Fellow Kenyans,
In 2015, we began to deliver the promise of effective, modern, hi-tech healthcare to all Kenyans. In addition to the national, referral hospitals, we shall have two hospitals in every county equipped with facilities to screen and treat conditions that have caused patients, in the past, to travel abroad at great cost. Already we have equipped 15 hospitals and our target is to complete the remainder by June 2016 to bolster access to health services. Additionally the government has in place a programme for 100 fully fitted containerised clinics with particular focus being improved services to informal settlements.
We have successfully engaged County Governors to develop necessary conditions to attract appropriate professionals and to provide the resources required to make healthcare provision robust and sustainable.
Fellow Kenyans,
In a bid to confront and deal with insecurity, we commenced 2015 with the passage of security laws that were absolutely necessary in supporting our security apparatus to combat crime and terrorism.
As we look back, we are proud and confident of the actions we took because, today, even our critics would agree, we are generally enjoying better security in our country. The improvement in security that we witness today has not only restored the confidence of Kenyans but also boosted their ability to go about their businesses unhindered.
In 2016, we will endeavour to make Kenya even more safer for all Kenyans and our visitors. My government will continue to reach out to all communities to strengthen National Cohesion, and Unity.
Dear Kenyans,
Our sons and daughters continue to make immensely heavy sacrifices to defend us from enemies within and outside our territory. Let us honour the memory of members of our disciplined forces who have given their lives in the line of duty. Let us also remember in our prayer those civilians who lost their lives during terrorist and criminal attacks. We cannot fully claim to be safe from those misguided elements who seek to harm us. So Let us resolve today to once again rededicate ourselves to our commitment to do our part in keeping ourselves, our families, communities and nation safe and secure.
Turning to matters of the national economy, in 2015, we continued to manage our economic affairs prudently to sustain development and provide resilience against myriad shocks in a volatile global environment. Given everything going on around the world, it could truly have been worse, but it wasn’t the case.
Fellow Kenyans,
As a government we know the value of good governance and integrity and for this reason we have prioritised promotion of integrity and the fight against corruption as a key pillar of our socio-economic development agenda. This is why in 2015 we, in a big way, enhanced our efforts to restore sanity in public life and give integrity a chance. Our multi-agency strategy against corruption has begun to bear fruits. In 2015, we drew first blood in the duel with the corruption monster and in 2016 we intend to increase these efforts.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In 2015, our relationship with our neighbours and friends abroad grew deeper and stronger. With our African siblings, we accelerated the integration agenda and intensified the pursuit of our mutual interests. In other continents, Kenya stamped its footprint, making friends and successfully fostering win-win, mutually beneficial interests which rapidly advanced our development agenda. We wooed many investors and attracted millions of dollars in foreign direct investment. We increased our exports. We helped bring peace and understanding in troubled lands. We raised our stature in the community of nations and earned the respect Kenya deserves. This is why we had the honour to host world leaders, and will be able to do so in days to come. Our diplomacy and international leadership has come of age, and it is beneficial for us all.
Fellow Kenyans,
A number of the achievements we have made are gradual and incremental, calling for patience, persistence, investment and courage over a long period of time. Yet every passing day the transformation is underway. What is normal today – electricity, cell phones, devolution, security system improvement, digital broadcasting, Internet – were figments and desires only a few years ago. This is how society evolves and transforms.
Other achievements are stark breaks from the usual, charting of new waters, paradigm shifts. They are visible to the eye, and progress can be observed effortlessly. Like the Standard Gauge Railway which will shortly go past Nairobi towards Naivasha. Like the electrification of schools and the modernisation of hospitals.
In all this, we learn that transformation requires unwavering vision, boundless imagination, constant commitment, persistence, patience and solidarity. I am proud to say that the people of Kenya have never been short of these attributes. This is the one reason I am certain that we will succeed in our endeavours and triumph on our chosen path. What we achieved in 2015, we achieved together. We encountered possibility together and confronted together our challenges as one people.
In 2016, we will launch the programme to build 8,000 kilometres of new tarmacked roads. The projects will cover every county of Kenya. The first batch totalling 1,700 kilometres will be launched this January. A second batch of 1,800 kilometres will be launched in March. I appeal to Governors to fully support this programme.
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