If you thought NASA would use its first rally since Raila Odinga was named its flag-bearer to release a positive vision for Kenya and some actual policies for development, then you haven’t been paying enough attention

It has taken us several evolutions and election cycles to realise that fragmenting, violent and ethnic politics destroys rather than builds our nation.

Just like a rotten apple can spoil the whole barrel, seeing their peers set alight their schools with no repercussions means that the burning of dormitories in boarding schools has spread across the country.

There is much to be expected now that President Uhuru Kenyatta has set the pace of foreign relations with the international community.

On world refugee day, the UNHCR released a report stating that there are now more refugees globally than at the end of World War 2 and that over 50 per cent of the 65.2 million refugees and displaced persons were found in Africa and the Middle East.

Amending the constitution is the unequivocal prerogative of citizens. Article 257 of the constitution guarantees it.

Unscrupulous leaders continue to line their pockets with public funds that could be used to equip hospitals, train and equip our security agencies; provide essential social services like water and sanitation and provide better education for our children.

The Jubilee government got into office with a specific agenda around youth empowerment. This was because the owners of the Jubilee campaign and its largest support base across the country were the Kenyan youth.

Since the onset of devolution after the first General Elections held under the Constitution of Kenya 2010, there have been several impeachment attempts both at the national and county levels.

In 2010, Kenyans adopted a new Constitution with the desire to redefine the relationship between citizen and State and a restructuring of the architecture of government.

A culture of mediocrity in leadership is gradually sinking into the Kenyan political space.

Last week, Kenya hosted a pan-African Conference on Violent Extremism (CVE), which dealt with formulating joint responses to fighting one of the key challenges of our time. One critical question was: what to do with the youth bulge.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi’s proposal to have Women Representatives and nominated MPs seats scrapped has been received with mixed reactions by the political divide and Kenyans.

Some have described the rising cases of insecurity in the country and specifically the massacre of 147 students in Garissa as evidence of dismal performance by the Jubilee government.

Three weeks ago, a deal that increased funding to counties by about Sh32 billion was reached between the national government, county governments, the Inter-governmental Budget and Economic Council, the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA) and Treasury. No one can contest that increased funding to counties is a strong indication that the Government is, not only ready to listen, but also keen act on demands by county governments for increased funding.

Ways of resolving runaway insecurity in the country may have started with the recent removal of heads of security in government but that is certainly not all there is to the situation.

Given its history and geographic position, Kenya faces profound security challenges.

As with nearly everything in Kenya, the rolling out of the Government's Public Sector Reforms initiative is being politicised.

As we celebrate 50 years of independence, we must pat ourselves on the back for making numerous achievements on different fronts even as we address what may have hindered faster execution of our national goals, plans and programmes.