Jubilee unveils joint manifesto

Jubilee alliance partners at the Kasarani International Sports Centre where they unveiled their manifesto.

By Vitalis Kimutai

Nairobi, Kenya: Jubilee presidential candidate Mr Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate Mr William Ruto rolled out an ambitious programme on how they plan to transform Kenya if elected in next month’s elections.

They anchored their manifesto on what they said was Jubilee’s promise for the youth and tools for uniting Kenyans through reconciling communities that have been traditionally hostile to each other, and whose leadership they represent.

Uhuru used the Kasarani Sports Complex amphitheatre to confront the sensitive issue of land distribution, which critics have blamed squarely on his late father and first President of Kenya, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

Braving the storm swirling around the larger Kenyatta family over intermittent accusations that it sits on the largest swathes of land, dotting corners of the country, unfairly acquired, Uhuru hinted most of the land transfers at Independence were bought by Kenyans from colonial settlers.

Uhuru threw a jab at the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) candidate Raila Odinga — a fact discernible from the football analogies in his speeches — into poignant paragraphs: “Land was the basis on which the war of independence was waged – it is too serious a matter to be become a political football, too much blood has been shed in this country for that.”

“Politicians, especially those seeking the highest office in the land, should not use it as a stone to throw at one another. This issue requires serious, steady consideration and judgment and answers designed to provide a long-term solution not short-term political advantage.”

The Jubilee team highlighted various strategies, programmes and policies they intent to roll out if elected with key issues being on agriculture, infrastructure, health and education sectors.

“My brother William Ruto and I were once on opposite sides but we agreed to put our differences aside and come together as leaders to end this cycle of violence and bring enduring peace, this has been our Jubilee journey,” explained Uhuru after receiving the manifesto as the amphitheatre was shrouded in clouds of decorative confetti and dazzling lights.

The manifesto that focussed on issues affecting youth and women and creation of jobs represented the merger of governorship programmes borrowed from earlier documents prepared by Jubilee coalition partners: Uhuru’s The

National Alliance, Ruto’s United Republican Party, Mr Najib Balala’s Republican Congress and Mrs Charity Ngilu’s National Rainbow Coalition.

Uhuru promised that if elected Kenya’s fourth President, his government would initiate reforms in key sectors that would spur economic growth and restore investor confidence. “We pledge to bring to an end the cycle of violence in the country that has led to killing of thousands of people, displacements and destruction of property.”

Uhuru and Ruto, who are facing crimes against humanity charges at The Hague, made peace, national reconciliation and ending the grinding levels of poverty, the pillar of their promissory contract with Kenyans.

Title deeds

Uhuru declared there was need to find long term solutions to the land question, particularly through issuance of title deeds to owners of community lands, so enable the people use the resource to create wealth and job opportunities.

“There is need to ensure land is used to benefit all Kenyans with emphasis laid on consolidation and not fragmentation of the resource.”

He said problems facing squatters has to be brought to an end and that there was need to provide land title deeds and ownership documents to the people.

“Jubilee Coalition would ensure that title deeds are given to people even in slum areas like Kibera where the locals are sitting on land valued at over Sh60 billion yet it is not benefiting them economically,” Uhuru said.

He said the coalition would engage developers and financiers to ensure that the slum is upgraded without evicting the people.

Uhuru pledged land tribunal fees would be scrapped so that issuance of title deeds is fast tracked.

“Our manifesto is not a doormat or lifeless document but a living one that will benefit the people,” Uhuru added..

He said Kenyans have talked about the “Land Question” for too long and it was now time for them to find the “Land Answer”.

The TNA torch-bearer said the country has built islands of wealth in a sea of poverty, with gated communities guarded by armies of security guards.

He said those residences look out over slums where a lost generation of young people feel that they have been forgotten by the country they love.

He said the issue requires serious, steady consideration and judgment and answers designed to provide a long-term solution not short-term political advantage.

Uhuru stated: “The challenges the people of Kenya face are many but the opportunities are great as well.” He said Jubilee Coalition was founded not much for political reasons but to seek for solutions facing the country.

Uhuru said the fees charged in health centres and dispensaries would be abolished and that legislations would be passed to ensure all children are in school up to the age of 18.

Peace efforts 

The Deputy Prime Minister who is on his second bid for Presidency said it was time members of various communities in the country came to the realisation that they needed each other.

He said there was need to forge a future of peace, tolerance and shed divisions and existing social tensions. He said the Coalition would deliver accelerated economy, create job opportunities, and radically address inequality and poverty in the society.

Ruto, in an apparent response to Raila who had questioned why the former Eldoret MP has been branding himself a “hustler” yet he has not revealed how he made it in life, the Jubilee running mate said: “I heard someone recently ask how comes Ruto, a son of a peasant made it in life and now I want to answer him that this is the kind of government we want to put in place where you don’t have to be a son of So-and-So to succeed.”

Ruto said the country was on a path of transformation through new leadership that is inclusive, founded on merit, performance-based, results-oriented and focused on the public good. He boasted that Jubilee was had right leadership to steer the country for the next five years and beyond since it had the vision and the energy.

He said that the Jubilee leadership was committed to the vision of a prosperous, just, secure and modern country and will invest in full implementation of the Constitution, full execution of Vision 2030, national reconciliation, unity, peace and stability, and the complete realisation of every citizen’s aspirations. Balala announced Jubilee would make Mombasa a free port if elected