President Uhuru Kenyatta will deliver the State of the Nation address to a special sitting of Parliament today afternoon. Business Today looks at the key issues that President will talk about.
Parastatal reforms
President Kenyatta formed a taskforce to streamline the management of parastatals in the country. The committee has already tabled its report to the president. The report gives criteria on appointments and re-appointments to boards as well as removals, rewards, sanctions and performance management. The president will seek the Parliament to fast-track the Government Owned Entities (GOE) Bill 2015 which will set the standards on how state corporations are managed.
Terrorism
During his visit to Japan, President Kenyatta signed an agreement with the Asian nation to share intelligence and counter-terrorism work with Japan, given the common threat of terrorism. There was also very substantial interest in power, maritime, and other infrastructure projects. This will form part of his state of the nation address.
Economic integration
The president recently attended the inauguration of Dr Hage Geingob as Namibia’s third president, where he also opened the Kenya House which houses Kenya High Commission in Namibia. Having discussed the idea of setting up a tripartite free-trade area between the East African Community (EAC), Common Market of East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), the issue will also be part of Mr Kenyatta’s address.
Cost of Living
The head of state is expected to address the issue of rising cost of living and the measures his government has undertaken to improve food security in the country.
Fuel prices
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) raised retail prices for super petrol, diesel and kerosene by different price margins in its latest review for March 2015. This will be part of the president’s speech.
Corruption
The past few weeks have brought to the limelight corruption malpractices in several committees under the parliament banner. The president is expected to address this since it touches on some members of his cabinet.
Health
With cancer now being rated as Kenya’s third-worst killer, the head of state is expected to talk about the measures that his government has initiated to help treat cancer patients. The two radiotherapy machines used to treat cancer patients in public hospitals, both at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) broke down, leaving hundreds of patients stranded.
According to the Kenyan constitution, the president is required to address the August House once in a year to inform the nation on strides made in national security, country’s international obligations and also efforts made to actualise the national values. Unconfirmed reports reveal that the president may use the address to confirm changes in his cabinet.
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