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Constitution a priority, says Kibaki

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 12 – President Mwai Kibaki has assured Kenyans and the international community that the coalition Government was fully committed to the delivery of a new constitution as a key flagship project under the political pillar of the vision 2030.

The President made the remarks when together with Prime Minister Raila Odinga they launched the vision 2030 Delivery Board at the Harambee House Boardroom.

The President noted that substantial progress had already been made in the constitution making process.

President Kibaki said transformation of the country’s political system under Vision 2030 is envisaged in the rule of law, electoral and political reforms, entrenched democracy and public service delivery, transparency and accountability, security as well as peace building and conflict management.

Besides Political transformation, Vision 2030 also covers long term Economic and Social development of the country.

“It must be borne in mind that all the three pillars of Vision 2030 are anchored on the firm foundations of macroeconomic stability; continuity in governance reforms and enhanced equity and wealth creation opportunities for the poor,” the President said.

The Head of State however noted with regret that the economic growth rate of seven percent registered at the end of 2007 went down to 1.7 last year, a setback occasioned by the post election disturbances, prolonged drought, effects of global financial crisis and increased energy prices.

“At that time, we were merely three percentage points from our vision target of 10 percent per annum. However, in 2008, the economy registered a dismal growth of 1.7 percent,” President Kibaki said.

Despite the setback, he noted the encouraging progress made since the launch of vision 2030 development blueprint and expressed optimism that with the government political goodwill and frameworks in place, the economy’s trajectory growth would bounce back.

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To facilitate private sector participation, joint ventures and foreign direct investment in key infrastructure projects in Kenya, the Head of State said, the government has put in place the necessary policy, legal and institutional framework for Public Private Partnerships.

The President affirmed that the government has also laid down firm foundations through the necessary policy, legal and institutional frameworks for eventual achievement of priorities on infrastructure development, increased investments in energy; science, technology and innovation; land reform; human resources development; security; and public sector reforms.

President Kibaki said realisation of the Vision 2030 would require consistency, sacrifice and determination urging Kenyans to work extra hard to achieve the projected economic growth rate and a per capita income of $3000.

“Towards this end, the first Medium Term Plan of Vision 2030 serves as the implementation and investment plan of the first phase and contains details of the flagship projects as well as other projects and programmes to be implemented in the economic, social and political pillars,” said the President.

In the economic pillar of vision 2030, the government intends to implement priority projects under the tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, trade, business outsourcing and financial sectors.

The President assured that funds and the necessary framework to begin implementing the core activities under the economic pillar have already been provided in the 2008/09 and the 2009/10 budgets.

And in the social pillar, the head of state emphasised that the government aims at building a just and cohesive society, which enjoys equitable social development in a clean and secure environment. 

“To achieve this goal, we have to transform eight key social sectors, namely education and training; health; water and sanitation; the environment; housing and urbanisation as well as gender, youth, sports and culture,” the president said.

The Head of State once more assured Kenyans that the government has ensured even distribution of the flagship projects and equitable development and modernisation countrywide.

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To show the coalition government’s commitment to implementation of vision 2030, the head of state said the Cabinet approved establishment of a free port at Mombasa and development of resort cities among others.

The Head of State noted that the Economic Stimulus Programme being spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance include Vision 2030 flagship projects covering key sectors of our economy and at various stages of implementation.

“Other achievements include laying of the under sea fibre optic cable, increased power connections under the rural electrification programme, initiation of work on development of Lamu Port and new transport corridors to southern Sudan and Ethiopia, expansion and rehabilitation of our airports and airstrips, and the strengthening of the Youth  and Women Enterprise Fund,” the President said.

President Kibaki challenged the Vision Delivery Board to provide strategic leadership and closely collaborate with line ministries and the private sector in tracking the implementation of the vision 2030 development blueprint to make Kenya a globally competitive and prosperous country besides achieving other the stated objectives.

“Indeed the government will be setting up a Cabinet committee on vision 2030 to provide the necessary political support to the board. In your hands now is the responsibility to steer the country towards the status envisaged under Vision 2030,” said the president.

The Head of State stressed the need for all Kenyans to utilise the opportunity and make history by being the generation that fulfilled the founding fathers dream of a prosperous, equitable and stable country.

He reassured Kenyans that the Grand Coalition Government was  committed to supporting the Board in its mandate to  implement the vision.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga told the board to be imaginative in it’s approach saying the challenges facing the country needed new ways of doing things.

The Prime Minister said poverty alleviation and infrastructure development must be the priorities for the country.

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The Board chaired by James Mwangi brings together technocrats from both the private and public sectors and is charged with the responsibility of realising the targets of the vision within the set time framework.

In attendance were Planning and National Development Minister Wycliffe Oparanya and members of the Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat.

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