President Ruto delivers his first State of the Nation Address
NOVEMBER 9TH, 2023
1. I rise before this distinguished assembly of the democratically
elected representatives of the people of Kenya to discharge my
constitutional functions under Article 132(1)(c). The occasion
requires me to give an account, to the people of Kenya, the
measures taken by their government, under my leadership, and
to give full expression and effect to the soul of our constitutional
dispensation by implementing the National Values and Principles
of governance set out in Article 10.
2. I have a substantial report to give on the progress made in
fulfilling this solemn covenant, and that the journey of
transforming Kenya for the benefit of present and future
generations is fully underway. Its positive effects have also
begun to bear fruit across many sectors of national endeavour
from the grassroots to the capital.
3. On 13th September 2022, when I took office, I undertook to
ensure the urgent transformation of our economy and to stop
and reverse the negative trends of runaway unemployment,
yawning inequality and widespread poverty which were denying
Kenyans their dignity and extinguishing their dreams.
4. The mass appeal of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation
Agenda was due, in a large part, to the fact that its development
and articulation, as well as its content and implementation
strategy represented our national values in action. It was
inclusive, democratic, committed to social justice and the
protection of the marginalised.
5. Our commitment to bring the national values and principles of
governance to life in order to significantly enhance the well-being
of every individual and promote the unity, stability, security and
development of our country began long before the last election
and will endure well beyond our term. It has been my manifest
intention to live up to all the commitments set out in the Plan
and, despite enormous challenges and tremendous difficulties,
we have made encouraging progress in a positive direction. This
has not only vindicated our philosophy of inclusive
transformation in the pursuit of shared prosperity, but it has also
increased our confidence that we are on the right path and shall,
in due course, deliver the transformation of our nation in full.
6. It is important for us to point out that we began the
implementation of our mandate to transform Kenya's economy
from the bottom up under extremely difficult circumstances, not
to excuse failure or justify inability or omission to do the
necessary work. Rather, we do it to emphasise the significance
of our progress, underscore the possibility of transformation
under daunting conditions and express well-founded confidence
that when sufficient progress is made, we shall do much more
and go much farther in delivering the Kenya We Want for our
generation and for posterity.
7. In our Plan, we identified three primary challenges—external
shocks, fiscal distress, and structural imbalances—that heavily
strained our economy, causing nationwide difficulty. The Covid-
19 pandemic, coupled with global supply chain disruptions and
geopolitical conflicts, significantly raised inflation and interest
rates, adversely affecting our economy, while low agricultural
investment and a prolonged drought led to food shortages and
made Kenya a net food importer in a volatile international
market.
8. It was under conditions of such extreme difficulty that the people
of Kenya entrusted us with the responsibility of simultaneously
generating effective solutions to immediate problems, providing
a credible pathway to stability in the medium term, and
undertaking long-term structural transformation of our economy
but in a manner which paid attention to the needs and
aspirations of Kenyans at the bottom of the pyramid.
9. The transformation of our economy is not only desirable and
important; it is also necessary and urgent, and the people of
Kenya have made this clear at every opportunity. Our duty as
leaders is to listen keenly and comply with the people's wishes.
Kenyans want to proceed in a new direction and demand a new
conversation that puts Mama Mboga’s security, well-being,
interests and aspirations at the front and centre of all policy and
governance discourse.
10. Citizen freedoms and fundamental rights lie at the heart of
enterprise and democracy. Accordingly, our governance system
must be fit for purpose: Able to protect people and their
belongings, safeguard freedom, facilitate democracy and
promote market efficiency. To do this, law enforcement must be
robust, judicial integrity, efficiency and independence absolute
and the right to the protection of the law nonnegotiable and
impartial. Our police service and all other actors in the justice,
law and order chain, including the judiciary, must therefore be
professional, independent, impartial, effective and inspired by
national values and principles of governance.
11. In keeping with our promise to the people of Kenya, I signed
important instruments on my first day in office. Among them the
delayed appointment of six judges to the Court of Appeal as
recommended by the Judicial Service Commission, enhanced
allocation to the Judiciary by KSh3 billion, designated the
Inspector-General as the accounting officer of the National Police
Service to enhance independence and subsequently appointed a
taskforce, led by former Chief Justice David Maraga, to review
the terms and conditions of service of members of the National
Police Service.
12. Together with the people of Kenya, we have changed
everything. We have transformed the national political
conversation from personalities to issues, from regional or ethnic
largesse to opportunities for our youth and hustlers, from
division to inclusion, and from the status quo to bottom-up
economic transformation for shared prosperity. To date,
Kenyans remain fully seized of the agenda, engaging rigorously
and with unrelenting focus on expanding agricultural productivity
to deal with the cost of living, affordable housing to create jobs
and dignified dwellings, universal health coverage for a healthy
productive population, digital transformation to create jobs and
efficient and effective access to government services, the Hustler
Fund and the prudent management of national resources.
13. By virtue of the internal coherence of our constitutional
dispensation, national values and principles of governance set
out core directive precepts whose observance imbues every
decision and action with implicit constitutionality. To the extent
that our plan is aligned with Article 43, the implementation of
the bottom-up economic transformation agenda is a programme
to intensify the actualisation of national values, with a special
focus on citizens at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
14. From the first day in office, we have worked hard every day to
move our agenda forward, amid many challenges, to forge a
path in the direction of progress. That is the essence of our
commitment: To make progress despite challenges and move
forward by overcoming great obstacles. We must never be
defined by our problems, and Kenya’s destiny cannot be derailed
by our challenges.
15. The cost of living is not an abstract phenomenon. It is a reality
experienced by all households, which can be addressed through
practical action and effective measures. One of the most salient
interventions in addressing the high cost of living is the strategy
to support agricultural production throughout the sector's range
of food and cash crops as well as livestock value chains.
16. I am committed to put the shame of hunger behind us once and
for all. We rolled out a countrywide farmer registration and
fertiliser subsidy programme that has made available 5.5 million
bags to farmers across Kenya. We have progressively reduced
the cost of fertiliser from KSh6,500 to KSh2,500, increased maize
acreage under production by an extra 200,000 acres and
enhanced maize production by an additional 18 million bags.
17. As a result of these interventions, today a 2kg packet of maize
flour is selling at a low of KSh145 and a high of KSh175
depending on the brand down from KSh250. A Gorogoro of
maize is selling at between KSh60 and KSh75.
18. We have also established 22 new fish landing sites in 9 counties
in the Nyanza and Coast regions, funded and organised beach
management units into cooperatives, set up two hatcheries in
Kabonyo and Shimoni and we are in the process of completing
Liwatoni fish processing plant by next month and Shimoni fish
port by the end of next year.
19. To achieve efficiency, transparency and accuracy in fertiliser
distribution, we enrolled farmers on a digital register, with
accurate details of the location and acreage of their agricultural
landholding. This database enabled us to implement an e-
voucher system through which farmers received their fertiliser
consignments for planting and top-dressing of maize, tea, coffee,
rice, potatoes, cotton and edible oil crops.
20. Our farmers are the best people to speak about the success of
the fertiliser programme. Yesterday, I spoke to several farmers
in different parts of the country. Ms Alice Nato of Bungoma, a
single mother, told me that the KSh3,500 fertiliser had doubled
the yield on her farm from 52 bags of maize last year to 120
bags this year.
21. Another farmer, Mr Albert Munyi, appreciated the impact the
fertiliser subsidy had on his farm and asked me to work out a
way that the fertiliser can be delivered closer to farmers rather
than NCPB depots. I assured him that I will work with governors
to actualise his proposal.
22. But it was Mr Samuel Chacha of Kuria, who graphically painted
the picture of transformation the fertiliser subsidy has done in
farms countrywide with a phrase that stuck in my mind. He
simply told me: “Mr President, shamba yangu inametameta.”
23. Further, we have made adequate arrangements, including
investment in necessary infrastructure, to facilitate post-harvest
management and prevent losses. 17 certified warehouses, jointly
managed by the National Cereals and Produce Board and private
sector owners, with a combined capacity of 365,000 MT, or 4
million 90kg bags, have been prepared in the maize-growing
areas.
24. The NCPB shall provide a subsidised maize drying service to
farmers at a fixed cost of KSh70 per bag, which is a significant
improvement from the previous rate of KSh350 per bag.
Yesterday, the first consignment of the 100 mobile driers for use
by our farmers docked in the country.
25. Additionally, we are enhancing dairy productivity for better
farmer returns. The government, working closely with milk
processor is mapping the country to ensure coolers are supplied
where needed. Soon, farmers will be paid based on milk quality,
boosting income and enjoy global market access.
26. Our reforms in the coffee sector are bearing fruit, with our
farmers set to earn four times advance pay for their crop, from
a low of KSh20 to KSh80, following the allocation of KSh4 billion
from the Coffee Cherry Fund. Coffee reforms regulations will give
farmers' the necessary representation and weight at the Nairobi
Coffee Auction. These measures are expected to aid ongoing
efforts, including expanding production to new counties and
double coffee output in the next 4 years.
27. The government is currently restructuring public sugar mills,
expediting the leasing of five companies for rehabilitation and
expansion to boost industry competitiveness before the COMESA
sugar safeguards expire.The objective includes creating a
competitive sector, raising farmer incomes and enhancing
productivity. We've also waived KSh117 billion non-performing
debt for government-owned sugar factories.
From Financial Inclusion to Fiscal Reform
28. As earlier indicated, our public borrowing had long crowded out
the productive sector from the financial markets, raising the cost
of credit and slowing down trade and commerce.
29. As I told Kenyans on my first day in office, times were difficult
and many people are struggling and necessary and effective
sustainable solutions were urgently needed. We must admit that
as a country, we had been living large and way beyond our
means.
30. The time has come, therefore, to retire the false comforts and
illusory benefits of wasteful expenditure, and counterproductive
subsidies on consumption by which we dug ourselves deeper into
the hole of avoidable debt. The new direction may not be easy,
but it is ethical, responsible, prudent and, most importantly,
necessary. We have had to take hard decisions and make painful
choices because we owe it to Kenyans to do the right thing and
confront facts as they are without flinching or equivocating.
31. We have worked hard, at home and further abroad, to mobilise
a broad coalition of bilateral development partners, multilateral
development banks and other agencies, which have rallied to
pull our country back from the brink of debt distress and set us
firmly on the path towards sustainable economic growth.
32. Our efforts to stabilise the situation have yielded such progress
that next month, in December, we will be able to settle the first
$300 million instalment of the $2 billion Eurobond debt that falls
due next year. I can now state with confidence that we will and
shall pay the debt that has become a source of much concern to
citizens, markets and partners.
33. Having said this, I further announce to the nation that our
intentional, consistent and sustained efforts, here and abroad,
have enabled us to normalise our relationships with the
International Monetary Fund, World Bank, the Africa
Development Bank and various development partners to such
an extent that they are now working with us to implement the
Bottom-Up Economic Transformation plan.
34. As earlier indicated, our public borrowing had long crowded out
the productive sector from the financial markets, raising the cost
of credit and slowing down trade and commerce, especially the
micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including Mama
Mboga. Consequently, many entrepreneurs were referred for
blacklisting by the credit reference bureau, CRB, where 7 million
borrowers were listed.
35. We pledged to provide affordable, and accessible credit and
restore small business owners to good standing with credit rating
agencies.
36. A deliberate, targeted strategic financial inclusion fund, the
Hustler Fund, providing affordable credit and mobilising savings
for individuals and small businesses was launched on 30th
November, 2022.
37. The public response to the Hustler Fund has exceeded most
initial projections and surprised even the most hardened
sceptics. By the end of last month, the Fund had disbursed KSh
36.6 billion, with KSh2.3 billion in savings and 7.5 million repeat
borrowers whose overall repayment rate is at an impressive 73
per cent. The top borrower of the fund has so far accessed a
total KSh4.5 million in 816 transactions, while the top voluntary
saver is at KSh631,491.
38. In the intervening period, the Hustler Fund has also launched a
group product, which has attracted 50,000 active groups to the
platform, of which 20,000 have received KSh151 million.
39. The Hustler Fund has proved to us not only the huge pent-up
demand for affordable credit, but also the readiness of Kenyans
to embrace credit and savings, and to pay their loans on time
with minimum prompting. The notion that Kenyans are not credit
worthy or high-risk borrowers is nothing more than unjust
financial profiling which has, in many instances, become a
needless self-fulfilling prophecy.
40. When I called Harrison Karisa Kengai yesterday, a Tuk Tuk
operator in Mombasa, who has accessed 714,000 from the
Hustler Fund, he suggested that we find a way to have the Fund
provide asset financing so that he could use his Tuk Tuk for such
credit. I assured him that during my address today, Iwould ask
the ministry responsible to respond to him. Consequently, I
hereby direct the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs to
expeditiously engage Mr Kengai.
41. The impact of the Hustler Fund is summarised by the story of Mr
Sospheter Ondiek from Kisii. The Kenyan film industry should
look for him to tell his true life story. Mr. Ondiek has a plumbing
and tiling business in Kisii and has accessed a total of 1.7m from
the Hustler fund in the many transactions he has undertaken.
Saving
42. To enhance our savings that have consistently been among the
lowest globally, and to correct the delayed transformation of our
social security architecture, fundamental reforms are underway
in our savings and social security space.
43. As promised, we committed to take deliberate measures to foster
a strong culture of saving among Kenyans and enable them
mobilise resources for investment and development of inter-
generational capital, to eliminate old age poverty and ensure
comfort in retirement. Until recently, the rate of Kenya’s public
pension savings stood at KSh1.4 billion a month, which is the
lowest in our region at 12.5 per cent of GDP.
44. As a result of our initial interventions, the savings situation in
Kenya is changing for the better. Contributions to the National
Social Security Fund have grown to KSh6.5 billion monthly.
45. The implication of this growth in our national savings is that it
will significantly consolidate our nation’s ability to invest in
development using domestic pension industry financing.
Delivering Affordable Housing
46. Majority of Kenyans live in their own rural homes even though
many experience land and settlement challenges, including
landlessness, insecure land tenure and perennial squatter
problems. Acute housing challenges are principally an urban
phenomenon, and they present a serious threat to health and
safety as well as dignity of people, particularly low-income
earners. The proliferation of slums in our urban areas indicate
the extent of this serious problem, and the urgency with which
it must be addressed to enable Kenyans have greater choice in
leading dignified, safe and healthy lives affordably.
47. Low supply of affordable units in Kenya is acute, making rent a
huge component of the cost of living for many households. The
increase in affordable housing units is a strategic intervention to
not only supply comfortable dwellings for Kenyans, but also as a
means to reduce the cost of living.
48. Three categories of houses will be supplied by this programme:
Social, affordable and and market rate. Interest on financing for
buying the various units will be at single digits. For social
housing, the interest will be at 3 per cent, affordable housing 6
per cent and 9 per cent for the market rate category.
49. The affordable housing programme has received tremendous
support from county governments across Kenya and I thank
governors for their partnership.
50. The construction of 46,792 units in various parts of the country
is already underway, while another 40,000 are ready to
commence construction. 50,000 Kenyans, who were previously
unemployed, are now engaged directly and indirectly in this
enterprise, and the numbers will significantly increase as the
projects move into the next phases. A total of 746,795 housing
units are in the pipeline, undergoing various stages of delivery.
51. More jobs are being created with the formalisation of the Jua
Kali clusters, providing products like doors, hinges and windows.
Architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, masons, electricians,
plumbers, transporters, steel and cement factory workers, and
hardware merchants will be partakers of this transformative
plan.
52. We are also constructing 400 markets across Kenya to provide
Mama Mboga with a dignified working environment, complete
with water, electricity, and other amenities.
Transforming Education
53. Our education system must develop a formidable reservoir of
skill, talent, highly competitive and innovative human capital to
support our vision of economically transforming Kenya.
54. Within weeks of taking office, I appointed the Presidential
Working Party on Education Reform, led by Prof Raphael
Munavu, to provide clarity on the transition to the new
competence-based curriculum and make further
recommendations on necessary reforms in our education
system, from early childhood all the way to the tertiary level.
55. The working party concluded its work and submitted a report,
whose recommendations are already being implemented. The
urgent and vexing question of transition to Junior School has
been settled, and the Kenya Primary School Education
Assessment will be used for the exclusive purpose of monitoring
learner progress and not for placement in the next grade.
56. In keeping with our commitment, 56,750 new teachers have
been employed, while 8,200 primary school teachers were re-
trained to equip them with capacity to effectively deliver learning
and teaching at the Junior School level.
57. With changes to the entry requirements for teacher training
colleges, admission has increased by 300 per cent to 20,456
trainees.
58. At the tertiary level, the working party recommended an
overhaul of the existing education funding framework to a
variable scholarship and loan model in order to address the
financing gaps which denied many young Kenyans the
opportunity to pursue tertiary education in our universities and
TVET colleges, hampered the financial capacity of institutions of
higher learning and affected the ability of the institutions to train.
59. The new model for financial support is student-centred and
deploys a rigorous, impartial means testing instrument to
establish their level of need, which then becomes the primary
consideration in allocating scholarships and loans.
60. To fully democratise our education system and make higher
education accessible and affordable to all, we have chartered the
Open University of Kenya following requisite Cabinet and
parliamentary approvals.
Universal Healthcare
61. In the course of consulting Kenyans from all walks of life during
the formulation of the BottomUp Economic Transformation
Agenda, the fundamental contribution of healthcare to citizen
well-being and the role of costs in driving up poverty were
identified as chronic. The implications are very clear, and we
cannot afford to delay the delivery of universal healthcare
anymore.
62. Consequently, we have instituted radical reforms in the provision
of healthcare services in Kenya, including the enactment of four
new laws that will anchor the implementation of this bottom-up
approach to healthcare. I am tremendously grateful to this
honourable Parliament for enacting the Primary Healthcare Act,
the new Social Health Insurance Act, the Digital Health Act and
the Facility Improvement Financing Act.
63. These laws will usher in and guarantee a new era in the provision
of healthcare, covering all essential services from preventive,
promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services,
guaranteeing every Kenyan access to comprehensive and quality
care.
64. Under Afya Nyumbani, we have scaled up our investment in
healthcare workforce, employing 20,000 new healthcare
workers, deploying 8,429 workers whose contracts had lapsed
and enrolling 3,394 interns across the country to increase the
availability of human capital in our public health sector.
65. Working with county governments, we have taken measures to
resolve the perennial challenge of human resources
management in the health sector by establishing the Kenya
Health Human Resources Advisory Council, which will be a
trusted mediator between government and health sector
workers.
66. Further, under the Afya Nyumbani model, we identified
preventive care as an essential pillar of healthcare service
delivery because it enables Kenyans to manage their conditions
early enough before they cause serious harm in well-being and
productivity. Community health promotion is our bottom-up
intervention to deliver preventive and promotive health solutions
at the grassroots, by deploying community health promoters to
visit Kenyans at their homes, provide basic diagnosis for common
conditions and refer cases to appropriate medical facilities.
67. Together with all the the 47 counties, we have deployed 100,000
community health promoters fully equipped with the necessary
kit and an electronic community health information system. In
the last one month, CHPs have attended to 1.2 million
households.
68. I spoke on phone to Mr Masud Diriye, a community health
promoter in Garissa, who told me he has been a Community
Health Volunteer since 2011. Unlike before, now he has a full
medical kit and had used it to confirm that 7 people in his area
of operation had high blood pressure. In a twist of fate, he tested
himself and discovered that he too had high blood pressure. Mr
Obembi Ogutu of Homabay told me that the programme is a
paperless approach to primary healthcare, saying it had started
to reduce queues in hospitals.
69. Through the Facility Improvement Financing Act, 2023, we have
established a framework that confers financial autonomy to
health facilities, enabling them retain funds generated with a
mandate to improve facility capacity to provide healthcare
services.
70. In addition, the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA), as part
of many radical reforms, will now deploy ICT to manage the
supply chains of essential health products and commodities. As
a result of these reforms, KEMSA has improved its stocking rate
from 40 per cent to about 60 per cent in the last 5 months and
targeting 80 per cent by March next year.
Digitisation of Government
71. As is becoming clear, we cannot hope anymore to deliver
services to Kenyans in their millions across the country with any
measure of efficiency, integrity, transparency and accountability
without ICT. From education and agriculture to health and
financial inclusion, digital technologies reign supreme in
transforming service delivery, governance improvements and
catalysing efficiency throughout the economy.
72. We have commenced the rollout of 100,000km of last-mile fibre-
optic connectivity to make reliable high-speed Internet available
throughout the country, along with 25,000 free Wi-fi hotspots in
all market centres and 1,450 ICT hubs in every ward.
73. We have expanded digital provision of public services to
encompass 13,000 services, and it is our commitment to ensure
full digitisation by the end of next month. Our decision to
enhance efficiency and integrity in the provision of government
services has gone a long way to improve revenue collection.
Working with the private sector, we launched the local assembly
of affordable smartphones last week in Athi River.
74. Digitisation and automation enhance service delivery and citizen
satisfaction, and also assures greater accuracy, transparency,
accountability and reduces opportunities for corruption in the
course of transacting with government ministries, departments
and agencies.
75. Corruption, wastage, inefficiency and negligence are serious
threats to our transformation agenda, and unacceptable
practices that have no place in our nation. I have given my firm
assurance to the people of Kenya that cases of misconduct and
corruption shall be dealt with ruthlessly, with finality and
expeditiously.
76. I ask Parliament to finalise the Assets Declaration and Conflict
of Interest Bill to further tighten our anti-corruption policy
framework, and eliminate space for misbehaviour.
Securing Transformation
77. The security and safety of all citizens is our foremost
commitment and most fundamental obligation, without which
every other endeavour is not possible. The reason why Kenya
has continued on the path of steady progress is that we have
maintained stability, peace and security by affirming our
territorial integrity and maintaining internal tranquility.
78. This is not to say our country has not had its share of security
challenges. The spectre of terrorism is a continuing threat that
we must remain constantly vigilant against. Pockets of banditry,
cattle-rustling and armed lawlessness have besieged and
devastated communities in the Rift Valley, North-Eastern and,
occasionally, parts of Eastern and the Coast regions.
79. We all know that insecurity disrupts lives and destroys
livelihoods. Our country has lost too many people to this
problem. Many children have been orphaned and missed school,
and many families have been displaced because of lawless men
taking up illegal arms and waging war against communities.
80. The government exists to ensure that those who challenge our
sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and the safety
of the people are expeditiously countered and rendered harmless
for all time.
81. We have therefore taken firm and decisive measures to deal with
the challenge of banditry, armed crime, cattle rustling and other
forms of impunity in all parts of our country. Beginning with the
successful security operation to restore calm in the North Rift,
we have been systematic, focused, thorough, unrelenting and
totally committed to removing for good all threats to the lives
and livelihoods of Kenyans.
82. In discharging this commitment, we have been mindful not to
use security imperatives to commit impunity, including misuse of
resources and extrajudicial infringements on freedoms and
fundamental human rights of citizens. We are conscious to
provide security as a public service for the benefit of law-abiding
citizens, and as a guarantor of economic growth. Therefore, our
security services have been committed to a citizencentred,
rights-focused, inclusive and a community-based security
strategy.
83. I am therefore quite clear that there exists no tension between
the effective delivery of security services and the upholding of
human rights and fundamental freedoms. We can be and
therefore must be secure, yet free and democratic.
84. In order to entrench our all-of-society coalition, we have
resolved to enhance diversity and inclusion, by expanding
enrollment into the National Youth Service (NYS) as an agency
to capture young people at the bottom of the pyramid.
85. Consequently, we are doubling enrolment to 40,000 in the
Service from next year, and have made it absolutely mandatory
that every village, centre, town and city in Kenya is properly
represented in the recruitment. To consolidate this proposition,
we have directed that 80% of future recruits to all our national
security services will be from among the well-trained, talented
and committed young men and women who have undergone
training at NY.
The Regional and Global Role
86. Kenya finds itself continuously summoned by its duty of care to
serve as a reliable anchor to our region’s security, peace and
stability. We continue to answer to our historic, moral and
strategic responsibilities to deploy our resources in solidarity with
our region in general, and our immediate neighbourhood in
particular.
87. To prevent the imminent collapse of Goma in Eastern DRC, which
would have had serious consequences for the wider East African
region, we deployed our troops under the East Africa Community
Regional Force. We have continued to anchor the fight against
Al Shabaab in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission
in Somalia. The Kenya Defence Forces continues to make Kenya
proud.
88. It is our firm position that only a democratically accountable
system that is sensitive and responsive to the diverse
composition of Sudan can secure that country. Given the
regional interconnectedness, together with the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia and the U.S, we have engaged the Jeddah process as
IGAD to fashion a framework that is best placed to successfully
deliver peace in the Sudan.
International Obligations
89. Our economy is firmly interconnected with regional, continental
and global economic systems. Our security and stability is
likewise integrated with those of our neighbours. Kenya has a
fundamental, essential, legitimate and clear interest in
conducting robust diplomacy in the form of bilateral and
multilateral engagements.
90. For the past 12 months, we have continued to fulfil our
international obligations through Kenya’s leadership in the
international arena. This is underscored by the high-level
summits Kenya has hosted and participated in.
91. Kenya successfully hosted the inaugural Africa Climate Summit,
the 43rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, the 5th Mid-
Year Coordination meeting of the African Union and the Regional
Economic Communities, and the first-ever African edition of the
Berlin Climate and Security Conference in Nairobi, bringing over
30 Heads of State and Governments to our country and over
30,000 delegates from different parts of the world.
92. The Government has made deliberate efforts to harness the
immense potential of Kenyans in the Diaspora. Indeed, I
established the State Department of Diaspora in the Ministry of
Foreign and Diaspora Affairs so that they can fully participate in
affairs of their motherland.
93. I have committed to work collectively, consultatively and
collaboratively with the counties and all Kenyans to uphold our
cherished national values such as human dignity, equity, social
justice, national unity, inclusiveness, integrity, good governance,
transparency and accountability. I encourage all honourable
members and indeed all Kenyans to embrace an open mindset
in regard to national strategic interests and to leverage on our
rich heritage.
94. One of the greatest strengths of our country is our capacity to
devise bold, unprecedented solutions to our threats and
challenges, create imaginative strategies to avert danger and
chart new paths to deliver us from adversity. There is no doubt
that our nation has been confronted with immense pressure
emanating from political misunderstanding and electoral
disagreement arising from our robust democracy. Such pressure
can disrupt lives and livelihoods and undermine our economy.
Thankfully, Kenyans always find the moral strength and political
imagination to reach across the political divide and engage in
dialogue in the spirit of goodwill, fraternity and commitment to
the national interest and the welfare of the nation.
95. It would be remiss of me not to mention the ongoing bipartisan
process of national dialogue that has enabled our leaders to find
common ground on many of the issues whose resolution will
accelerate our transformation, deepen our democracy and
entrench national unity. I salute the courage and patriotism of
my fellow leaders who have embraced national dialogue and
encourage all of us to keep up the noble work of bringing
Kenyans together.
96. There is so much to report about the progress we have made in
serving the people of Kenya and transforming our economy. I
have provided only a summarised highlight of the most salient
instances of transformational progress in my address. It is my
pleasant duty to hand to the Speakers of the Houses of
Parliament the three reports in full as follows: the 10th Annual
Report on Measures Taken and Progress Made in the Realisation
of National Values and Principles and Governance, the 10th
Annual Report on Progress Made in Fulfilling the International
Obligations of the Republic of Kenya, and the 10th Annual Report
on the State of National Security.
97. I will not hesitate to acknowledge, with profound humility, that
a lot of the successes we have achieved in delivering the Bottom-
Up Economic Transformation Agenda, was due to the patriotic
support and solidarity from members of Parliament, both in the
Senate and the National Assembly. We are fortunate to be
attempting this ambitious historic project of radical change in a
bipartisan era when dialogue, consensus, collaboration and
partnership have replaced dissent, contention, conflict and
disarray, as the operating principles of political discourse.
98. Issue-oriented politics is not just a democratic necessity and a
pathway to sustainable transformation, it is the most effective
way of mobilising diversity for collective national good.
99. As the world reels from destructive assaults on democracy and
the relentless subversion of human dignity, freedom reigns
supreme in our land and our democracy grows deeper and more
robust by the day.
100. Our collective resolve as a nation to further entrench
constitutionalism, democracy, good governance is a unique
quality confers on us an incomparable advantage: The power to
face the future without fear, to imagine a transformation that
extends to posterity and envision prosperity that benefits our
children’s offspring and beyond.
101. As long as we put the welfare of the people of Kenya as our
central agenda and play our respective roles in ensuring that
government is effective and accountable, efficient and
transparent, Kenya’s best fortunes are well within reach. I am
persuaded we shall achieve transformation beyond our wildest
dreams within this generation.
102. As a leadership and as a people, we have a historic opportunity
to preside over the greatest transformation and progress ever
witnessed in nation. Kenya is a nation of brave, hard-working,
enterprising people who are determined to prevail in the struggle
for economic freedom and win the race for prosperity. In a nation
like ours, great deeds will be accomplished whenever and
wherever opportunity exists. This is why the hard work we have
done is already showing the promise of abundant fruit. We have
laid a firm foundation for rapid development, and Kenya is no
longer “on your marks”. The state of our Nation at this moment
in time is Prepared and Ready to Go.
I thank you.
God Bless You.
God Bless Kenya.