President Kenyatta woos investors and vows to fight graft

President Kenyatta on Friday wooed investors by promising drastic measures to fight corruption and insecurity and to assist counties realise their development plans.

He directed ministries to digitise their payments by April 1, next year in order to improve accountability. He also pledged to support one of the most ambitious projects yet by a county; building a city in Machakos. The plan has so far attracted investments worth Sh1.5 trillion.

President Kenyatta said the government was in the process of tendering for the construction of a dual carriageway connecting Athi River, Konza and Machakos.

He added that a standard gauge railway line from Mombasa to Malaba via Nairobi would be constructed soon. He assured Machakos people that the railway would provide passenger services to them too.

He said: “For us to fight poverty, which is still a serious challenge, investors must be supported to assist the economy grow by at least 10 per cent,” he said.

The Jubilee government set as one of its targets double digit economic growth and on Friday the President sought to court investors, promising them improved security, infrastructure and fiscal environment.

Thr President directed that Huduma centres that will help Kenyans and investors get government services from 10 agencies under one roof, be implemented in the counties by January next year. This will reduce the time needed to set up a business, he said.

Huduma was launched in Nairobi on Thursday by the President, who added that plans to expand Mombasa Port and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport were at an advanced stage and will make them handle more cargo.

He also announced plans to buy 1,200 police vehicles to step up the war on crime and assure investors of security.