The Jubilee administration recently marked two years in power and there were mixed reactions among Kenyans on its successes and failures.
Last week, we brought you the blunders of both President Uhuru Kenyatta and his government.
Today, we dug for their successes and this is what we came up with. Do you agree?
1. Free maternity
Free maternity services has been issued in all public hospitals. As a result, the government says, the number of women seeking the services has risen by 50 per cent.
The President signed an agreement worth Sh38 billion that will see 98 county hospitals equipped with cancer and dialysis machines. However, governors have refused to sign up to the programme saying they were not consulted.
2. Opening JKIA terminal
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Terminal 2 was opened after an upgrade. The upgrade has raised the number of passengers from 2.5 million to 7.5 million, a 200 per cent increase, according to the government.
3. Slum clean up
Through the Ministry of Devolution and Planning and in partnership with resident communities, the government has embarked on slum upgrading in Kibra, Korogocho, Mathare and Nyalenda in Kisumu. The programme has employed over 3,000 community youths on casual basis and established 15 village committees to spearhead the programme.
This has sen some 812 housing units being constructed at Kibera Soweto East–Zone “A”, alongside construction of classrooms, offices, and sanitary facilities at Mukhaweli Primary School in Bungoma County, construction of high mast flood lighting structures in various slums, construction of 3.5km access road in Kibera Phase II, among others.
4. Beyond Zero Campaign
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta launched the campaign as a way of promoting the right to health of Kenyan women. So far, the Beyond Zero Campaign has distributed fully kitted mobile clinics to 21 counties.
Besides promoting safe motherhood, the initiative also aims at reducing mother to child HIV infections to zero. There is a national marathon to that effect.
5. Digitization of records
The Teachers Service Commission has so far digitized 6,000 teachers’ files, while the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is currently digitizing and developing the National Land Information Management Systems.
To date, the government says, 13 land registries have been reorganized in readiness for digitization and tender for automation has been awarded.
6. Use of social media
More than ever before, the Government has adopted the use of social media as mechanisms for easy access to information and feedback collection tools amongst citizens, business community and the diaspora.
However, there has not been a clear checklist on the direct benefits this move has had on Kenyans.
7. Huduma Centres
The Government through the Ministry of Devolution has established 11 Huduma Centres to take services closer to the people. The idea of a one-stop shop has brought all Government services under one roof thereby increasing efficiency in service delivery.
The centres, it is hoped, have also reduced corruption by increasing transparency and accountability through institutionalization of the open office concept.
8. Electricity
Some 325 megawatts of power have been injected into the national grid in the last two years. About 280MW of this energy was generated from Olkaria I and IV; 25MW from geothermal well heads and 20MW of wind at Ngong Hills.
As at December 2014, Kengen’s installed capacity was at 1,575MW. The Government has also embarked on an ambitious plan to connect 22,000 primary schools to the national grid and solar energy.
9. Roads
The Government embarked on the tarmacking of 10,000km road network to be implemented through the Annuity Financing program, which is designed to make Kenya a low-cost investment and trading destination, promote national integration, and improve security due to connectivity of regions and communities.
So far, contracts for the construction of the initial 3000km have been awarded to the private sector.
10. Standard Gauge Railway
The construction of Phase I (Mombasa-Nairobi) of the SGR was commissioned in April, 2014. The project, when completed, will reduce freight costs by as much as 60 per cent, reduce road haulage and associated costs, and increase speed and efficiency.
The project has so far employed about 5,377 Kenyans out of the projected 30,000 jobs.
11. Euro Bond
Kenya successfully launched the Sh180 billion ($2billion) Euro Bond in 2014 which was oversubscribed. The proceeds of the bond were used on some of the flagship projects.
Besides, the bond proceeds are expected to stabilize the foreign exchange, reduce interest rates in the local economy and spur growth and investments.
12. Economy rebased
In 2013, the country rebased its GDP culminating in a rise from Sh3.8 trillion ($43 billion) to Sh5 trillion ($55 billion). The rebasing, economists say, boosted the country making it the ninth largest economy in the continent and made it a lower middle-income country.
The Gross National Income (GNI) per capita also increased to Sh104,400 ($1,160)above the current World Bank’s threshold of Sh93,240 ($1,036) to qualify for middle income country status.
Source-nairobinews.co.ke
12 Positives of the Jubilee Government so Far
12 Positives of the Jubilee Government so Far
12 Positives of the Jubilee Government so Far
