According to Kiunjuri, Kenya like many other countries who did not entirely meet MDGs 1-6 has picked lessons that will ensure it is successful in integrating the 17 SDGs/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 13 – Kenya was on Wednesday set to launch a roadmap that will guide the country in its quest to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
President Uhuru Kenyatta will present the same roadmap to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that will converge in New York next week.
“It will be the major accomplishments that President Kenyatta will be presenting to the UNGA next week to showcase our commitment as a country towards attaining this new development framework,” Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri explained.
The SDGs were designed to accomplish six unmet goals set under the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) whose deadline expired last year.
The SDGs from goal number seven to 17 introduce new areas that are intended to address Climate Change, Governance and Peace as well as provide the means of implementing the SDGs.
Last year, United Nations Resident Coordinator Nardos Bekele-Thomas commended Kenya for remarkable progress in implementing the MDGs.
READ: UN gives Kenya thumbs up on development objectives
According to Kiunjuri, Kenya like many other countries who did not entirely meet MDGs 1-6 has picked lessons that will ensure it is successful in integrating the 17 SDGs.
Some of the interventions contained in the road-map include an inclusive process that incorporates stakeholders from different sectors, incorporating SDGs into the national and county levels development networks and identifying resources that will fund the implementation process.
The road-map to be launched at the Kasarani National Stadium has also stipulated a framework that will ensure there is close monitoring that will be recorded to identify gaps and progress of the integration process.
The guide has also detailed the importance of capacity building within the public institutions and the need to conduct civic education to ensure every citizen is involved in the process of integrating the SDGs.
According to Kiunjuri the SDGs framework has incorporated both national and local levels to ensure counties are not left out in incorporating the SDGs in their programmes.
“At the county level, SDGs will be aligned with the County Integrated Development Plans. This has already begun with training of country government officers in charge of planning and budgeting,” he explained.
The plan also has classified the SDGs into short, medium and long-term in order of prioritising pressing areas anchored on People, the Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships.
Kenya plays an important role and has been recognised especially for Kenyan Ambassador to the United Nations Macharia Kamau’s role in co-chairing the Open Working Group that formulated the SDGs.
READ: Kenya’s proud moment as nations adopt SDGs
Kiunjuri said for that alone, the government will remain committed to change lives of people by ensuring the 17 SDGs are achieved within the deadline set by the UN.
At the apex of the SDGs is ending poverty which was also part of the MDGs.
Ending hunger, ensuring healthy lives, inclusivity and achieving gender equality and empowerment of women are integrated in the SDGs (goals 2-5) to capture unfinished MDGs.
SDG 6-11 are newly designed areas expected to address water and sanitation challenges, affordable energy, economic growth and infrastructure and industrial development.
The goals in the cluster further target at reducing inequalities among countries, address sustainable cities and communities.
Goals 12 to 15 are incorporated to address matters environmental sustainability with great concerns of challenges of climate change.
These goals include responsible consumption and production, climate action, conservation of water sources and protection of forests and proper utilisation of land resource.
Goal 16 focuses on enhancing peace and justice through establishment of effective institutions that can administer accountability and inclusivity.
At the bottom of the SDGs is goal number 17 which emphasises on the means of implementing and renewing global partnerships to support sustainable development encapsulated in the SDGs.
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