President Uhuru Kenyatta to address nation as critics cite unmet promises

President Uhuru Kenyatta will this afternoon address the nation on the state of the country for the past one year.

The President will address the public from Parliament in what is commonly termed as 'State of the Nation' address.

The address comes on the background of promises made during the last State of the address last year.

Among the key issues likely to feature in the address is the state of the economy, security and land reforms.

In the last State of the Nation address, the President received a standing ovation when he declared war on corruption and said that he had 'drawn the line' on the vice.

The President tabled before Parliament the 'list of shame', which he said was to form the basis of the war on graft.

He gave the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commissions (EACC) 60 days to conclude investigations into the cases, most involving high-profile personalities in his government, including five Cabinet secretaries.

"In view of the oath of office that I took as the President of this republic, let it be known that today, I draw the line. No one will stand between Kenyans and what is right in the fight against corruption," he said.

Despite the President's plea to the Council on Administration of Justice to 'ensure the efficient and speedy processing of corruption-related cases, including hearing of such cases on a daily basis, none of the cases in court has gone beyond the plea stage.

The Government has also not established the Sh10 billion restorative justice fund Uhuru promised to victims of past injustices, including the Wagalla massacre, the torture of pro-democracy activists and victims of post-election violence over the years.

On corruption, the Opposition has in the last one year made political capital out of pointing out graft in Government including the National Youth Service scandal, in which the Government is said to be have lost over Sh791 million.

The President had touted the National Youth Service as being at the centre of his Government's agenda.

After the NYS corruption allegations came to light, projects that were already underway stalled, with claims that money meant to pay workers had been swindled.

There are mixed reactions on the performance of the economy, which the President said at the time was 'robust'.

He promised low interest rates and zeroed in on key infrastructural projects such as the standard gauge railway project, the Lappset project and the second terminal at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, which has since been halted.

But the President will be addressing Kenyans just two days after the Sh56 billion JKIA Green Field Terminal project was halted, in what the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) attributed to 'prevailing operational, economic and financial dynamics, which have been on a downward trend over the last three years'.

On high interest rates, the President promised to contain the interest rates.

"Inflation has been contained at single digits, capping the prices of basic goods for Kenyans. Interest rates are falling, allowing Kenyans to access credit for their businesses, homes and farms," he said.

Suba MP John Mbadi, however, accused the President of 'cheating' Kenyans.

"He lied to us especially on the expansion of the economy. Our debt has increased and interest rates are at an all-time high. He also promised 11,000kms of tarmacked road, which he has not delivered," said Mr Mbadi.

But to the President's credit, the standard gauge railway project is on course and ahead of its completion deadline of December 2017.

The Government has also come in for praise in the provision of free maternity heath care.