President orders processing of Kenyan coffee and other products before export

A Police parade at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu during Tuesday's Jamhuri Day celebrations. [Denish Ochieng/ Standard]

NAIROBI, KENYA; President Uhuru Kenyatta has unveiled  what he called the Big Fouragenda to lift Kenya to the next growth path in the next five years.

Speaking during Kenya’s 54th Jamuhuri Day celebrations in Nairobi, Uhuru called on all Kenyans to unite in order to help him achieve the ambitious plan targeting food security, affordable housing,  expanding manufacturing sector and providing affordable health care for all.

He said that his administration would dedicate its energy, resources and time in the next five years to achieve the dream which has potential in creating jobs and decent lives to majority of Kenyans.

“The big four will create jobs that will enable our people to meet their basic needs, jobs that will transform the lives of our people from that of hardship and to that of greater comfort and well-being, and that is the future that I have seen,” he said.

In the first pillar of the big four, Uhuru said he will focus on expanding the manufacturing sector and making it produce goods as competitive as any other across the world.

To that effect, he ordered value addition to Kenyan raw produce before it is exported to eliminate exploitation. He cited tea farmers who earn ten times less than traders who buy brand their produce.

Uhuru warned individuals and agencies against allowing counterfeit goods credited for undermining the progress in the manufacturing sector.

To block counterfeits in the Kenyan market, Uhuru called on Kenya Revenue Authority and anti-counterfeit agency to destroy on site, counterfeit goods upon seizure and officers linked to the trade dismissed and prosecuted.

‘’It is time for us to say enough is enough to the cartels responsible for the death of our companies through their counterfeit goods.”

In boosting the manufacturing sector, he said he will focus on the blue economy, agro-processing, leather and textiles.

He said Kenya would no longer allow foreign trawlers to enter into her waters denying locals’ fish. “I therefore direct ministries of Defence and Agriculture to intercept all illegal fishing vessels and suspend fishing licences of international trawlers operating in Kenya’s territorial waters.”

The Tuesday speech marked Uhuru’s major national public event since his inauguration as Kenya’s president following long electioneering period.

He called on all leaders both in the ruling Jubilee Party and Opposition to unite and help the country move forward in her development agenda.

The president reminded Kenyans to stick to the Constitution and that any action outside the rule of law will not go unpunished.

He pledged to reach out to all Kenyans to achieve peace, stability and prosperity. “We will have to listen to one another.”