Jubilee has honoured its key election pledges

Three years ago, the Jubilee administration was elected into office with a promise to transform this country. Our word has been our bond.

Marked changes have been witnessed in diverse sectors such as education, health, agriculture, transport and energy, among others.

In the education sector, the government has increased capitation for free primary education. This is driven by the need to ensure that our children get quality education. Free education is central to the realisation of this country’s developmental goals and this is why the Jubilee administration will spare neither effort nor resources in equipping our children with the necessary skills that will enable them realise their dreams as they work towards meeting the aspirations of Kenyans.

The government is now set to roll out laptop projects for Standard One pupils. This Jubilee’s flagship project motivated by the indisputable fact that technology is now driving development in the world and Kenya must never lag behind. Do not forget that the Jubilee administration promised to ride on technology to drive its transformation agenda.

Yes, the laptop project has faced a number of challenges that had not been anticipated. Our detractors never miss an opportunity to criticise the government over the initiative and even terming it a non-starter. Happily we are proving our critics wrong with the project now firmly on track.

As a way of laying the ground for the laptops plan, thousands of schools have been connected with electricity, a remarkable achievement in its own right. Communities living next to the schools are now able to connect to the national grid more easily and at affordable rates. As a result, small businesses are sprouting in small towns and villages and the livelihoods of Kenyans are being tremendously improved. If this is not transformation, then I do not know what is.

The health sector has also been transformed significantly. Free maternity services have seen the number of women giving birth in hospitals rise sharply. Consequently, maternal deaths have reduced considerably. The health of the mother and baby before and after is now assured. The government has also rolled out universal medical insurance for most Kenyans. Now you do not have to have a formal job to have a health cover. This is a beautiful story that even incurable cynics and naysers must appreciate.

However, we cannot afford to sit on our laurels. A lot remains to be done before we reach a level where can pat ourselves on the back. Years of neglect of the health sector has spawned deep rot and therefore we have so spend immense resources and effort to turn things around. Although the Jubilee administration is under no illusion about the enormity of the task ahead, our resolve is such that in few years, we will make commendable progress.

The rapid expansion of electricity generation capacity is an exciting story that needs to be told repeatedly. This is because reliable and affordable power underpins rapid economic growth.

Investors and industries have always cited the exorbitant power tariffs as the biggest handicap to the business environment in Kenya. Indeed, some investors had been giving this country a wide berth for this reason. However, things have changed. Electricity charges have dropped substantially while its reliability has been enhanced.

Kenya is now becoming an investment destination of choice not only in the region but on the continent. This is the trend that the Jubilee government is keen to consolidate as it seeks to expand the economy, create jobs and improve the lives of Kenyans.

The Standard Gauge Railway is now 70 per cent complete and in few months, the face of transport in Kenya will change dramatically with immeasurable gains for the economy. Transports costs will be slashed by large margins, a factor that is bound to contribute to attracting investors. The roads that we are currently building will also last longer because the number of trucks using them will decline.

This will save this country billions of shillings that will be spent on other crucial sectors of the economy. And talking of roads, the Jubilee administration promised to tarmac 10,000km. The ambitious project is now rolling out in earnest with contracts having been issued. Once the project is done coupled with completion of the SGR to Malaba via Kisumu, we will be talking of a country on the runway ready for industrial takeoff.

It is worth noting that these remarkable achievements and indeed many others have been realised against the backdrop of tough challenges. Thankfully, the government is undaunted and continues to admirably weather the storm.