NAIROBI, KENYA- President Uhuru Kenyatta led the nation in marking 50 years of self-rule in style as he captured, in his speech, the hopes and aspirations of a country that has had so many ups and downs but harbours great hopes and aspirations for the future.
President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In what was his first State function since his inauguration on May 9, Uhuru took time to set the agenda for his Government in the next five years even as he asked citizens to aspire for a better country in the next 50 years. “As we celebrate the past 50 years, therefore, we must now cast our sights over the next 50 years,” he said.
The President, during the national celebrations at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, said national unity is a key prerequisite for the realisation of the dreams and aspirations of the country. “Without unity, we shall neither progress nor stand,” he said.
He assured the country that he is determined to provide leadership towards the attainment of the shared vision of ending ethnic tensions and rivalry and uniting all citizens. Kenya’s 50 years as an independent nation have been marked by ethnic rivalry and suspicion and has been littered with political murders.
“I assure Kenyans that uniting our people is one of my most passionate goals for our country,” said Kenya’s fourth President.
Support devolution
This was significant because the country has just emerged out of a General Election highly polarised along ethnic lines and in which he won by a slight majority and also because the country is yet to heal the wounds of the 2007-08 post-election violence.
And in what was seen as a call to patience on his 24th day in office, Uhuru said he had put in place structures that would ensure the delivery of the election promises that his coalition gave to the people.
“When I took office about two months ago, I promised that we will radically change the way the Government operates so that it is able to deliver efficient and effective services to the people. That journey has begun with our restructuring of Government ministries and the naming of Cabinet Secretaries,” he said.
He enumerated the key challenges that face the country in its quest to develop. He cited national unity; economic growth; food security; education; health; jobs; insecurity and the fight against corruption as issues his Government would pay great attention to.
The President was quick to address the issue of provincial commissioners who have been sparring with governors over power by ordering that they be recalled for redeployment. He, however, steered clear of the salary controversy pitting Members of Parliament against the Salaries and Remuneration Commission team. In his maiden Madaraka Day speech, the Head of State also instructed that other provincial heads of departments be redeployed in a bold restructuring process that he said has commenced.
“I have directed that Provincial Commissioners and other provincial heads of departments be redeployed for other national duties,” he said.
The directive came as tension continued to brew between County Government officials and members of the provincial administration over superiority. The fate of PCs has been unclear, as the Constitution, which provides for the restructuring of the provincial administration, does not expressly provide for their existence. The future of district commissioners, divisional officers, chiefs and assistant chiefs is also not certain.
The rivalry has been so intense that governors have demanded to know who among them ranked higher in the pecking order.
And as if to set the record straight on Saturday, in the absence of deputy president William Ruto, Nairobi PC Njoroge Ndirangu did not feature among those who addressed the gathering. After inviting Nairobi governor Evans Kidero to speak, Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala invited the President to address the nation. President Uhuru pledged support to the implementation of devolution and noted that its letdown means failure of Jubilee Government.
“The National Government will continue to give support to the county Governments through capacity building,” he said. The President said that he is committed to ensure all Kenyans are secure. He also said he will put measures in place to ensure the youth get jobs and all women get safe deliveries in public hospitals.
Pregnant women
He declared that starting this month there would be no maternity fees levied on women in all public hospitals. “I direct that no charges of whatever nature shall be imposed by Government health institutions to access maternity services,” he said.
He also said that user fees of Sh10 and Sh20 that has been charged in dispensaries and health centres respectively be abolished.
“These measures are expected to increase access to the services required by all pregnant mothers,” he said. On security, Uhuru said he would not rest until all Kenyans are secure. He said some Sh4 billion has been set aside towards procurement of modern security equipment. This he said will be done each year for the next five years. “We have also proposed to allocate Sh4.5 billion for enhanced security operations, and Sh1.5 billion for crimes research and investigations,” he said.
Another Sh3 billion, he said, would be go towards leasing and fueling of motor vehicles for security operations. He said more security personnel have been deployed to vulnerable areas and pledged security to all school going children.
He said some Sh17.8 billion will be factored in the next financial year towards food security. He said the allocation would supplement the ongoing irrigation projects as well as the one million acre irrigation program.
“We aim at transforming agriculture and food security to make food available to Kenyans at affordable prices,’ he said. Drug barons were also put on notice with Uhuru pledging a crackdown on persons he termed ‘merchants of destruction.’
“I put on notice all those who sell drugs. We shall not allow them to ruin young lives and deny our country the bright future we are working for,” he said. The president also enumerated many ways he expects to generate a million jobs for the youths annually. He said Sh6 billion has been set aside to help the youth set up small business in every constituency. He said each constituency would receive Sh200 million as Revolving fund and noted that a framework for its delivery has been formulated.
He said the National Gender and Development Council would also be established even as the National Youth Council is main streamed.
He said many more jobs would be created through an industrial revolution that will see basic commodities and tools manufactured locally.
He also said savings and cooperative societies will be strengthened to further mobilise savings and increase investment to generate employment opportunities.
“We will position Kenya as a Business Process Outsourcing Hub through establishment of Konza Techno city. This will create jobs opportunities for youth who will work in software development and light electronic manufacturing industries.”
By Augustine Oduor, The New Vision
