President Uhuru Kenyatta gave the strongest signal of his impending retirement during Tuesday’s State of the Nation Address in a show of confidence about his legacy.
The President declared success of his development projects, most of which are anchored on infrastructure investment. Pundits, however, opine that the President was economical with the truth regarding the failures of his government.
While he acknowledged them as hiccups in his administration, he was quick to attribute them to factors outside of his control. The Covid-19 pandemic came in handy, even though he celebrated the 10.5 per cent growth in the last quarter.
On the other hand, he blamed his political detractors led by the Tangatanga brigade for the hitches in national unity and cohesion. The collapse of the BBI was squarely blamed on them — [and the Judiciary].
The President chose the occasion to indicate his preference for his successor by deliberately lionizing some those instrumental in his political career. The national event at Parliament heralded the rollercoaster of the 2022 presidential election. The die is cast for those interested in succeeding Uhuru.
What has come out since the main competitors declared interest in the presidential seat is that the political spectrum is not clearly dichotomized. The difference between the competing cleavages is a little hazy. Voters may find it a daunting task sieving through the policy positions from the pronouncements of the various candidates.
The following issues are key to national wellbeing and development and the voters may wish to consider them as they prepare to go to the ballot next year. They would be useful in assisting them to separate the wheat from the chaff among the candidates.
INFRASTRUCTURE
In the last 20 years, the two governments have invested heavy in infrastructure. Roads have more or less doubled in terms of kilometres, while the SGR is now operational for both passenger and freight services.
The meter gauge railway has been rehabilitated and commuter transport on the old routes resumed. The Lake Victoria transport network that connects the Great Lakes region has also been revamped, while Lamu Port has been commissioned as the key segment of the Lapsset project.
Security within the Kenyan territorial waters of the Indian Ocean has been improved significantly. These investments are heavy but a strong boost to the national and regional economy.
However, just but a small fraction of the infrastructure network can sustain the economic growth necessary for the attainment of Vision 2030. If the country is to witness industrial development required to turn the nation into a middle income economy then, a lot more investment is needed in the transport and communication network.
More importantly, there will be a lot more demand on the next government to maintain of the existing infrastructure.
During the President Daniel Moi regime, Kenyans watched helplessly as the country’s road, rail and water transport network steadily deteriorated and became horribly dilapidated. This has had to be fixed through hard earned taxpayers’ money and expensive loans.
To safeguard the gains made so far, Kenyans must be prudent in the choice they make for President. They should elect a candidate who has the discipline to maintain the existing networks and the global connections to encourage investment. They should avoid like plague those who have demonstrated appetite for infrastructural investments as opportunities to line their pockets through kickbacks and looting.
HEALTHCARE
The Jubilee administration was voted on, among others, the platform of universal healthcare. Attempts have been made since 2013 but with minimal success.
When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the national healthcare system was tested to the core.
Health facilities were exposed as inept in human resource and bereft of essential supplies and the government had to allocate more funds to the system as mitigation.
Then the ravenous vultures of corruption perched on the Kemsa.
Most early victims of the disease succumbed. Those who survived were subjected to hitherto unwitnessed security operations and humongous financial expenditures.
It is, however, the devolution of healthcare function to the counties that has been the weakest link in the provision of quality services. The counties themselves have been bastions of unbridled graft, and the NHIF has never been able to outgrow its status as a hub of corruption.
It has been unable to support the universal healthcare services as was envisioned by the Uhuru administration. Kenyans should thus choose a president who has the stamina to fight corruption and the capacity to implement an effective healthcare system.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2005 proposed radical changes into the education sector by including elements thought to be missing in the 8-4-4 system. The intention was to ensure 100 per cent transition of leaners and provide different career pathways.
The most significant objective was to equip young Kenyans with appropriate skills and knowledge for technological advancement and industrial development as envisaged in the Vision 2030.
On the other hand, they intended to create a globally competitive human resource that would be able to find employment anywhere in the world. The policy led to the establishment of new technical training institutes as well as expansion of the existing ones.
TVET received appropriate recognition in government planning and funding and with it the unprecedented expansion of university education. Additional university colleges were established and by time President Mwai Kibaki retired, 25 new universities had been chartered bringing the total to 32 public varsities.
The government aslo increased funding to universities to support infrastructure and human resource development and expansion. Staff welfare improved tremendously even as student numbers increased tenfold.
Earlier, the government had ensured free and compulsory education at primary and [day] secondary schools. With a booming economy, the happiness index of the Kenyan citizen was reported to be the highest in Africa.
The Jubilee administration inherited this exponential growth in the education sector without adequate preparedness. Pupil numbers have continued to soar in basic education, outstripping the space and teacher requirements.
The economic growth rate has not been able to support commensurate investment in needed academic staffing for university training and research. Kenyans must thus consider a presidential candidate who has the necessary experience to tackle the endemic funding challenge to universities.
There should appropriate investment in cutting edge research to spur homegrown industrial development. That president must have the courage to sustain the investment in the TVET to secure the path to a skills-based economy as opposed to labour intensive economic system.
These three policy considerations would help in assuring Kenyans of sufficient personal income and less taxes.
