Friday, August 7, 2015

Global Summit, President Obama’s visit and improved public service are indications of a country on the rise

Devolution and Planning cabinet secretary Ms Anne Waiguru. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Devolution and Planning cabinet secretary Ms Anne Waiguru. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 
By ANNE WAIGURU
More by this Author
One of the most important things that emerged at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit was that Kenya not only has a skilled, competent and youthful workforce but also one that is disciplined.
It was showcased as one of the most important factors in Kenya’s quest for rapid socio-economic development through investment, innovation and trade.
It also emerged that Kenya has a highly skilled and hardworking manpower resource.
Top investors and innovators were assured that they could rely on Kenyans to provide labour and support.
Delegates noted the revamped public service structures and that our youth are being resocialised to adhere to higher ideals of patriotism and humanitarianism, creating a good environment for business.
In any nation, there is one undeniable fact of enterprise development: that it cannot thrive where the bureaucracy is jammed up in red tape. Numerous procedures and multiple points of approval and licensing often delay or prevent investments.
It is for this reason that the government embarked on a journey to transform the face of public services.
HUDUMA KENYA SERVICES
To achieve its objectives, the government focused on improving citizens’ experience through Huduma Kenya services.
The plan has adopted an integrated services approach where over 45 government services are provided to citizens in a one-stop-shop environment.
So significant are the achievements of Huduma that it took first position in public service innovation in Africa and first position in the UN Award in the category of improving services.
Huduma has also received other awards by independent agencies in Kenya and eastern Africa. It is a public service design and structure that proves that the government is committed to improving the investment environment by addressing the ease of doing business.
The next phase of Huduma programme will focus on providing multiple easily and readily available channels of services to meet the needs of different clients.
Our success will be measured by the extent to which our people have embraced entrepreneurship and effectively identified and exploited opportunities available to them; and eventually the extent to which they have been economically empowered.
It has often been said that enterprise development is a cross-sectoral challenge. 
PUT MINDS TOGETHER
It provides a challenge that calls for partnership between national government, devolved governance structures as well as the private sector and non-state actors.
Forums such as GES, therefore, have become critical in helping people from different areas, cultures and religions to put their minds together and share ideas and experiences. 
Kenyans have had a great experience in the past few weeks with the successful hosting of the GES and the visit to the country by United States President Barack Obama.
For this success, the government thanks individuals, organisations and countries that supported the conference.
The GES was a great success to participants and many others who could not attend.  
After the conclusion of GES, delegates had the opportunity to visit beautiful sites and savour the exotic experience Kenya has to offer. 
The GES provided a great opportunity for the visiting teams to enjoy what this beautiful country is blessed with in the tourism sector and make it a preferred travel destination in the future.
It was a blessing not only for Kenya but the rest of the East African region.
The writer is the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Devolution and Planning

No comments :

Post a Comment