Newly elected President of Kenya, William Ruto has set his eyes on tackling the economic challenges rocking the nation.
It could be recalled that in the recent keenly contested election, Ruto defeated the opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was contesting his fifth election.
Ruto, who has been the deputy President of Kenya since 2013, won almost 7.18 million votes (50.49 percent) against 6.94 million (48.85 percent) for his rival Raila Odinga.
In his acceptance speech Ruto had said: “It was God that brought us here … my team and I will make sure that the sacrifices made by many Kenyans is not in vain … we will not let them down. I am confident that this country will come together and we can move forward as one democratic nation.
“I will run a transparent, open, democratic government and I will work with the opposition to the extent that they provide oversight over my administration”.
Meanwhile, it could be recalled that on June 30, Ruto launched his five-point manifesto. Dubbed ‘The Plan’, Ruto said Kenya’s economic challenges require immediate attention and one of his priorities as President will be to revive the economy in a post-Covid era.
The President-elect said he will make a decisive break from the business-as-usual economic policies and carry out bold economic reforms in a coherent fashion, to accelerate job creation and leave no one behind in the empowerment process.
Succinctly put, Ruto’s key pledges include investing at least Sh250 billion in five years effective 2023 to boost Agriculture and food security, providing Sh50b annually to provide MSMEs with reliable access to credit, building e 250,000 new affordable houses every year through public-private partnership, setting up a settlement fund to acquire land and resettle up to one million landless families, mandatory national insurance (NHIF), establishment of new level 6 hospitals in six new sites and hiring an initial 20,000 health care workers.
Others are constructing a 100,000-kilometer fiber optic connectivity network, bridging current teacher shortage gap within two financial years, doubling the amount of money allocated to the school feeding programme, appointing all judges nominated by JSC for appointment to the Court of Appeal within seven days, lower cadre officers (sergeant and below) to be given the option of serving in their home counties from age 50.
In the area of Agriculture & Food Security, he pledged an investment of at least Sh250 billion in five years effective 2023, transforming two million poor farmers from food-deficit to surplus producers, raising the productivity of key-value food chains and cutting basic food imports by 30 percent.
On Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME), he pledged to provide Sh50b annually to provide MSMEs with reliable access to credit, provide one street trading premises for every 50 urban residents, increase the daily income of informal traders by Sh200, establishing MSME Business Development Centre in every ward.
Concerning Housing and Settlement, he promised new 250,000 affordable houses every year through public-private partnership, grow the number of mortgages to one million, settlement Fund to acquire land and resettle up to one million landless families.
Ruto pledged provide fully publicly financed primary healthcare
On ICT & Creative Economy, he vowed to construct 100,000 kilometre fiber optic connectivity network, roll out fibre to counties, villages, schools, over 24,000 businesses and homes, establish Africa Regional Hub and promote the development of Software for export.
In the area of Infrastructure, Ruto promised to complete all roads under construction, construct 700km road along the Isiolo-Kula, Mawe-Modogashe-Samatar-Wajir-Kutulo-Elwak-Ramu corridor.
On Education, Ruto hopes to pay for in-service teacher training, bridge current teacher shortage gap within two financial years, review the current exam-based system of academic progression and introduce alternative entry criteria, merge HELB, TVET and University Funding Board under a National Skill & Funding Council, set up a National Open University and implement 100 percent transition to higher education, increase funding to research and development institutions from 0.8 per cent to 2 percent of GDP.
On how he hopes to tackle the issue of Gender, Ruto pledged two-thirds gender rule in elective and appointive positions in public sector, within 12 months, 50 percent of cabinet positions for women, ensure 100 per cent enforcement of the spousal consent legal provisions in land transaction.
Ruto said in the area of Governance, he hopes to complete the transfer of all functions constitutionally earmarked as devolved functions to counties within six months, strengthen the Office of the Attorney General, audit judicial liabilities and shortcomings within the first three months, strengthen police oversight and appoint an Ombudsman to focus on human rights violations of youth.
He also promised to appoint all judges nominated by JSC for appointment to the Court of Appeal within seven days, establish a Special Tribunal for Gross Human Rights Violations and Enforced Disappearances, timely and predictable transfer of sharable revenue to counties.
More importantly on the issue of Security services, his agenda include contributory benevolent fund for families of fallen and terminal ill officers, insurance cover for loss of life on duty, review and improve pay for all officers in the security sector.
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