is not simply about expanding access to education. It is about enabling African researchers to generate the evidence, ideas and policy solutions needed to tackle the continent’s unique development challenges.
Asked what he considers Africa’s most urgent priority, Professor Kaboski answered without hesitation: creating jobs. With one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing populations, he argued that employment is about much more than earning an income. “Meaningful work provides dignity, builds experience, gives people purpose and contributes to long-term social and political stability,” he said.
While manufacturing once fueled the rise of economies such as South Korea, Professor Kaboski believes today’s opportunities for countries like Kenya increasingly lie in service exports, technology-driven industries and continued urbanization. “Most people don’t want handouts,” he observed. “They want the opportunity to earn for themselves and use the gifts God gave them to contribute to society,”.
Looking ahead, he encouraged students to prepare for an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Rather than competing with technology, he urged them to cultivate qualities that machines cannot easily replicate. “Be a lifelong learner,” he advised. “Leadership, communication, mentoring and genuine creativity will remain fundamentally human strengths. Expertise is important, but flexibility is equally essential as technology continues to evolve,”.
Throughout his week in Kenya, one conviction remained constant: economics is ultimately about people. Professor Kaboski explained that his Catholic faith continues to shape both his research (search for truth) and his understanding of poverty and economics. “I believe the economy is a tool for human flourishing, not an end in itself. Money is a good servant, but a poor master,”.
He also reflected on the lessons that countries can learn from one another, arguing that development should never be viewed as a one-way transfer of knowledge. “There are things Americans can learn from Kenyans,” he said. “Strong families, community life and religious faith remain important sources of social cohesion here,”. Quoting St Paul’s encouragement to “test all things; hold fast to what is good,” he encouraged students and researchers to remain intellectually curious while remaining grounded in enduring values.
As his week at Strathmore came to a close, Professor Kaboski expressed optimism about both the University’s direction and the students preparing to become the next generation of economists. “I’ve been very impressed by the dedication, the leadership and the values here at Strathmore,” he said. “Be hopeful. You’re going after the right things,”.
Although his visit lasted only a week, it reflected a growing partnership built on a shared belief: that Africa’s future will be shaped by universities that produce rigorous research, cultivate principled leaders and equip economists to solve the continent’s challenges from within. It is this combination of academic excellence, values and locally grounded research that he sees taking shape at Strathmore.
Article written by Maitethia Doreen, Communications Administrator, Strathmore Institute of Mathematical Sciences.
