At 50, Kenya has done well, but can do better in future

By BILLOW KERROW

KENYA: I would grade our performance for the 50 years at C+, which is remarkable as a nation, relative to other countries in the region that are of similar age. Certainly, we are not the best, and we could have done better.

But we cannot complain; it could have been worse given the challenges of conflicts, bad governance and retrogressive economic policies that bedeviled many nations in Africa. And as we mark this Jubilee, we look forward too, to a brighter future for our children, perhaps one that will usher in greater economic development and higher standards of living, in a just and equitable society.

On the social front, we have made significant progress in many sectors over the last five decades, particularly in the areas of education, health, ICT, gender equity and access to water.

Perhaps, it is in education that this nation has made the greatest strides through a conscious allocation of substantial resources over the years.

The mushrooming of public and private universities and the numerous tertiary institutions across the nation, supported by the huge enrolments in the primary and secondary schools testify to this development. For instance, the first primary school in Mandera County opened its doors in 1965, whilst Mandera Secondary School started in 1974. Today, there are over 20 public secondary schools, and hundreds of primary schools in the county.

We have modern health institutions in the country, and rarely do we transfer our patients to other countries for specialised medical treatment. The districts can boast of adequate health facilities although the quality of services in public hospitals requires improvement. It is the reason most Kenyans preferred the immediate transfer of public health services to county governments so that service delivery can be enhanced through closer supervision.

More than half the population of the country have mobile handsets, and nearly 90 per cent of the population have access to telecommunication. One third of all public appointments now go to women, and special seats have been preserved for them at both the Parliament and the county assemblies.

Perhaps the greatest challenge we have faced during this period is in the area of human rights. Gross violation of basic rights characterised the 1970s and 1980s, especially in Northern Kenya, which was administered under the emergency laws from independence till 1992. This region still bears the scars of repression, persecution and marginalisation under successive regimes.

The era of multi-partyism ushered in political freedoms, creating a vibrant political atmosphere characterised by free and fair elections and a dynamic Parliament. The 2010 promulgation of a new Constitution created a paradigm shift – entrenching the best Bill of Rights and a system of governance that enhances checks and balances in government, and the trimming of the imperial powers of the presidency.

More significantly, this Constitution rolled out a devolved system of government in which Kenyans make their own decisions at county level, and also provides for the allocation of resources equitably across the country, ensuring economic freedoms for many parts of this great nation that had been marginalised.

As we party the past, we must remain alive to the enormous challenges ahead. To achieve our economic blueprint of Vision 2030, we must invest aggressively in infrastructure, particularly the transport and energy sector. Above all, we must formulate sound economic policies that will stimulate growth, address the growing socio-economic disparities and create jobs for our youth. The glorious past should be the touchstone for a healthier, happier future.