Uhuru pledges better year for all Kenyans

President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the nation from State House Nairobi as Kenyans ushered in the new year 2014. President Kenyatta said his government would also strive to unite the country under the theme of “Reconciliation and Unity towards inclusive growth” even as it seeks to fulfil the pledges it made during the 2012/13 election campaigns. PHOTO/PSCU 

In Summary

• The government was aiming at pumping billions of shillings in the energy sector which would see the cost of electricity reduce by half.
• He further assured Kenyans that they would have access to education, clean water and health services adding that the introduction of free maternity services last year had moved the country closer to achieving Millennium Development Goal Number 5, on improving maternal health.
• On the ongoing South Sudan crisis, Mr Kenyatta said other leaders in the Eastern Africa region were committed to ensure lasting peace was found in Africa’s youngest State.

By SAMUEL KARANJA
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The Jubilee government has promised Kenyans a better year including reduced cost of energy, more jobs, better health and improved security.

President Kenyatta said his government would also strive to unite the country under the theme of “Reconciliation and Unity towards inclusive growth” even as it seeks to fulfil the pledges it made during the 2012/13 election campaign

In his New Year goodwill message to Kenyans, the Head of State said the government was aiming at pumping billions of shillings in the energy sector which would see the cost of electricity reduce by half.

“Billions of shillings of investment in our energy sector will also start pouring in this year, raising the ante on our plan to add 5,000 megawatts of electricity on the national grid in the next 36 months, and to lower electricity prices by at least 50 per cent in that period,” said the President in a statement sent to newsrooms yesterday.

SIGH OF RELIEF

This will come as a relief to millions of Kenyans who are reeling under the weight of escalating cost of living mostly blamed on high energy cost.

Industrialists weighed down by the cost of energy are also likely to welcome the news.

President Kenyatta also said more jobs would be on offer once the construction of the standard gauge railway starts.

The project though has been in the middle of a storm following claims by some Jubilee members that the cost has been exaggerated.

“Similarly, more jobs are on the way as our programme to irrigate one million acres of land becomes a reality, starting in Tana River and Kilifi Counties,” he added.

Kenyans will also enjoy more security in 2014, said the Head of State, following the launch of the Nyumba Kumi initiative, including the installation of CCTV cameras in major towns and increased connectivity at border points.

“We have invested heavily in surveillance equipment and in vehicles, which we believe will help drive crime away from our shores,” said President Kenyatta as he also called upon Kenyans to unite in fighting insecurity.

ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES

He further assured Kenyans that they would have access to education, clean water and health services adding that the introduction of free maternity services last year had moved the country closer to achieving Millennium Development Goal Number 5, on improving maternal health.

Pupils joining Standard One this year will also have a reason to smile as the President pledged to implement the much awaited laptops programme for primary schools.

On the ongoing South Sudan crisis, Mr Kenyatta said other leaders in the Eastern Africa region were committed to ensure lasting peace was found in Africa’s youngest State.

“We as a region are hard at work resolving the crisis in South Sudan. With our partners in IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development), we have appointed special envoys to seek a negotiated settlement of the crisis and to protect the fledgling democracy in Africa’s youngest nation,” he said.

The head of state also pledged to continue working with the three arms of government as well as the devolved governments and the business community and also called upon leaders to avoid divisive politics.