His Excellency, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, C.G.H., President and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Kenya during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo National Stadium on 12 December 2014 My Fellow Kenyans, Friends of Kenya, 1. I am happy to join you today in celebrating Kenya’s 51st Jamhuri Day. Thank you all for finding the time and making the effort to be here at this venue or attending the ceremony from your homes and other places through the media. 2. Jamhuri is a day to celebrate victory and promise. It is a time to reflect on our progress as we survey our nation’s prospects. Today, we remember the long, painful struggle for our freedom. Our determination in this difficult journey set us free. Free to chart our own destiny. Free to conquer poverty, illiteracy, sickness and hunger. 3. We also reflect on the mandate that came with our sovereignty and the obligations which accompanied freedom. Without a doubt, our founding fathers’ victory was not meaningless. Our sovereignty is a priceless legacy and a trust we must honour for ourselves and for future generations. 4. After independence, earlier generations grappled with the mandates which typically confront pioneers. Freedom is precious, and managing it a perpetual responsibility. While contending, we realized that our pioneering charter fell far behind the dynamic needs of a fast-growing nation and a dynamic people. 5. Four years ago, the people of Kenya re-imagined our Republic when we gave ourselves a new Constitution. 6. Our nation’s rebirth produced legal and socio-political innovations that have changed, and will change this country for good. Our Bill of Rights proceeds beyond the natural and standard fundamental rights to recognize rights to equality, affirmative action, food, clean water, healthcare and equal opportunity. 7. Last year, the people of Kenya graciously honoured us by choosing the Jubilee alliance to form the first Government of our Second Republic. We, therefore, became the inaugural administration vested with leading a second generation of pioneers to implement the new dispensation. 8. I am deeply conscious of the immense responsibility which comes with pioneering leadership for a new dispensation. When I took office as your President, my Government, whose vision is inspired by the Constitution, embarked on a systematic programme to transform Kenya. 9.Our transformative agenda is aimed at achieving inclusive growth through equitable development for every Kenyan, in every part of Kenya. From the start, therefore, I have been keen to ensure that critical Government programmes are dedicated to realizing the promise of the Second Republic. Fellow Kenyans, 10. Devolution is a key pillar of shared prosperity and national transformation. As a nation, we have worked hard to implement Devolution and our efforts are being rewarded with success. In fact, the main fear of our detractors is for Devolution to succeed. This fear is real; Devolution is working. Every part of Kenya is now invigorated with the revolution of Devolution. 11. Others fear that Devolution will not succeed. This fear is misplaced. The will of the people is irresistible. Devolution is here for good. My Government appreciates that Devolution is a vehicle for national transformation and shared prosperity. For this reason, one of our earliest moves in office was to increase the allocation to county governments to 32% of the national budget. 12. This was more than the minimum constitutional requirement. Since our focus was successful service delivery by devolved units, we further enhanced the allocation to 43%. We are presently working hard to take the allocation to 45% of the budget. This should underscore my Government’s commitment to shared prosperity through Devolution. My Dear Brothers and Sisters, 13. Scarcity of opportunity lies at the root of many challenges facing our nation. Although our economy has grown and diversified, it cannot provide all the jobs and opportunities that many Kenyans need. Only an expanded economy operating within a just and equitable context can do that. Accelerated economic growth, therefore, lies at the heart of our vision to empower the people. 14. This is the basis for my Government’s commitment to transform Kenya. Shared prosperity is the soul of this commitment. We believe that this is the only way to go, and my Government’s transformational agenda is, therefore, unstoppable. 15. My Government is seeking to enable everybody in this country to contribute to national development, and, that everyone similarly benefits from it. 16. Previously marginalized areas of Kenya, as well as traditionally vulnerable and neglected groups, are now integral to our growth. Women, the youth, the disabled and minorities are the stone that the builders rejected. Facilities like UWEZO Fund are empowering these groups to successfully engage in economic activity. 17. This Fund, as well as the Youth and Women’s Enterprise funds, are the stepping-stones to economic opportunities. My Government has complemented them with affirmative policies to facilitate preferential access by these groups to procurement opportunities in Government and public institutions. Programmes of this kind provide platforms and instruments to raise the weak and propel them into mainstream business activity. 18. My Government intends to spread inclusive development to every activity in every sector of our economy. With our eyes firmly focused on the future, we have supplemented youth empowerment through a reformed and expanded National Youth Service. The aim is to admit more young Kenyans and impart a richer variety of relevant skills. 19. Through the Service the youth are already making tremendous impact in the lives of Kenyans. They are playing a central role in efforts to ensure that residents of informal settlements enjoy their share of our prosperity. 20. Starting with Kibera, my Government is collaborating with various institutions, including the private sector, to deliver a dignified, clean and safe living environment. 21. Treated water, safe electricity connection, sanitation are some of the amenities that this collaboration has taken to Kibera. Other services that extend development to the area are subsidized food, support for urban agriculture, street lighting, model housing and vocational training programmes. 22. More vulnerable communities will soon begin to receive similar attention from my Government. 23. In speaking about vulnerable groups, we must not forget those Kenyans who have been uprooted from their homes by conflict and insecurity. My Government remains committed to ensuring that these Kenyans, especially the internally displaced persons, are never let down. Fellow Kenyans, 24. No nation can achieve its true potential without food security. As pledged in our agenda, my Government has commenced the irrigation of 1,000,000 acres of land in Galana-Kulalu for food production. 25. Upon completion, we will not only have banished famine from our land, we will begin to feed our region and the continent. For over a year now, we have also been supporting our farmers with affordable quality seed and fertilizer. Fellow Kenyans, 26. Healthy families and communities are a critical priority of our agenda. This is why we have implemented a programme to extend ante-natal, delivery and post-natal care for both mother and child free of charge throughout the country. Additionally, primary healthcare services are provided free of charge in all public health facilities. For the elderly and the disabled, we have subsidized health insurance coverage as well. 27. It is a tragic double blow when a Kenyan succumbs to disease owing to cost of treatment because he or she will have died of both sickness and poverty. My Government is dedicated to eliminating this kind of vulnerability to enable our people lead productive lives. 28. The whole range of our efforts to transform the health sector is vast. For instance, we are equipping at least two hospitals in every county with modern diagnostic equipment. This will enable patients obtain affordable treatment for kidney and heart diseases as well as cancer and reproductive conditions which are currently too costly and inaccessible. We will also build new referral hospitals in every county. 29. I can think of no better way to underscore the impact of my Government’s health sector programmes than the ‘Beyond Zero’ campaign. This campaign, which has been admirably led by the First Lady, has earned local and international recognition for successful efforts to reduce child and maternal deaths. Her labour of love demonstrates what needs to be done and what my Government is doing about the most critical needs of the health sector, especially in connection with vulnerable groups. 30. Today, I join all Kenyans and other well wishers in saluting and appreciating her tireless efforts and sacrifices. Well done! 31. Regarding education, my Government is expanding our universities and tertiary institutions to teach more Kenyans. Our teaching curricula are also being reviewed to keep them relevant, competitive and aligned to the needs of a highly globalised work environment. I am also happy to announce that by April, 2015, all primary schools in the country will be connected to electricity and therefore ready for computer-based learning. 32. My Government has sustained Free Compulsory Primary Education, which significantly raised our nation’s literacy standards. Proceeding from this historic milestone, my Government has embarked on providing Free Day Secondary Education. Ultimately, this programme will ensure that no Kenyan student is locked out of education opportunities. 33. Education is a weapon against poverty. When a young person drops out of school, the war on poverty is lost. My Government is determined to develop high-quality human resources and the empowerment of young people in their millions. 34. All our 39 universities are collaborating with industry to align training with our market needs. We are focusing on our regional and continental leadership role as a hub for education, innovation, trade and services. My vision for the young people of this country is for them to dominate pioneering areas of the knowledge economy, especially science and technology. Ladies and Gentlemen, 35. The cost of living has been a significant challenge to our growth ambitions. When families spend large portions of their incomes on basic needs, they have little to save and invest. 36. The cost of producing goods and services is a huge component of the high cost of living. Managing the cost of living unlocks wealth for families all over the country to improve their economic conditions. Transport and energy costs form an overwhelming portion of the price of goods and services. My Government is doing something radical to bring down the cost of living. 37. This year alone, we added 280 MW to the national electric power grid, reducing the cost of electricity by 30%. These are only the first fruits of our ambition to generate an additional 5000 MW, which will drastically reduce the cost of energy for domestic and commercial use. Schools, businesses, hospitals and homes require electricity. 38. With affordable energy, Kenya will unleash productivity and innovation to drive rapid economic growth. My Government is also working under domestic and regional frameworks to develop infrastructure for the movement of petroleum across our country and region. 39. With cheap electricity, our people will be free to wage war and win freedom from poverty, illiteracy and sickness. Through intensive investment in energy infrastructure, therefore, we are powering our freedom. 40. Our manufacturers are now assured of producing goods more cheaply. I want to remind them that this cost reduction is due to the investments by taxpayers, who like any other investor, are looking forward to a return. I call on manufacturers to pass the savings on the cost of electricity to consumers by reducing the price of basic goods. 41. Equally, transport costs contribute significantly to the price of goods and services and, therefore, the cost of living. To reduce it, a fast, high-capacity transport network is necessary. 42. The construction of the Standard Gauge Railway has now begun. 43. Early next year, I will lay the foundation stones for 3 new berths in Lamu for the Northern Corridor infrastructure network. This infrastructure will open up northern Kenya and transform it into a highly competitive hub for industrial and agricultural production. Moreover, the construction of 10,000 kilometres of additional tarmacked roads has begun. 44. All infrastructure projects are invariably accompanied by employment opportunities for thousands of young Kenyans. Moreover, the transformation of our rural counties and towns has gathered momentum. 45. Through street lighting and enhanced surveillance technology, we will enable urban areas to run 24-hour economies. Fellow Kenyans, 46. Without a doubt, the foundation of our prosperity and development activity is security. Without security, our nation is compromised and our economy vulnerable. 47. It is critical for us to recognize that under my Government, incidences of basic law and order crimes have continued to reduce. Our average figures conform with international average trends. 48. Unfortunately, this achievement has been reversed by the rising threat of terrorism perpetrated by outside criminal groups. 49. As a result, over the past year or so, we have experienced serious terrorist attacks which have left hundreds of Kenyans dead, and an almost equal number injured. Despite these attacks, we are undeterred, and remain steadfast in our commitment to the war on terrorism. 50. Insecurity in our country has both local and international dimensions. The global war on terror forced Al Qaeda and affiliates to seek havens for training and opportunities for illegal economic activity. Unfortunately, they found refuge in Somalia, a vulnerable host with which Kenya shares a long border. Extremism and radicalization further brought the global threat of terrorism closer home. We now have an international war at Kenya’s doorstep. 51. I remind all our international partners that Kenya is fighting a proxy war on behalf of all nations and peoples who embrace freedom and democracy. For this reason, we deserve and expect support, solidarity and a more robust engagement in connection with terrorism. 52. Against this background, it is clear that our security system requires enhancement to confront the twin challenges of domestic and international security threats. An international war is happening in and outside Kenya’s borders. We are also confronting highly trained and dangerously armed combatants embedded in our communities. These are no ordinary times, nor ordinary challenges. Our security apparatus must be effective in managing the emerging security paradigm. 53. We have reflected profoundly and interrogated the adequacy of our laws and security institutions in meeting new security demands. Our conclusion is that Kenya must enhance its ability to detect, monitor and eliminate security threats. It must also possess forensic capacity to successfully prosecute terrorists. 54. My Government has, therefore, embarked on a large-scale, institutional and long-term strategy to raise our national security to international standards. We have already delivered our pledge to expand the recruitment and improve training and welfare of our security personnel. Similarly, we have invested in equipment and vehicles as well as other technology required by our security agencies to tackle insecurity. 55. Just yesterday, I witnessed the inauguration of the first phase of the Command and Control Centre which extends surveillance technology to urban and vulnerable areas to improve security. My Government has also instituted border control and de-radicalization strategies. 56. Every Kenyan has a part to play in efforts to enhance the peace and safety of our communities. There are innumerable instances where the best security measures are in the hands of ordinary civilians. 57. My Government also has a master plan to eradicate security challenges, including small-arms trafficking in vulnerable communities, especially in Northern Kenya. 58. As you can see, we are deploying our transformative agenda to tackle our main challenges of illiteracy, disease, poverty and hunger. Our commitment is pervasive and our efforts robust. We want to touch every heart everywhere and shed the light of prosperity upon all people, all homes, all communities in all the counties of Kenya. 59. Yesterday, our Parliament sat to align our laws with the country’s security needs as well as the standards expected by the Constitution. Without creating a new law, we rationalized existing legislation to enable the country meet the challenge of our time. In conducting this urgently necessary process, no freedoms are being curtailed. No part of our Constitution has been violated. 60. Indeed, by enhancing the assurance of our right to security of life and property, my Government is trying to enrich our freedoms. Our Constitution has not been undermined in any shape or form. 61. Corruption is a major catalyst of insecurity. It compromises secure systems. Corruption is deadly. It is time for all of us, as patriots and citizens, to agree that corruption is one of our deadliest enemies and fight it ruthlessly. We must put the shame of corruption behind us and do justice to our New Republic by entrenching value-based governance. The security of our people, wealth creation and national transformation are easily sabotaged by corruption. Let us all join hands to fight insecurity and corruption with equal determination. Fellow Kenyans, 62. We have lost many innocent lives to insecurity. Businesses continue to suffer because of the fear of terrorist attacks in areas considered vulnerable. Today, we will confer honours posthumously on some of our fine and gallant security officers who paid the ultimate price to keep us safe from terrorists and other criminals. We have lost hundreds of gallant and patriotic young Kenyans as our security services put themselves in the front line against our existential hazards. 63. We cannot repay our men and women in uniform for their noble sacrifices. Let us, therefore, demonstrate our gratitude and appreciation by extending moral support and doing our part to keep our country safe. 64. Always remember that as you go about your normal life, somebody’s child is confronting mortal danger on your behalf and often, out of your sight. 65. Yet even as we take a determined stand, committed to winning against all odds, our saboteurs wish us ill and plot our destruction. There are legion malevolent interests doing everything they can to defile our freedom by undermining Kenyas security and sovereignty. These sinister outsiders seek to frighten, torment and divide us. 66. Conflict has undermined national unity for decades in Kenya. My Government made an irrevocable pledge to reconcile and unite various communities which have been involved in war at some point or other. 67. We have worked hard to realize these objectives. I am convinced that the International Criminal Court is a real threat to our country’s hope for reconciliation and lasting national stability. It offers no clear promise of justice for the victims of post-election violence, which traumatized this country a few years ago. 68. Its strategy disregards its founding principles and humanitarian imperatives in favour of external agenda. I thank the people of this great nation for their unwavering support and prayers which sustained me as I awaited my vindication. I ask you all to join me in supporting my deputy and his co-accused as they also await their overdue vindication. As I have said many times before, this Government will continue supporting the victims to resume normal life and obtain justice. 69. It is our duty, as citizens and patriots, to make the whole world know that our sovereignty is the collective property of the people and that our independence is not for sale. Fellow Kenyans, 70.We also remember the debt of gratitude we owe the people of Africa. In our times of need, our brothers and sisters, individually and under the African Union, reached out to us and held our hand as we walked through our troubles. From the struggle against colonialism to our current challenges, Africa has been true to us. We will keep this faith Africa. 71.Let us celebrate African brotherhood and solidarity by embracing a strong Pan-African spirit aimed at ultimately consolidating African integration into a multinational federation in our time. Every African is our brother and sister, and we must treat them as such. Fellow Kenyans, 72. Many are our achievements and challenges, our victories and unfinished battles. We have not wasted our independence. We have not betrayed our freedom fighters or deceived our founding leaders. But we are far from concluding the struggle. 73. In fact, the struggle in our generation is at its most decisive point when we must stand strong and fight boldly with no thoughts of surrender. 74. My Government is committed to fulfilling every pledge it made to the people of Kenya. Against daunting challenges, we are still making encouraging progress. I am confident that when the time comes, you will be satisfied with our efforts. Under my Government, expect Kenyans to be healthier, smarter, busier, more connected and more competitive. This is the direction of our efforts and the logical outcome of our commitment. It is a promise we are working to redeem. 75. We continue to draw hope from the knowledge that as one people, we are equal to any challenge confronting us. Our unity, and love for one another as well as our devotion to this land is ultimately the source of our greatest strength. 76. I see more and bigger successes for us as a nation if we remain as robust as our rugby players and as persistent as the marathon athletes. Finally, Ladies and Gentlemen, 77. We must stay united. We must remain open, tolerant, warm and hospitable. We must also stay focused and committed to building a stronger nation. 78. If we give in to fear, suspicion, division and conflict, we will have surrendered to the enemy. So, fellow Kenyans, stay strong. Let us boldly confront our enemies within and outside our country. We must resist manipulation and exploitation, just as much as we reject poverty, illiteracy, sickness, hunger, corruption and insecurity. 79. Let us re-dedicate ourselves to the struggle to crown our independence with prosperity and happiness. We will only do this by persistently waging war on all our problems without flinching. As your President, you know that I will not hesitate or blink in the face of difficulty. 80. I draw my strength from your courage, determination and abilities as a people. And I know that together we will win. Do not stop, do not waver, do not turn back and do not flinch. 81. Today, therefore, I call on each one of us to play our part in full to make Kenya even greater. Let us work with all our might to build this nation. If you are a farmer till the land as though only you can save your fellow Kenyans from hunger, because that is true. 82. If you are a teacher, guide your pupils as though the destiny of every young Kenyan is in your hands, because indeed it is. 83. If you are a medic, treat your patients like our men and women in uniform protect our communities: as though every Kenyan life depends on you, because indeed it does. Whatever you do, know that it is integral to the national agenda, and that your fellow citizens need you. Let us appreciate the power of the individual to effect real change. Every one of us plays a part in shaping our collective destiny. Do not be the one who did nothing. Each should project their individual efforts towards the national good. 84. Recognize the impact of your own work and the significance of your contribution to nation building. It is only us - you and me- who will drive this country we love to its destiny. Pamoja tujenge taifa letu. 85. I now wish all of you a happy Jamhuri Day. For many, this is the beginning of the holiday season. I urge everyone to enjoy the holidays responsibly. Do not do anything that puts your lives and welfare, or the safety of others at risk. 86. Let us remember the less fortunate among us and endeavour to share the holiday cheer with them. 87. I also wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, 2015. GOD BLESS YOU, AND GOD BLESS KENYA.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 12:02:10 +0000
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