- The president said that quality and affordable healthcare remains a key priority of his government.
- The president said the government plans to automate the basic education system and expand Technical and Vocational Education.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto has promised that his administration will hire 20,000 health workers and recruit an additional 116,000 teachers by 2027.
The president said the Kenya Kwanza administration plans to enhance the staffing levels within the health supply chain in the next four years in line with Vision 2030.
Speaking when he launched the country’s Fourth Medium Term Plan covering that runs until 2027, President Ruto said he has prioritized key sectors that will drive his vision.
The president said that quality and affordable healthcare remains a key priority and of his government, targeting to expand the Social Health Insurance Scheme to 10.8 million households.
His administration will also focus on digitising health services and improving health infrastructure during the four years.
“Over 20,000 health workers will be recruited to support the health commodities supply chain," Ruto said at State House.
Other infrastructural projects to be implemented during the MTP IV period include the construction of one million affordable housing units, the laying of 4,600km of high voltage transmission lines and 37 sub-stations.
The substation will connect an additional 2.3 million Kenyans and 30,000 public institutions to the national grid.
“Additionally, an extra 100,000km of fibre-optic cable will be laid as part of the National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure Programme," he said.
The president said the government plans to automate the basic education system, expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training and scale up admissions to the National Open University, as well as Open Distance and e-learning.
“In addition, the institutional framework for financing tertiary education has been adopted and will be strengthened," Ruto said as he unveiled the country’s fourth MTP.
Ruto said the government plans to substantially invest in infrastructure development, particularly transport connectivity to increase efficiency and enhance mobility.
The president promised that the government will build 6,000km of new roads, upgrade 101,755km of existing roads and construct 277 footbridges across the country.
“During the Fourth Medium Term Plan, the Government will boost production through a value chain approach targeting leather and leather products, textile and apparel, dairy, tea, rice, edible oils, blue economy, minerals, forestry, construction and building materials, among others," Ruto said.
He said emphasis will be given to the promotion of agro-processing and the strengthening of extension services, provision of quality and affordable farm inputs and cooperative development and management.
Other areas that the government wants to give priority by 2027 are market access and logistics support, expansion of irrigation infrastructure, adoption of climate-smart agriculture, enhanced agricultural financing, and agricultural mechanization research and development.
"To create employment, the focus will be given to investment in Special Economic Zones and County Aggregation and Industrial Parks; diversification of export markets and market access of MSMEs goods and services," Ruto said.
He said the government will also establish Jumuiya cross-border markets and strengthen cooperation with our traditional and new trade partner countries.
Ruto said the government will scale up the financial inclusion fund - the Hustler Fund - to actualize its commitment to increase access to affordable credit for those at the bottom of the pyramid.
Additionally, he will undertake reforms to create a favourable tax regime, deepen capital markets, improve the lending and investment environment, and attract investors to the Nairobi International Financial Centre.