Kenya Vision 2030-A Darling of Many...

KENYA VISION 2030: A Darling of Many!

The much hyped about Kenya’s’ development plan, The Vision 2030 otherwise known as Ruwaza ya Kenya 2030 in Swahili, is aimed at transforming the state of the nation into a more industrialized , middle-income state.

Launched by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on 10^th June 2008, it was aimed to cover the period 2008 to 2030, and in providing quality and efficient services as well as a clean environment aimed at improving the living conditions of the people by the time it comes to completion.

Developed through "an all-inclusive and participatory stakeholder consultative process, involving Kenyans from all parts of the country, the Development plan  is based around three "pillars," that is :Economic, Social, and Political pillars.

 

The programme that by then lain under the Ministry of state for Planning, headed by Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya, was to be implemented in successive five-year medium –term plans with the first plan covering the year 2008-2012 and the next one 2012-2017 and so on until 2030.

With the development plan, Kenya expected to achieve the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] by the 2015 deadline.

However, the vision 2030, a darling of many Kenyans, could still be a dream in the night.  the Governments, wake up call to achieving its set goals could be a nightmare to itself as some of its organs keep dragging the process backwards.

 

However much the programme was launched by the Government, the reality is that it is not committed to fulfilling its agenda. The top Government officials who are put in place to ensure the programme succeeds however view this from a profit making and a wealth enriching perspective.

I am afraid that the country may not even realise some of the Millennium Development Goals that are to be achieved by 2015. The illiteracy levels are still high as well as the infant mortality rate and this is a factor that will make it hard for the state to achieve its vision 2030.

Surprisingly enough, the programme has been politicized and its feasibility to unlock certain sectors to make an economic impact are derailed to the extent that lowering the unemployment rates and the high poverty levels are becoming a dream never to be realised.  

Ahem! Initiating this programme was deemed as a walk in the right direction. Having involved stakeholders from all over the country, the vision was tooled to focus on reforms and development in eight key sectors:

• Macroeconomic stability for long-term development
• Continuity in governance reforms
• Enhanced equity and wealth creation opportunities for the poor
• Infrastructure
• Energy
• Science, technology, and innovation (STI)
• Land reform
• Human resources development
• Security

Founded on those eight sectors, the Economic pillar was aimed at improving the prosperity of all Kenyans through an economic development programme, covering all the regions of Kenya and raising the country’s’ GDP to 10% per annum beginning 2012.

Through the Social pillar strategy, Kenya aimed at building a just and cohesive society with social equity in a clean and secure environment.

On the other hand, the Political pillar, aimed at realising a democratic political system founded on issue-based politics that respects the rule of law, and protects the rights and freedoms of every individual in Kenyan society. It hoped to transform Kenya into a state in which equality is entrenched, irrespective of one’s race, ethnicity, religion, gender or socio-economic status; a nation that respects and harnesses the diversity of its peoples’ values, traditions and aspirations for the benefit of all its citizens.

Enough said, the dream of changing the country’s’ economic, social and political face, began with the launching of this development plan but surely is this working out?

US-Africa Leaders' Summit

President Obama invites African leaders for a Summit

The white house, on Tuesday announced that President Barrack Obama will hold the first US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in August and 47 African Heads of State have been invited including Uhuru Kenyatta.

The meeting that is slated for 5^th and 6^th August, will seek to strengthen ties between the USA and most growing states in Africa.During the meeting, he would focus on trade and investment in Africa and also highlight America’s commitment to Africa’s security and its democratic development.The government, is yet to confirm whether President Uhuru has received the invitation.

what's next for Western's province wonder kid- Musalia Mudavadi

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MUDAVADI?

Amani Coalition leader, Musalia Mudavadi could be skimming ahead, far beyond his eyes…. The luhya guy is purported to be heading back to the Government. With the ruling coalition expecting to widen its base at the western province, Musalia the wonder kid is seen to be the best person to assume a position in the Government.

With the President rumoured to be enlarging his cabinet from 18 to 20, Mudavadi is expected to be announced a cabinet secretary anytime. One of his political advisors, who requested anonymity, has confirmed that Mudavadi could be headed back to the Government after a year out in the cold.

Majority leader, Aden Duale has also said that the Government is trying to reach to all leaders and unite them . According to him, Mudavadi’s appointment, will inject a fresh leadership and experience to the Uhurus’ cabinet as well as it will come with conditions.

As Madvd takes over, he will be expected to keep off politics and party leadership as Cabinet Secretaries are not allowed to politic anymore and this could mark his last moments in the political arena and end his political career thus affecting his 2017 plans.

ODM PARTY OFFICIALS' ELECTIONS

PARTY NATIONAL DELEGATES CONFERENCE

The Orange Democratic Movement heads to the National Delegates Conference on 28^th February to elect its party official. The party that has faced problems during the primaries is however looking forward to a democratic election. Several leaders have declared their interest for the positions that are to be contested.

The party positions has attracted both the old guards and the young tax who have always claimed that it is there time to take over the party leadership.

The party leader, Hon Raila Odinga has said that nobody is given a direct nomination including himself who has to face the ballot too. He has presented his name as  a candidate for the Party leaders’ position and will compete against Mpuri Aburi. The Deputy leaders’ position will have Joho Hassan battle it out with the other competitors.

The youthful leaders such as Ababu Namwamba have declared their interest and will face the delegates so as to be elected.

Magarer Langat has said that they are going to ensure that the process is free and fair so that delegates can have an opportunity to pick their national leaders without undue influence and manipulation.

The 26 positions are expected to be filled on that day and to reflect a nation al outlook. Women have been encouraged to seek positions in the party and the likes of Senator Ongoro, Dr. Zanii Janet Ongera, have already expressed their wish to vie so as to be elected by the delegates.

Celebration of the life of an African Liberator

THE WORLD MOURNS A STATESMAN 

The world on Friday dawn 6^th December, woke to a shocking news of the sudden demise of the South African liberator and independent fighter H.E Nelson Madiba Mandela, who liberated the South Africa from colonialists having been jailed in the Roben island for 27 years.a dark gray cloud swept over Johannesburg as the news spread that Nelson Mandela is dead.

The first south African president was fighting for his life in hospital since early this year and had kept off the public and media screens due to his health problems. The former president who was known for his stand on Democracy and fight against racism in South Africa and as well as globally, was last seen publicly in the media during the opening of the 2010 FIFA World cup that he officiated its opening.

He was a great political and democratic icon he was in the world and in Africa. Leaders worldwide including President Barrack Obama, President Jacob Zuma, President Uhuru Kenyatta, UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon and former prime minister Raila Odinga  among others have hailed praises at the leader and their condolences to the South Africa and Mandela’s family

 

Mandela has been described a s a leader of all circumstances who has left a legacy to human kind regardless of race, sex, tribe, height or language

The political scene in Kenya would Like to condole with the family and South Africa and the world for loosing such a democratic leader who did his work perfectly and served all human kind diligently. Long Live Our Hero…May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Quotes from world leaders about Mandela;

Tony Blair: “Mandela showed that racism is not only immoral but stupid”

Raila Odinga: “ let us use Mandela’s legacy to propagate peace and tranquillity”

Obama Barrack: “Mandela’s struggle taught me that fear should not deter our progress in life if we have hope”

David Cameroon: “one of the greatest lights of this world has gone”

Uhuru Kenyatta: “was an outstanding African statesman and icon”

Kenya@50; A misplaced celebration

Kenya@50 could be a misplaced celebration

Even as Kenyans wait to celebrate the 50 years of independence , the hope of living to some, is just but a dream due to the high rate of poverty and the ever rising prices of commodities. To date, more than half of the country’s population still lives and survives in poverty. They are unemployed and earn ‘peanuts’ from the daily work they do.

But even as the country aims to transform from a third world country, to a middle world one, there are still certain things that remain unaddressed. The high rate of unemployment, insecurity and poor health, just make it almost impossible for one to think that the country will even match the likes of South Africa that have made already a great step within the first few years since their independence.

With 50 years clocking, since independence, I think the celebration dubbed Kentya@50, is just but a misplaced priority starting from the cost that is to be used to mark the one day celebration. Its quite ambiguous to use millions of shillings in a day to celebrate and yet most citizens live in abject poverty.

The celebration that is to commemorate the struggles the Kenyans have undergone in this half a century however  is more surprising that it doesn’t make any mention of authors who helped construct this nation. The likes of Ngugi wa Thiongo haven’t featured anywhere despite winning honorary degrees in his artistic writing.

With the country leaders facing cases against humanity at the Hague- Netherland based courts, the country hopes to acquire justice for the 2007/2008 post-election violence however there have been efforts to criticize the efforts by our two leaders and even as the nation prepares to celebrate the Kenya@50, the victims of the violence will still be in pain hoping to get justice that the constitution stands for but will they?

 

The greatest achievement that possibly the nation will celebrate on this day, is the acquisition of the new constitution 2010 . This was a great landmark in the country’s walk towards democracy and development but however, the efforts are being frustrated.

The  Kenya@50 celebrations is however in top gear and the treasury has already released the funds that have been loaned for the celebration despite the need for the funds in development , but was it really necessary? If Yes, at that cost?