President Uhuru Kenyatta delivered his third State of the Nation address yesterday. While the conduct of some Opposition legislators risked clouding the real meaning of the day, the President gave a bravura performance.
From the President’s speech, gains have been made in the development of the country.
Most important of all, devolution is working; the Standard Gauge Railway line is taking shape and is expected to reach Nairobi in June next year; the construction of two new terminals at the Jomo Kenyatta International has boosted passenger volumes to 7 million per year and upgrades at the Port of Mombasa have made it one of the busiest on the continent.
What’s more, the energy sector has realised remarkable growth in the last three years. An additional 634 megawatts of power have been added to the National Grid and rural electrification is going on apace with the lowering of connection charges. The pledge to connect all schools to electricity is almost fulfilled.
Yet despite that, President Kenyatta’s affirmation of his government’s commitment to zero tolerance to corruption might have rang hollow to many in the face of mixed signals from the courts on the one hand, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on the other.
Though he was categorical that the war on corruption was on course, many Kenyans do not share his conviction and will wait to see what new steps have been taken to fight off what he described last year thus: “Corruption robs us of our security, our prosperity and our health. Corruption turns us against one another, it robs us of hope, it kills.”
Looking back, dismissing a third of his Cabinet on corruption charges might not have been reassuring enough. The merchants of corruption have not been chased out of town. The government claims it has recovered assets acquired through the proceeds of corruption and Sh400 million of NYS money has been recovered yet proof of this is lacking because no report has been presented to Parliament.
By subtly shifting blame to counties for failure in the delivery of critical services, it is the President’s contention that while the national government disburses 15 per cent of the national budget, county governments have failed to provide clean drinking water, proper sanitation, medical facilities and agricultural extension workers among other services which are key to the realisation of progress.
Governors will most likely not agree with this, but it is clear there is a disconnect between the two levels of government, that needs to be harmonised to minimise unnecessary conflicts.
Worth noting is that national cohesion remains a challenge. There is a feeling that his government has done little to carry along the nearly 50 per cent that voted for his closest rival in the elections.
He spoke about the Nationalist Covenant and what that entails and for sure, Kenyans need to stop taking those of opposing opinion as anathema. Instead, they should embrace one another, in fact share blame for the failings.
On the whole, the President gave a great speech.
It would make great impact if it was matched with action. Else, it becomes mere words.
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