Private sector wants Kibaki to address inflation, polls date

President Kibaki will on Tuesday afternoon address the nation from Parliament on the government’s achievements and provide a way forward in tackling the challenges facing Kenya.

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Article 132 of the Constitution mandates the President to address the nation at least once every year on what the government is doing to achieve national unity, sharing and devolution of power, the rule of law and participation of the people.

The President is also supposed to report on what the government is doing to achieve good governance, integrity, transparency, accountability and sustainable development.

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“The President shall once every year report, in an address to the nation, on all the measures taken and the progress achieved in the realisation of the national values,” states the Constitution, which also mandates the president to publish the report in the Kenya Gazette and submit it for debate to the National Assembly.

The address will this year be made against a back drop of the high cost of living, diminishing job opportunities, labour unrest and high unemployment among the youth.

While an ongoing war against terrorism in Somalia has been eating into the country’s resources, there has been increased insecurity and a political din, which is expected to grow louder amid uncertainty over the forthcoming elections.

Kenya Private Sector Alliance chairman Patrick Obath yesterday told the Business Daily that the private sector was expecting the President to address uncertainties surrounding the next general election and how the government would improve business and employment opportunities.

“We would like him to address issues surrounding the election date and speeding up of the East African Community integration. Also the state of the economy, increasing the number of available jobs and housing,” said Mr Obath.

Stephen Mutoro, the secretary- general of the Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek), said that the high cost of living had reduced disposable income levels and the government needed to address the factors that were making the cost of goods and services escalate.
Mid this month, the Energy Regulatory Commission put the maximum retail price of super petrol at Sh118.50, diesel at Sh108.80 in Nairobi and Kerosene Sh86.28 at effectively pushing up fuel pump prices by Sh6.81 for super petrol, Sh3.67 for diesel and Sh2.14 for kerosene.

The cost of living, which began its downward trend in December last year, had dropped to 15.61 per cent last month but the increased fuel prices are now expected to slow the downward trend.

“From the consumers point of view we are expecting him to address issues surrounding the high cost of living and factors that are contributing to this including the high interest rates, high cost of energy and dwindling employment opportunities,” said Mr Mutoro.
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