ESG
Unstoppable Force Meets Immovable Object: A Year Of Sustainability Lessons
By Soyinka Witness
“ That is What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?” The Joker( The Dark Knight).
This iconic line from the Dark Knight perfectly encapsulates the tension between Kenya’ s urgent sustainability needs and the systemic barriers holding back progress. It has been a year of monumental shifts, startling realizations, and undeniable lessons- not just for me as an advocate of sustainability but for Kenya and Sub- Saharan Africa as a whole. As I reflect on a year of writing about sustainability, it’ s clear that the time for change is now. Let’ s revisit the themes that have dominated the discourse and uncover why this journey matters now more than ever.
From Chaos to Order: Why MSMEs Must Embrace Sustainability
Sometime this year, I tackled the monumental task of convincing MSMEs across the region to embrace Environmental, Social, and Governance( ESG) principles. With 44 million MSMEs in the region, most operating informally, it felt akin to asking Bane from The Dark Knight Rises to follow
Gotham’ s laws- a near-impossible task. These businesses, the backbone of our economies, often prioritize survival over structure, dodging bureaucracy to preserve razor-thin margins.
To borrow the Joker ' s iconic line from The Dark Knight: " What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?" Sustainability, with its undeniable momentum, represents the unstoppable force. Meanwhile, Kenya’ s peculiar character- as once described by Michael Joseph- has long been the immovable object, resistant to adopting practices that don’ t align with entrenched norms and the ethos of expediency. Yet, as history shows, even immovable objects must eventually shift under relentless force.
However, MSMEs’ informality also limits their potential for growth and sustainability. The year’ s surveys and studies revealed a stark reality: while 62 % of MSMEs are aware of ESG, barriers like high implementation costs, lack of expertise, and limited access to finance persist. Despite these challenges, MSMEs that embrace ESG unlock benefits ranging from enhanced brand value to
The year’ s events have shown that sustainability isn’ t just about preserving the environment; it’ s about creating a fairer, more resilient society. It’ s about ensuring that the unstoppable force of climate change and social inequity meets an equally unstoppable commitment to progress.
better access to capital. Sustainabilityconscious consumers are growing, and businesses that ignore this shift risk being left behind. The message was clear sustainability isn’ t a luxury; it’ s a necessity.
Kenya’ s Wake-Up Call: The ESG Imperative
Kenya’ s year was marked by both tragedy and transformation. The unprecedented floods that wreaked havoc earlier in the year displaced thousands, destroyed livelihoods, and underscored the immediate impacts of climate change. These events were a stark reminder that sustainability is no longer an abstract concept but a tangible, urgent need.
This is where the unstoppable force of sustainability collides with Kenya’ s long-standing resistance to systemic change. The floods highlighted not only environmental mismanagement but also the cost of deferring necessary action. Like the Joker’ s paradox, these moments force us to confront whether our immovable tendencies will yield to the unstoppable push for accountability, innovation, and resilience. The floods were not just a natural disaster; they were a governance crisis. Poor urban planning, deforestation, and lack of disaster preparedness magnified the devastation. The parallels with my second article, which drew on the societal decay of Gotham City, are undeniable. Much like Gotham’ s corruption and inequality, Kenya’ s systemic issues- weak governance, social inequities, and environmental mismanagement- have amplified the country’ s vulnerability.
Amidst this, a new force emerged: Kenya’ s youth. Inspired by global movements, Gen Z and Millennials led peaceful demonstrations demanding transparency, accountability, and social justice. Their
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