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There will be no fanfare in the June 1, 2020 Madaraka Day celebrations due to COVID-19. /CFM-FILE.

Kenya

Uhuru pledges unity as Kenya turns 50

Madaraka Day celebrations were marked in all the 47 Counties. CFM.

Madaraka Day celebrations were marked in all the 47 Counties. CFM.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 1- President Uhuru Kenyatta has reassured that his Government is fully committed to uniting Kenyans even as governance structures and services are devolved.

Addressing the nation from Nyayo National Stadium when he led Kenyans in marking the 50th Madaraka day celebrations, the President pointed out that national unity remained a key prerequisite for progress and realization of the development aspirations of Kenyans.

President Kenyatta pledged that his Government will strive to build a country where every citizen will have the opportunity to succeed and prosper without discrimination.

“Our shared aim is to end ethnic tensions and rivalry and to unite all our citizens. I am determined to provide leadership towards the attainment of this noble objective. A united Kenya has tremendous potential for growth and development,” the President said.

President Kenyatta also outlined a raft of measures the Government plans to undertake to grow the economy, ensure food security, provide quality education and health services, create jobs for the youth, tackle insecurity, and firmly crackdown on corruption and impunity in the country.

“That journey has begun with our restructuring of Government ministries and the naming of Cabinet Secretaries. These secretaries have been tasked with the responsibility of implementing our development agenda across all sectors of our economy.”

He further said that his Government will work in partnership with the private sector and development partners in pursuit of strategies that modernize agriculture, diversify exports, improve infrastructure, seal leakages in the revenue collection system and expand the tax base.

He emphasized that his government was keen on transforming the structure of the country’s economy so as to create sustainable employment opportunities to the ever increasing population of the youth.

The Head of State expressed the Government’s determination to sparking an industrial revolution that will ensure the manufacture of the necessary tools and equipment for economic activities necessary in value addition of raw materials and primary commodities.

The President said: “The mobilization of savings is particularly key to the realization of vision 2030 in respect to increasing national savings from the current 17 per cent to 30 per cent of national income. I am encouraged that currently, members’ deposits in SACCO’s amount to approximately Sh378 billion.”

He challenged cooperatives to venture not only into value addition but also packaging, branding and marketing of high quality products in order to generate the much needed employment and create wealth.

He called upon all Kenyans to join hands in the fight against corruption and impunity by obeying the law.

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He told the nation that the war on graft and impunity will be won only when the people undertake what is morally right and report corruption practices.

President Kenyatta stressed that the Government was determined to improving security across the country in order to attract investments, lower the cost of doing business and provide Kenyans with a more secure living and working environment.

To ensure there was no vacuum in the management of security organs, the President directed law enforcement agencies to step-up their operations to secure the nation following the increased insecurity cases experienced various parts of the country.

To further enhance security, President Kenyatta said the Government has set aside Sh4 billion for the procurement of modern security equipment each year for the next five years and also proposed to allocate Sh4.5 billion for enhanced security operations, Sh1.5 billion for crime research and investigation, and another Sh3 billion for financing the leasing of motor vehicles and fueling them for operations.

President Kenyatta saluted the thousands of gallant Kenyans who made huge sacrifices during the struggle for independence so that the country could enjoy the current freedom and liberty.

The sacrifices borne by the forefathers, the President added, accorded Kenyans an opportunity to renew their commitment to the task of building a prosperous nation that is freer, stronger, richer and fairer than the one inherited from colonialists.

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