William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya’s fifth President on Tuesday and is now ready to face the enormous task ahead of him.
Millions of Kenyans are expecting him to deliver the hefty and ambitious promises he made during his campaign rallies.
His manifesto dubbed” The Plan ” was unveiled on June 20, 2022, it outlines both the short-term and long-term plans for the Kenyans.
While unveiling his manifesto, the head of state assured Kenyans of his commitment to deliver some of this promise within 100 days in office.
Some of these pledges include;
HEALTH
- Provision of fully publicly financed primary healthcare which offers patients a choice of public and private healthcare liable to the regulated tariff.
- Introduction of a national fund for chronic diseases and injury costs not covered by insurance to be financed by insurance levy and government.
- Improve NHIF payments based on earnings. Low earners pay KSh300 while high-income earners, KSh3000 in each household monthly.
- Stipends for community healthcare workers.:
AGRICULTURE
- Change two million poor farmers into surplus food producers through finance and agricultural assistance.
- Increase productivity of value food chains.
- Trim down food importation by 30 per cent.
- Revive poorly performing export crops like and support the expansion of potential crops.
EDUCATION
- Finance for in-service teacher training initiated by the government.
- Fill the current teacher shortage of 116,000 within two financial years.
- Establish a National university for 100% easened transition into higher learning.
- Increase twofold, the funding if the feeding programme in schools.
- Combine HELB, TVET and University Funding Board under a National Skill & Funding Council
HOUSING AND SETTLEMENT
- A promise to construct 250,000 low-cost houses under a public and private coalition, annually.
- Expand the number of mortgages to one million.
- Establish a settlement fund for the acquisition and resettlement of landless families.
GENDER
- Put into practise the two-thirds gender rule in both elective and appointees positions under the public sector within 12 months of the election.
- Include 50 % cabinet positions for women.
- Increase the number of personnel at the gender desks in police departments.
- Financial assistance in the Anti-Female Gender Mutilation board.
ICT
- Erect a network of 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic connectivity.
- Distribute fiber to schools, villages and 24,000 businesses.
- Establishment of Africa Regional Hub.
- Promotion of software development for export.
This is the master plan that President William Ruto has for Kenya. In his campaign, he promised to diligently serve the people of this nation through his proposal. One must admit that Kenyans are eagerly waiting to witness the fulfillment of these aspirations.
BY CHRISTINE OMONDI