Five key things to expect in Uhuru’s second term

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]espite being in power for four and half years, President Uhuru Kenyatta has still much to accomplish, if elected for a second term.

“Kenya has immense potential for growth, modernisation and prosperity,” was Uhuru’s opening remarks during the Jubilee Manifesto launch. After looking at Raila’s potential of developing this country if elected, we now look at Uhuru’s potential in certain sectors.

1. Unemployment

Currently, around 18 million Kenyans are unemployed. This has been the biggest challenge for the growth of the Kenyan economy. However, if Uhuru clinches power for the second term this number might reduce if he keeps his promise.

“Employment creation is at the heart of the next Jubilee administration’s priorities. We commit to creating at least 6.5 million jobs over five years to ensure that our people, particularly our youth, can secure and maintain good jobs that enable them to enjoy a decent life. We will concentrate investments in the sectors that are growth oriented and job creating. We are building a 21st Century hi-tech industrial revolution in Kenya,” committed Uhuru.

2. Corruption

By making the government more transparent and accountable through the digitisation of all government procurement; expanding and delivering e-government services through the growing network of Huduma Centres, the Jubilee administration hopes to mitigate corruption.

“We shall increase the penalty to include jail time for economic crimes and work with the judiciary to ensure all economic crime cases are resolved within 6 months and immediately deploy an enhanced protection and reward framework for whistleblowers,” promises Kenyatta.

They will also publish annual details of all the procurement awards for major government projects.

3. Social welfare

The jubilee government promises to double the number of vulnerable citizens supported through the cash transfer programme (Inua Jamii) from 700,000 to 1,400,000. This will include all citizens above the age of 70; in addition, all citizens above the age of 70 will obtain health insurance cover through the NHIF. They will also expand free maternity care to include government funded NHIF cover for every expectant mother for one year.

4. Food security and Agriculture

“We shall expand food and agricultural production, double the fertiliser subsidy initiative, reducing the cost to farmers to less than Ksh1,500. Expand the programme to include all crops with a resultant increase in production and support the expansion and capacity of local fertiliser manufacture,” said President Kenyatta.

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He also intends to complete the 57-large-scale dam construction programme, support small-holder agricultural irrigation and work with the private sector to enhance food and agricultural production on at least 1.2 million acres.

5. Sports and culture

The Jubilee manifesto promises to continue to provide and improve sports facilities by finalising the construction of three major new stadia in Nairobi, Mombasa and Eldoret along with the Kenya Academy of Sports. They will also upgrade regional stadia in Kiambu, Makueni, Elgeyo Marakwet, Marsabit, Nyeri and Chuka if elected. “The Government will complete the Ultra-Modern National Library at Upper Hill in Nairobi and fully operationalise the Kenya Film School,” promises Jubilee.

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