WAIKENDA: What Ruto must prioritise in first 100 days

A boy was stung by a nettle. He ran home and told his mother, saying, “Although it hurts me very much, I only touched it gently.” “That was just why it stung you,” said his mother. “The next time you touch a nettle, grasp it boldly, and it will be soft as silk to your hand, and not in the least hurt you.”

The short story above teaches us that whatever we do, we have to do it with all our might.

When Biden took over office as the 46th president of the United States, he hit the ground running to make his first 100 days meaningful. In the first 100 days, Biden signed 42 executive orders, more than any previous president since Harry Truman. The intention was to create momentum toward the transformation of his nation.

The first 100 days are a significant milestone for any new administration as this sets the tempo for what the nation should expect during the term of the presidency. It usually creates the momentum that the administration needs to fulfil all its promises made during the campaigns.

Additionally, never has the nation had as high expectations as there are in Kenya today, second maybe only to when Kibaki became president. Many people, even those who support the opposition, see President-elect William Ruto as a key to unlocking the country’s potential from all the pledges in his manifesto.

The bar that the nation has set for Ruto and all elected officials is unbelievably high and this can be a double-edged sword. This is an excellent opportunity to meet expectations and deliver as failure will mean widespread condemnation and dwindling approval ratings from the public at the beginning of the term.

Firstly, Ruto must ensure that Kenyans can afford maize flour by returning it to Sh100 or below, and mandating the Agriculture ministry to develop the value chain so that it can be maintained indefinitely while empowering farmers.

Ruto must focus on youth unemployment through the revamping of the economy as many young people are living hopeless lives for lack of jobs.

As a priority, Ruto must align his agenda with the Big Four agenda, which was created as a blueprint for transforming the country.

Housing, healthcare and manufacturing are critical areas that help the macro economy stay afloat. Manufacturing, specifically, will help Kenya compete well in the region and internationally by becoming a net exporter instead of an importer of the smallest of things.

To enhance the economy, the growing debt must be addressed and Ruto must tame Kenya’s appetite for expensive loans. We are spending billions of shillings in loan repayments per month. It is prudent to relook at all the loans and even renegotiate with the lenders.

The government has many pending bills, which should be settled as a matter of priority. The current administration owes local suppliers over Sh500 billion and this has made it impossible for many Kenyans to expand their businesses because they have not been paid what they are owed.

The government must prioritise putting money in the pockets of Kenyans and food on the table. A vibrant economy will help Kenyans become more productive in every other thing that they do and thus contribute to the country’s prosperity.

A high-priority area is agriculture, which remains the backbone of the country’s economy. Other than creating jobs, agriculture will also help ensure that the country is food secure for years to come.

Another area is enhancing the potential of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which have an even higher potential of creating jobs and expanding the economy. Ruto’s administration must look at ways of ensuring that SMEs have easier access to capital, which will help them grow and expand.

There are other areas that must be enhanced. Areas such as the arts and creative economy must be harnessed to secure the future of the youth in Kenya. E-Commerce also has the potential to earn Kenyans decent incomes and Ruto must look at the enablers that can help this be achieved.

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