Nominees tough challenge to deliver Jubilee’s agenda

By Felix Olick

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Cabinet Secretary nominees for Education and Health will steer the delivery of the Jubilee Government’s 100 days promises to provide laptops to pupils and abolish maternity fees in public hospitals.

Those picked in the dockets of devolution and the National Treasury have equally enormous task to smoothen operations against the backdrop of tussles over devolved governments and demands for higher public wages.  If Parliament approves the nominations of Jacob Kaimenyi (Education) and James Macharia (Health) they will have to move fast to work out modalities to ensure the Jubilee administration delivers on the promises.

Prof Kaimenyi, a deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs at the University of Nairobi, will oversee distribution of laptops to all pupils joining Standard One, next year.

The first inaugurated full professor of Periodontology at the University of Nairobi is tasked with overseeing revival of the multi-billion shilling school milk programme.  Macharia, who was, until his appointment, the managing director at NIC bank, will steer the Government pledge to abolish maternity fees in public hospitals.

He will also oversee the Government plan for free access to Government dispensaries and health centres as promised. Equally facing a daunting task is Anne Waiguru, Cabinet Secretary nominee for Devolution and Planning. She comes into the docket in the backdrop of the huge controversy on devolution, particularly the clash between officials of the national and county governments.

President Uhuru had to intervene to assure governors his administration supports devolution and that the success of his regime will rely on the performance of the governors.

In his address during the official opening of the eleventh parliament, President Uhuru said he would ensure full implementation of devolution.

“Devolution is central to my Government’s vision for Kenya – it is not optional, it is a constitutional duty, one shared by all of us,” he said.

Eyes would also be on Henry Rotich at the National Treasury to balance demands for more allocations to finance huge infrastructural projects against the spiralling wage bill the President acknowledged is “squeezing out resources for development.”

Rotich will take over against the rising clamour for higher salaries by MPs, governors and county representatives, as well as other professionals.