Jubilee manifesto pillars need private cash, counties nod

President Uhuru Kenyatta. FILE PHOTO | NMG 

By GEORGE WACHIRA

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As we enter 2018, the Jubilee government must be laying strategy on how to deliver early wins on their four-point manifesto.

The manifesto will need to be translated into programmes and projects that can sustainably deliver on the socio-economic agenda including jobs, housing and health services.

Unlike in the first term of Jubilee, this manifesto has less emphasis on new infrastructure projects but it is assumed that all the committed and funded projects will be completed within the five-year term. This includes getting the SGR all the way to the border for extension to Kampala.

Weighed down by the high national debt, the government will most likely align its manifesto programmes and projects with private sector capital and above all with the ever-present Kenyan enterprise.

Having chosen “jobs” as the defining measure of manifesto deliverables, the government should develop a credible method for counting new monthly direct and indirect jobs, and also formal and informal jobs.

Correctly counted job numbers are important to minimise wasteful debates by doubters. Additionally, jobs growth is a reliable alternative indicator for GDP growth.

Judging from the presidential inaugural speech, the government has narrowed down on areas that will generate jobs.

Among them, the agricultural-livestock value chain presents multiple opportunities, which include food security and a huge capacity for enterprise and self-employment. It is also the foundation for value-adding industrialisation which comes with more jobs.

In respect of manufacturing, it is the industries that are based on local produce value addition that should be given priority.

Manufacturing pegged on imports substitution of consumer goods will take time to pick up unless supported with effective fiscal protection, an area where tough and resolute decisions and actions by the Jubilee team are needed.

There is a general consensus that “enterprise” by Kenyans has a huge capacity to multiply jobs. We, therefore, need to understand and strengthen where enterprise can maximise employment in the shortest possible time.

Credit access and affordability, market linkages, human capacity building, and supportive regulations are acknowledged critical enablers for the small and medium enterprises.

On health services provision, glaring challenges exist. For sustainable and affordable quality health care we need ample and efficient capacity in the public health sector, to work in parallel with private health providers.

There is, therefore, a need to accelerate expansion of public health facilities plus a well motivated professional capacity. Universal health care will not be sustainable if quality capacity is lacking.

From historical observations, implementing socio-economic programmes and projects will not be an easy walk.

Unlike infrastructure projects which have a well structured implementation protocol, the four-point socio-economic agenda can be bogged down by suffocating bureaucracy, lethargy, and vested interests.

The government will need to focus on an impactful manifesto roll-out, and structured implementation, monitoring and evaluation to ensure that resource inputs do indeed produce the desired outputs. Implementation follow-through has to mirror the success registered by the SGR and the last mile electrification projects.

Additionally, a number of the pillars (health, food security, and housing) are, to a large extent, devolved responsibilities.

As such, effective partnerships between national and county governments will be a critical success defining factor. Harmony between the two levels of government with the Council of Governors playing a critical role is essential. Wasteful competition and duplication of functions should be avoided.

Delivering on the manifesto calls for strong, results-driven ministerial leadership (CSs and PSs) that is equally at ease in the field as it is at their desks.

As the Jubilee team embarks on their manifesto, corruption must be firmly prevented because it drains public resources, diverts energy and focus, and irreparably kills public goodwill.

The Jubilee team should, therefore, define “zero corruption” as a baseline in delivering their results. It is an opportunity that is achievable.

Delivering sustainable life-changing improvements to the majority of Kenyans across the entire country is what will define Jubilee’s second term legacy.