Vision 2030 benefits can now be seen in our ordinary lives

By James Mwangi

This year, Vision 2030 marks the end of the implementation phase of the first five years. When His Excellency the President launched Vision 2030 on 10th June 2008, he called it a “great day in our collective effort to provide all Kenyans with a better future not only for themselves, but also for coming generations of Kenyans.”

The Vision, which is anchored on three key pillars: Economic; Social; and Political Governance identified a number of flagship projects to be implemented in the first phase to facilitate growth in key sectors such as agriculture, education, health, water and environment.

In phase one, projects were carefully selected giving priority to those projects that would get the economy back on the growth path following the shock associated with the post-election crisis and rise in international food and energy prices.

Medium-sized dams

Despite Kenya’s economy being affected by multiple adverse domestic and external shocks at the initial stages of implementation of Vision 2030, significant gains have been made at the technical level and the benefits have now started trickling down to the people.

In order to ensure globally competitive human resource, the Government has approved several Bills, which have seen the alignment of the education system to the new constitution 2010 and Vision 2030. Such bills include: the Education Bill and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Bill.

In the Health sector, a new KEMSA Board has been constituted and launched, for the efficient procurement and distribution of medical supplies. In the 2011/12 financial Year, 33 health facilities were either newly constructed or equipped while 14 were under rehabilitation and repairs.

To facilitate provision of decent and affordable housing to all Kenyans, Government has unveiled the Housing Bill 2011, housing units under the civil servants housing scheme are at various stages of completion and twenty constituency appropriate building centres have been established.

A programme on installation of social and physical infrastructure within slums/informal settlements was established and to date has undertaken various projects.

On the political pillar, Constitution Implementation remains a shining star. Several laws to operationalise the Constitution have been enacted among them The National Land Commission Act 2012 and The Land Registration Act.

Judiciary Reforms have seen the establishment of Judicial Service Commission and upgrade in infrastructure geared towards implementation of the Judiciary transformation framework.

Towards water resources management and development, the construction of 24 medium-sized dams is underway. To facilitate weather forecasting and planning, a total of 451 out of 600 meteorological stations have been installed, the remaining 149 will be completed before June 2013.

The Independent Police Oversight Authority and National Police Service Commission have been formed to better the delivery of security services. Also, establishment of a Forensic Laboratory is at 60% progress while the National Security Data Centre is now operational. Government has also enhanced CCTV surveillance in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa.

The social protection policy has been approved by Cabinet for vulnerable groups. The Women Enterprise Fund has reported success in providing loans to 170,307 women across the country during financial year 2011/12, and since inception in 2007, more than 484,245 women have received loans. Over 170,000 poor vulnerable households are already benefitting from cash transfer programmes (120,000) households under the OVC Programme, 33,000 households under the Older Persons Programme and 14,700 under the Disability Fund).

Turn-around time

Towards the Environmental conservation, squatters have been moved from Mau Forest and a re-planting plan is in place to cover over 40,000 hectares. Establishment of 9km wildlife corridor linking Mt Kenya Forest Reserve and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy was mapped and an electric fence constructed on both sides of the corridor.

Proposals currently under consideration include a youth integration component to spur job creation in urban waste and environmental management. Already, five municipalities have been earmarked to utilise solid waste for economic purposes such as bio-gas production.

Efforts to mainstream the Youth and Sports sector are underway as evidenced by the development of the Sports Development Policy. Since its inception in 2006, the Youth Enterprise Fund has disbursed Sh6.5b to 160,000 youth enterprises (Sh750m through constituency loans and Sh 5.8b through financial intermediaries). It has also offered Training to over 200,000 youth in entrepreneurship in collaboration with other partners besides facilitating the formation of 24 youth Saccos.

Lamu Port and South Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor formal ground-breaking took place in March, 2012 and government set aside $200million for construction of the three berths at the port.

Some of the completed infrastructure projects include: the dredging of Mombasa Port, the Nairobi-Thika Highway and Syokimau Commuter Rail Station.

Thirty more stations are set to be built over the next few years and similar commuter rail systems are planned for Kisumu and Mombasa. The construction of Upper Hill, Eastleigh and major roads linking Kenya to Ethiopia has commenced.

In the Energy sector, the Geothermal Development Corporation has so far drilled six wells in Menengai. Construction of Olkaria IV was commissioned by the president in July, 2012. The Lake Turkana wind energy project faced difficulties reaching financial close but is now expected to commence soon.

Notwithstanding unforeseen challenges, the journey towards ensuring Kenya is ranked as newly industrialised country is firmly on course.

The writer is Chairman of Vision 2030 Delivery Board.