President Kenyatta warns non-performers will be sacked

President Kenyatta has said non-performing civil servants will be sacked.

The President stated failure to deliver will not be tolerated, saying politicians seek fresh mandate from Kenyans every electoral cycle.

"So those public servants who think that they will wait for another administration to come and then continue working, I can assure them that they will go home before I do,” President Kenyatta said during National Exporters Forum at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), Nairobi Friday.

He said public service entails service delivery to the over 40 million Kenyans and civil servants must change their mentality and begin to serve selflessly.

Citing the National Electronic Single window that has been in the pipeline for long, the Head of State said it must be operational before the end of the year.

"There is no reason whatsoever why that cannot happen because we must begin to change our culture,” President Kenyatta said.

The President disclosed that the government has set aside Sh22 billion for the construction of a modern standard gauge railway line from Mombasa to Kisumu.

He said his government will also prioritise value addition of local produce in a bid to move away from low value exports.

Arrest trade deficit

The President pointed out that the initiative will arrest the widening trade deficit and alleviate the current unemployment situation afflicting the youth and women.

"The value addition initiatives will diversify our export base and lead to increased production of goods and services that will be consumed locally, regionally and internationally,” President Kenyatta said.

The President said other measures being implemented to promote the growth of the export sector included the exploration and exploitation of alternative sources of energy such as solar, wind and geothermal.

He said the government is fast-tracking the implementation of the LAPSSET Project which will open up the markets of South Sudan and Ethiopia.

East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie  reassured that the government will continue  improving the policy environment to enable the private sector maximise returns from the emerging opportunities in the region.

Mrs Kandie said the Export Promotions Bill will be amended to give the Export Promotion Council more teeth.

Kenya Association of Manufacturers Polycarp Igathe appreciated government’s efforts to improve the business environment in the country.

Others speakers included Export Promotion Council board chairman Hudson Aluvanze, Chief Executive Officer Ruth Mwaniki and Kenya Airways Managing Director Titus Naikuni.

Seventeen county governors led by Nairobi County Governor Evans Kidero, Cabinet Secretaries among other senior government and private sector officials were prsent.