EDITORIAL: Pledge to focus on key growth pillars timely

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday restated his administration’s commitment to kick-starting a faltering economy. Addressing a nation badly polarised by months of negative political campaigns, Mr Kenyatta said he would focus on four economic pillars in his last term.

He isolated food security, affordable housing, manufacturing and affordable healthcare. Truth be told, to a large extent except for the last one, as a country we have failed miserably.

But the President can now secure his legacy by taking practical measures that would bear fruit in the medium term. He must also rid his administration of corruption.

To start with, food security has been virtually non-existent and we are just coming from a programme of subsidising maize millers and facilitating massive imports after failing to spur local production. Irrigation schemes supposed to save the situation have been buffeted by corruption.

Mr Kenyatta must take personal charge and not let politics and cronyism mar his legacy. Success of such a measure would boost employment and national wellbeing. 

So would a rollout of affordable housing. Slums are breeding hopeless Kenyans yet affordable housing schemes could bring hope and massive employment. However, he must be careful to facilitate private sector investment here as well as private public partnerships to enhance efficiency and sustainability.

READ: Uhuru bets on four key sectors to boost growth

As for manufacturing, there are no shortcuts to long-term employment and forward and backward linkages other than production.

This will trickle down to the lowest level if well-coordinated with the counties. Despite a few bottlenecks, there is no reason Kenya should be exporting semi-processed tea, coffee and even pyrethrum despite heavy investment in railway, road and electricity infrastructure.

We note there is credible emphasis on technical and science training that should accelerated value addition.

The State should continue with efforts to roll out healthcare while cleaning the system of emerging and old graft. We believe five years are long enough to implement the wishes and trigger massive employment and wealth creation.