President Kenyatta calls for focus on development

President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged politicians to stop endless political bickering and focus on development.

Speaking at the launch of the new Machakos City and investment programme in Machakos County on Friday, the president said elections are over and Kenyans must work together, irrespective of party affiliations, to change the country for the better.

“We must now change our politics to focus on politics of development,” President Kenyatta said.

The President encouraged other counties to borrow a leaf from the Machakos County and focus on economic development. “This is the only way we can ensure our people remain confident in devolution as a truly effective instrument to promote lasting socio-economic development, equity and national unity,” he said.

He said his government will work with all county governments in attracting investment and optimising opportunities to improve the lives of Kenyans.

To tackle unemployment, poverty and other socio-economic challenges, the President said his administration has given the private sector a lead role to complement government initiatives.

“This is why my administration has committed itself to promote more investment by the private sector as key driver of growth, job creation and poverty reduction,” the President.

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

President Kenyatta said his government had put in place a number of measures to reduce the cost of doing business, citing the implementation of prudent fiscal and monetary policy, improvement of infrastructure and enhancing security as some of the steps taken to bolster the country’s economy.

“My government will soon be tendering for the dualing of Mombasa Highway from Athi River all the way to Konza and Machakos so as to speed up transportation of goods and people between Nairobi and Machakos,” he said. (READ: Time taken to move cargo from Mombasa to Malaba drops to eight days)

In addition, the President said plans to construct a standard gauge railway line from Mombasa to Nairobi and later to Malaba are at an advanced stage. “We are also planning to expand the railway line for passengers all the way to Machakos,” he said. (READ: Work on new railway to Uganda and Rwanda to start in November)

On service delivery, the President said the days of corrupt and inefficient officers were numbered. He said his government has made the delivery of better public services its core mandate.

He said the one-stop-shop provision of public services programme launched on Thursday will be rolled out to all counties so that Kenyans can enjoy efficient services across the country.

The President also disclosed that beginning April next year, all government payments will be done on a digital platform to enhance effectiveness.

Speaking at the event, Machakos governor Dr Alfred Mutua said the launch of the city and the investment programme signified his county government’s determination to realize the dream of a prosperous Kenya. Local and international investors have pledged to put up investment worth Shs1.5 trillion in the new city.

Dr Mutua said the creation of the new city will accelerate development in the county. He condemned divisive politics, noting that the country lagged behind in development because of political squabbles. The governor also supported the school laptop project, saying it would bolster development efforts.

Also present at the event were former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Cabinet Secretaries Charity Ngilu, Anne Waiguru and Adan Mohamed and area Member of Parliament Dr Victor Munyaka, among others.