President Uhuru Kenyatta delivering the 2018 State Of The Nation address
at parliament buildings on May 2, 2018. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has reaffirmed his commitment
to national unity following his decision to work with opposition leader
Raila Odinga two months ago.
In his 5th State Of The
Nation address to the joint National Assembly and Senate on Wednesday,
President Kenyatta conceded that last year’s elections divided the
country down the middle and threatened national unity.
He
said that the various political leaders failed in their duty to
preserve the unity of the country and they must now make amends.
The implications
“If we don’t put an end to unrestrained political competition, it will put an end to Kenya,” said President Kenyatta.
The
address came at a time when most Kenyans have been waiting anxiously to
know the implications of the so-called “handshake” on March 9, in which
President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga promised to work for the unity of the
country.
President Kenyatta paused for a handshake
with a few MPs in the front seat, as symbol that all Kenyans should
embrace their neighbours.
He said: “I am not the only leader that felt the need to restore unity; Raila Odinga did so too.”
President
Kenyatta addressed the issue of the fight against corruption which was
part of the memorandum of understanding the two leaders signed in March.
“I expect the new officials in both prosecution and
investigation will bring cases against all, including the powerful and
privileged, to show Kenyans that no one is above the law,” he said,
adding that the government must protect whistle blowers.
He
continued: “There is no doubt that there has been a challenge in the
use of public resources with some individuals fraudulently and corruptly
diverting resources to benefit themselves. But, we are building
preventive tools and ways for citizens to become more involved in
reporting graft.”
Medical care
Besides
politics, the address focused mainly on the Jubilee government’s Big
Four agenda that President Kenyatta promised during last year’s
elections. They include universal healthcare, affordable housing, food
security and enhancing the manufacturing sector.
“Kenyans
want their families kept safe from catastrophic bills for medical care;
they want skilled jobs, especially in manufacturing; they want to be
food secure, and they want dignified, affordable homes,” he said.
President
Kenyatta said the county’s economy had remained resilient despite the
tension during last year’s elections and that the GDP had grown to 4.9
per cent, while earnings from the tourism that was threatened by the
election-related violence, had increased by 20 per cent.
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