Jubilee in rush to deliver on its manifesto pledges ahead of election

The Jubilee government is racing against time as it seeks for fulfil the promises made in its ambitious manifesto ahead of 2017 General Election.

There has been heightened activity in plans to build sports stadiums, issuance of title deeds, provision of cheap electricity and in health sector as campaign time beckons.

At a Cabinet retreat in Naivasha in April, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed government ministries to concentrate on delivering their manifesto.

The manifesto had promised to transform Kenya and grow the economy by double digits.

Though the economy has grown by 5.9 per cen—below the anticipated double digits—most of the projects have now taken off the ground.

The Standard Gauge Railway, the signature project for the government, is now said to be 70 per cent complete, but construction has been temporary stopped following a court order over a land compensation dispute. The project is slated for completion next June.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has been making periodic tours to monitor its progress.

Leader of Majority in the Senate Prof Kithure Kindiki said the Jubilee government projects are on course.

“President Kenyatta has provided unmatched leadership both domestically and internationally, that can’t be questioned,” he said.

He regretted that the school laptops programme had been delayed by winding court cases challenging procurement processes. But the government has started distributing tablets in some schools.

“We are on course to unveiling 700 megawatts of power in the next few months having realised 700 more in the last three years. We have brought down the cost of connection of power,” he said.

CONNECTION FEE

The Tharaka Nithi senator said connection fee will be staggered to 15 months

“We connected power from 28 per cent to now 52 per cent and in the next 15 months it will be at 70 per cent, that’s the fastest national connection in the world and United Nations acknowledges this fact,” he said.

In security,  Prof Kindiki said Jubilee has almost doubled the number of police officers from 40,000 in 2013 to 70,000 and for the first time provided them with life insurance.
“We have also modernised their equipment and sorted the command structure that had hampered the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Prof Kindiki also highlighted Kenya’s growing clout in the continent and globally.

“In diplomacy, the many bilateral agreements Kenya has signed will be felt for many years to come,” he said.

However, despite the rosy picture painted by the parliamentary leader, there are promises that are yet to be met. One of the biggest is construction of five stadiums.

In its manifesto, Jubilee had promised to: “Build five new national sports stadia in Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret and Garissa, while upgrading existing sporting facilities at the county level to accommodate swimming, tennis, basketball and rugby”.

Sports Kenya board chairman Mr Fred Muteti attributed the delays to bureaucratic red tape.

“There has been a big challenge especially on the public private partnerships projects. We have had challenges of land ownership; getting approvals from public works and county governments,” he said.

ON COURSE

He, however, said procurement for the public-private partnerships for two sports cities in Nairobi and Eldoret is on course. He said the Nairobi facility proposed to be along Ngong Road will be for rugby and the Eldoret one will be athletics.

“The sports cities will have a business model to transform the stadiums into economic pillars with entertainment facilities; high end apartments; shopping malls and a world class hospital. The feasibility study and designs works have already been done and completed. Contractors should be on site by December,” he said
Last week, the board advertised for procurement of consultants and contractual works for seven county stadiums: Kipchoge Keino (Uasin Gishu county); Ruringu (Nyeri), Kamarin (Elgeyo Marakwet), Gatundu (Kiambu) Wote (Makueni), Chuka (Tharaka Nithi) and Marsabit.

Mr Muteti said feasibility studies and design is ongoing for county stadiums in Kisumu, Kakamega, Kisii, Kakamega and Garisa.

In the land sector, the government had promised to issue three million title deeds by end of 2017.

Land Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi said 2.4 million titles have been issued so far and the ministry is on course to meet its target.

“The National Titling Centre is giving more titles particularly in adjudicated areas,” he said.

“We are looking at areas where the minister has received complaints or even the ministry itself and we are moving with speed to ensure that Kenyans have title deeds. We are also focusing on co-operative societies that have land but with no title deeds,” he said.

Last month, the CS abolished all land control boards after they were found to have served for far too long. The boards were appointed in 2009.

“We have so far appointed boards in 16 counties. They will serve for three years in line with best corporate practices,” said Prof Kaimenyi, adding that digitising records has also been ongoing and is expected to be completed by next June.

JUBILEE MANIFESTO

But Deputy Minority Leader in the National Assembly Jakoyo Midiwo poured cold water on Jubilee manifesto.

“Jubilee was incompetent from day one. The so-called manifesto was nothing more than an academic paper,” he said.

He said the excuse on procurement procedures cannot wash because both President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto have been in government for long and understand its procedures.

“When they were writing the manifesto, they knew well it would involve procurement procedures, and therefore that can’t be an excuse,” he said, adding that the SGR was not even in the manifesto.

Corruption has also been a constant point of criticism even though President Kenyatta has often emphasised his government’s commitment to fight the vice.

In the health sector, free maternity was a signature initiative for Jubilee. However, the mode of payment for free maternity services has been the cause of friction that has seen governors and Ministry of Health officials differ publicly on whether the national government is truly playing its part.

The ministry pays Sh2,500 for every delivery in dispensaries and health centres as opposed to Sh900 they used to pay previously.

In hospitals, the fee was marked at Sh5,000 per delivery up from the Sh1,500.

“The reason why we increased was to drive health facilities to find innovative ways to entice mothers to deliver in hospitals,” said Dr Peter Kimuu Ministry of Health Head of Policy, Planning and Health Financing