Azimio supporters and neutrals agree that the manifesto seeks to restore hope and the dreams of our founding fathers on the pillars of fighting poverty, disease and ignorance. Furthermore, it highlights the fight against graft, social transformation and good governance as key priorities for the Azimio administration.
On social protection, the manifesto proposes to give the country’s needy population of roughly around 2 million families a monthly stipend of Sh6,000. This is to enable individuals to set up small-scale businesses as mode of survival. Single mothers will also be given a lifeline through social assistance and allocation of jobs where possible.
Baba Care promises affordable, quality and easily accessible medical care. It goes without saying that the cost of attaining medical care in this country is unattainable to a vast majority of the population. Raila seeks to ensure that mwananchi can access and afford primary medical facilities established by the government.
Civil servants are also being assured of continued medical cover upon retirement. Raila proposes a preventative medical approach like the one adopted in Cuba where there has been sufficient training and certification of community members on how to protect themselves from diseases.
Job creation is key. The manifesto calls for the registration and certification of Jua Kali players to make them competitive in the job market. There will be a growth in the sector that will oversee the employment of many young men and women.
Uchumi kwa akina mama, which praises women empowerment, acknowledges the fact that women are the multipliers of wealth within a society. Raila promises that they will be granted funding and he will also create an enabling environment for the growth and sustainability of all their projects.
Inawezekana hashtag encompasses youth employment. Raila proposes the creation of the Ministry of Youth to be tasked with the mandate of looking at the challenges they face, creation of employment opportunities and allocation of jobs to the youth.
The youth will also receive grants and loans from the government and other financial institutions at cheap interest rates. For the small and medium enterprises they will create, he promises a seven-year tax holiday to allow them to stabilise in business.
Waste no single child. Education without a doubt holds the key to a prosperous future. Basic education is currently free and subsidised. However, Raila has pledged that with the current CBC curriculum, learners will have free education right from early childhood development to tertiary level.
University education will get enhanced subsidies. All these guarantee 100 per cent transition from level to level. For remote and marginalised areas, the government will sponsor locals to be trained as teachers so they can give back to the community through teaching. The country has seen a decline in the number of non-local teachers working in those regions due to insecurity.
Fukuza njaa is about growing our food basket. With Israel and Egypt thriving agriculturally, Kenya must upscale. In a bid to be fully self-sufficient, Raila promises to ensure that there is subsidised fertiliser, seed and agricultural production equipment. Investment in smart farming will also go a long way by finding a way of utilising the natural resources we have for maximum productivity.
Maji kwa kila boma seeks to address the perennial dry taps. To sustain the drought-stricken regions, Azimio seeks to find ways of dealing with artificial water shortages.
One County, One Product crystalises the idea of devolution. All 47 counties have potential. Raila's government promises to investigate exploiting the strengths of each county to ensure self-sustainability and growth. He also proposes the county allocation rise from the current 15 per cent to 35 per cent.
Administrative continuity. We often begin afresh with every government. This has seen the constant stagnation of service delivery during transition from one regime to another. Azimio seeks to stop that. Government is like a building block.
The fight against corruption also took centre stage. Raila plans to introduce an anti-corruption charter which will ensure that no one participates in or gains from corruption. He will also task parliament to make laws allowing speedier prosecution and execution of corruption offenders. He also spoke on the proportionality of punishment, which has been an issue where petty offenders get hefty sentences whereas public cash looters get a slap on the wrist.
The diaspora citizens have also not been left out. Azimio promises to ensure proper policies, laws and regulations are in place to enable them to invest back at home.
Whether this manifesto is practical or overly ambitious is a conjecture. However, Raila is not a worried man for he has pledged that in a bid to foster foreign relationships, he will attract foreign capital and investment while at the same time safeguarding our national interests through trade.
The rising debt ceiling has been alarming; however, he has promised that he will ensure he pursues debt relief and renegotiates the existing debts in a bid to manage the debts we owe.
University lecturer
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