In the last week of July, all eyes were set on Kenya as the country hosted the first sitting American President since independence.
Focus was not just on US President Barack Obama’s State visit but the Global Entrepreneurship Summit which was being hosted by Nairobi for the first time in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This visit by Obama and the GES may be the major highlights of Kenya in 2015 but not the only ones that have made this year great for our nation.
During the GES, the most powerful man in the world today reminded us of a great load of lessons that are within us but which we have failed to apply.
These lessons concern all the spheres of our life — from good governance to successful business practices.
President Obama repeated most of what we know but needed to be reminded, probably by an outsider.
He told us that we need to remain steadfast in safeguarding the democratic gains we have fought hard for and even reminded out leaders that they must exercise good governance, in and out of government.
Multi-billion shilling commitments were announced at the Summit expressing the confidence that the world has with Kenya and its entrepreneurs.
It is now time to tap into this investments and ensure that we all benefit from them and as a result grow our economy.
The US leader reminded us of what we do not need reminding of. That corruption is an ill that must be dealt with at all costs and we must be ready to act tough on the vice.
We were reminded this again a few weeks ago when Pope Francis visited the country — making Kenya his first stop in his first trip to Africa.
Our own President has taken the cue and is leading the fight against corruption from the front – to the extent of sacking his own Cabinet Secretaries over alleged involvement in graft.
The war against corruption is still far from being won but the steps being taken every day will eventually give every Kenyan a reason to smile. Other than hosting the GES, Kenya has this week hosted the World Trade Organization 10th Ministerial Conference.
This has again cemented the belief in the confidence that the world has in Kenya as a key player in the global affairs. Still on the international front, Kenya’s Huduma Centre’s have won various awards in enhancement and improvement of service delivery to the public.
The Huduma Kenya Program implemented by the Ministry of Devolution and Planning was declared this year’s winner of the United Nations Public Service Award in improving delivery of public services.
The United Nations Public Service Awards is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service.
It rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions towards a more effective and responsive public administration worldwide.
The Government initiative to move services closer to Kenyans through One-Stop-Shop Service centers, popularly known as Huduma Centre’s has made it easier for investors to set up businesses and citizens to access pubic services.
The Huduma Kenya Program is delivering more than 35 services under one roof in almost all the counties. Looking at the local front, the government has maintained economic growth about 5 per cent – which is below target but good.
Inflation in the country has remained below 7 per cent which is good given that we were 4 years ago at 19 per cent.
The SGR is 60 per cent done and it is clear that it will extend further from Nairobi to Naivasha where there are plans to put up and Industrial Park.
In addition, the new container terminal in Mombasa will be ready by next year February making the SGR project a complete package.
The energy sector is beaming with progress as we move to implement the last mile project that will see an additional 1.5 million Kenyans connected to electricity.
As it stands, 20,540 schools are connected to power as compared to 8,000 in 2013 with the government expecting to connect the remaining 1,150 schools by the end of this month.
On youth and women empowerment, over 80,000 businesses have been registered by Youth, Women and persons with disability since 2013.
Over 30,000 of them have received business from Government in the last financial year totaling over 30 billion shillings with many more being engaged in the current financial year.
Devolution continues to be a major success across the country. We have seen more hospitals equipped than ever before as the national and county governments commit to bettering the health of the nation.
This is just but a tip of the iceberg. Kenya has seen a lot of good things happen to it this year and we should continue working hard to ensure that even more is achieved in the coming year.