THE STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR,
JOSEPH OLE LENKU,
TO THE SECOND SESSION OF THE SECOND ASSEMBLY
5TH JUNE 2018
KAJIADO
Hon. Speaker!
Hon Members of County Assembly,
It is an honor and privilege to serve in this coveted leadership role, and a wonderful moment for me to deliver my first State of the County Address as your Governor of our great County of Kajiado. I appreciate the commitment and our shared unique perspectives on the various aspects of development affecting us.
The State of the County Address is basically a performance report of the County Executive Committee and public service to the County Assembly for consideration. It is an opportunity for us all to highlight our accomplishments and progress on our plans, in cognizant of the challenges and improvement to be made going into the 2018/2019 Financial Year; The first for my government. It is also an opportunity for us to lay bare our foundation for the desired developmental agenda, going forward.
I cherish working with you as a team to set policy and make decisions, and deliver services that impact on the lives of the people of Kajiado County.
As I present these accomplishments, I acknowledge the partnership and collaboration of our County Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Honorable Johnson Osoi.
I also acknowledge the strong support of the national government, under the leadership of His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta, represented in this County, by the County Commissioner, Mr. David Kipkemei. I further appreciate the support I have been accorded by other county leaders among them our Members of Parliament. Our solidarity and show of unity has made Kajiado an envy of other counties.
Today, we can take comfort in the fact that through our complementary efforts as the executive and legislative branches of our Government, we are able to make substantial progress towards promoting the well-being of the people of Kajiado County. Notwithstanding the challenges on the way, our County will continue to move forward along the path of inclusive development.
While a journey towards a more perfect society in an imperfect world can never be complete, our own progress continues to be marked by measurable milestones contained in our long-term Vision 2030, National Development Plans, the Sustainable Development Goals and our County Integrated Development Plan II.
As enjoined by Section 30(1)(k) of the County Government Act, the State of the County Address accords opportunity to the Governor to account to the County on how far we have come as a people. This Address will account on the implementation status of developmental programs at the County Level for the period under review, and inform priorities for the year ahead against the thematic pillars of:
Effective Governance and Service Delivery;
Economic advancement;
Social progression; and
Infrastructure Development .
In my address to the people of Kajiado in various fora, I have repeatedly stated that I envision a strong, united, inclusive and prosperous Kajiado County; A haven of peace and refuge for all its residents and a jewel of Kenya.
Theme of the SOCA
My Government is keen to see effective, efficient and radical implementation of programs that will ensure our communities receive the service they deserve.
Mr. Speaker Sir, on the back of a firm commitment of making our future work better, the theme of the 2018 State of the County Address is;
Leading with integrity towards an inclusive economy for targeted and effective service delivery to improve the quality of life.
Kajiado within the National and International Context
Mr. Speaker Sir,
Honorable Members
As a County aspiring to be an important gateway down South and up North, we have to be alive to international developments that have an impact on our County. We also understand that although matters of international relations are within the ambit of the National Government Policy, international events do have a significant impact on our County.
We are, therefore, noting with great interest, the latest development related to the World Bank Projects that our County has benefited from, among them the establishment of our two municipalities of Kajiado and Ngong and the Kitengela bus park. This shows investor confidence in us. I, therefore, undertake to ensure good governance linked with sound and prudent financial and fiscal management, leadership with integrity, as we contribute to a climate conducive for investment confidence. We reaffirm our resolve to pursue vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr Speaker Sir, I reaffirm my resolve to deliver a County that can contribute to the realization of the Country’s Vision as advocated in Vision 2030. I have aligned the County Integrated Development Plan II 2018-2022 (CIDP) with Vision 2030, my manifesto and the Sustainable Development Goals as espoused by the Countries of the World all geared towards ending poverty and enjoying peace and prosperity.
We must be reminded that the CIDP and Vision 2030 are simply not government strategies but a collective commitment and a social contract between the government and her people.
Update on Flagship Projects
As I took over office as your Governor, I asked myself what a flagship program is. I inherited several flagship programs from my predecessor, which ended up being projects that were either incomplete or were yet to begin. It has been the norm that with every dispensation, new ideologies and new manifestos are brought forth.
The challenge is whether to abort the old and bring in the new. In keeping with the prudential guidelines and financial integrity, my Government has taken upon itself to define what a flagship program is. In discussing the legislative agenda, I am later in my legislative agenda calling on this Honorable House to legislate and provide a criteria for the definition of flagships.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND LOOKING FORWARD
Growing an inclusive economy
Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members of this House, I acknowledge that the Youth form approximately 60 per cent of the population of this County. Many of them remain unemployed within the context of slow international and national economic growth.
The Youth remain unemployed, not because they don’t have the motivation, the ambition nor the energy: But the real barriers facing our young people are inexperience, lack of specific employment skills and lack of opportunities. This cycle of “no job, no experience or “no experience, and no job” can be broken with appropriate government and private sector interventions and society collaboration.
One such collaboration is our partnership with the KCB Foundation that I challenge other corporates and investors in the County to emulate. In this Ksh 100 Million program, where our contribution will be Ksh 50 Million every year, we shall use an integrated approach for prioritization of youth employment and empowerment programs and initiatives for maximizing the positive impact of the outcomes.
1,000 Youth will undergo vocational training and be handheld through an entrepreneurship start up program that will see them start, strengthen and execute their business ideas. This is a program that I intend to see grow throughout my tenure. It has already kicked off with 300 out of the 1,000 targeted youth this year reporting for training at our host institution-The Masai Technical Training Institute. 700 more will be enrolled in the next three months.
My Government will create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive that will in turn create employment opportunities for our youth. I will continue to promote a culture of entrepreneurship to develop and sustain youth labor that is market relevant and ready while taking advantage of the emerging sectors.
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Hon Members
Majority of our County’s population lives in the rural areas. Without good access to markets, an ordinary household cannot market its produce, obtain inputs, sell labor, obtain credit, learn about or adopt new technologies, insure against risks, or even obtain goods at low prices.
Equally important, it cannot use its scarce resources like land and labor efficiently. It is for this reason that in trade, my main objective is to improve access of agricultural produce to markets so as to create the conditions for ordinary residents to overcome poverty.
I have made infrastructural contributions as well as strategic and policy interventions that will strengthen the market position of small farmers and traders to make a pathway out of rural poverty. Reforms will be made along the market chain to make it more competitive and efficient, but this will not automatically create benefits for the poor.
In infrastructural development, my Government has received a Ksh 800 Million grant from the World Bank towards the construction of the Ngong Market. This will see the County developing a state of the Art structure that will house over 1,200 traders. This means that the hawker and trader selling his or her wares outside will have access to facilities that shelter them from the harsh weather conditions. The infrastructure will also provide amenities such as banking halls; SACCOs just to name a few. This should see growth in a holistic way of trading. In the same breath the Kiserian, Loitokitok, Namanga and Ole Kesasi markets are under my radar. The same can be said about our livestock markets in Bisil and Emali.
Hon Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
On policy reforms, my government is advocating for new high-value agricultural market chains thus linking the farmer/ producer to the market/ consumer. Agricultural value chain has been said to be a game changer especially for the smallholder farmers and businesses. We are keen on taking advantage of opportunities offered by our proximity to Nairobi City County.
In this life changing value chain enterprises front, we are humbled by the selection of Kajiado County as a host to a Ksh 10 Billion leather processing plant in Isinya, Kajiado East Sub County, which is part of the National Government’s Big Four Agenda under the Manufacturing sector. This will immensely transform the incomes of our livestock farmers as well as create thousands of jobs within the County.
Our Small and Micro enterprises and cooperative development and support programs provide the mainstay of our quest for enterprise development to broaden participation in a growing economy. A policy on investment is at an advanced stage to engage fruitfully with various investors to identify opportunities for investment.
My government is also specifically developing a policy of promoting equal and active participation of women (e.g. management training, financial services, upgrading of skills) so as to empower our women and remove them from the throes of marginalization. I’m aware that the Cooperatives Bill had been tabled in the 1st August House but was not assented to. My Government will therefore work to bring the Bill back for debate and enactment.
Mr Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
Our tourism has always been wildlife based. But the very assets that underpin this wildlife-based tourism – the wildlife itself – are under severe threat. The threats come from a multitude of sources: habitat loss, pollution, infrastructure, climate change, over-exploitation and illegal trade, the most immediate threat to wildlife. If we lose the wildlife, we lose the wildlife-based tourism and the jobs that go with it.
I challenge wildlife authorities to create incentives for communities that neighbor game parks and private ranches to provide habitats to wildlife. The current hostility between our communities and wildlife emanates from the former not benefitting from their wildlife. And I repeat, “their wildlife”. The continued lack of compensation for lives lost and property destroyed by wildlife remains a thorny issue that must be addressed.
My Government has documented over 25 things that you can do in Kajiado. This is with a view to expanding our tourism beyond wildlife and see Kajiado as a haven for rich touristic attractions. Kajiado scores high on natural and cultural resources. Though some aspects of our tourism infrastructure remain underdeveloped, my Government will therefore develop the tourism policy for the development and promotion of Tourism in Kajiado.
Recently, we were privileged to host the Kenya Pastoralists Week, an event that saw over 1,000 visitors from all over Kenya, including policy makers, discuss and develop approaches to building on the pastoralists knowledge, traditional organizations and social networks with a view to contributing to sustainable management of their sparsely populated marginal areas.
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
Culture ensures unity in diversity, influences identity, debate and dialogue. Culture is the fountain of our progress and creativity and must be carefully nurtured to grow and develop. I hold our culture close to my heart.
I have therefore set aside funds in the next financial year to document and articulate the specific ways in which the Maasai culture can contribute to sustainable development and our national pride.
It is for this reason that this morning, I unveiled a Task Force to carry out this mandate and it will be chaired by our renown scholar, Dr Naomi Kipuri. Further to this I wish to announce that the Maa Cultural Festival will be an annual event. In this regard, I direct the CEC responsible for Culture to immediately kick start action plans that will raise this event to International Standards in the forthcoming years.
With regard to Human Resources, Mr. Speaker Sir, a paradigm shift is long overdue. The focus will now be more on contract employment geared towards achieving targeted results rather than permanent and pensionable terms that have been discovered to breed unproductive individuals. This performance-based contractual system will be enhanced by commensurate reward system as well as benefits. In this regard, Mr. Speaker Sir, I direct that effective July 1, 2018, all officers from the level of director upwards, be put on performance contracts.
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
On education, our focus must be on ensuring that there is a well-connected continuum in our education pipeline, from early childhood development, through to pre-primary, primary, secondary, tertiary education and through to workplace skills development and adult learning.
In this regard, the County Integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD) Action Plan that is being developed by the Department of Education will contribute immensely to improve access to ECD services. We now have more than 40,000 children attending 710 ECD centres funded by my Government.
My Government understands the need to reduce the persistent high dropout rate of learners from grades 1 to 8 and even more so between primary school and high school. A situation where approximately 60% of learners entering grade 1 in any particular year, do not transit to Secondary School should not be accepted. This trend further worsens between Secondary and Tertiary Institutions.
This is not to apportion any blame to any individual stakeholder in our education system. It reflects a much broader societal challenge. In a society where our children and learners lose hope because even graduates are unemployed, what incentive is there for them to finish school.
I am not pleased with the matric results of the Class of 2017. Majority of our form four leavers attained grade D. The recent Education Stakeholders Workshop depicted Kajiado as a D + County. This grade is an impediment to their access to employment or effective competition in the job market. It will take the concerted effort of the entire community to see the improvement of our education sector.
Poor performance has over the years hampered future opportunities for our children.
This is not a situation we can endure, especially not with the opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution on our doorstep. For the sake of our children, we must ensure that we create a stable environment for them to learn and prepare themselves for a bright future.
It is for this reason that I recently appointed a multi-agency Task Force to bring together sector players to seek a solution to this worrying situation. I acknowledge the support that I have received towards this cause from the Ministry of Education, Teachers Service Commission(TSC), Kenya National Union of Teachers(KNUT) who form part of this Task Force.
It is important to note that the County Government, through its bursary programme is contributing in a significant manner towards improvement of education. The Department of Education has allocated over Ksh 80 million for the next financial year to benefit approximately 2,000 bursaries.
We laud the National Government’s effort for a Fee-Free Higher Education for poor households and the potential impact this could have on our efforts to create youth employment and to eradicate poverty.
Some of the most significant interventions we are committed to pursue in the drive to improve our skills base in this County are to:
Undertake a skills audit to determine the skills shortages in key areas;
Ensure an appropriate “programme and qualification mix” at universities, Universities of Technology and TVETs to promote the production of professionals and academics;
Establish a data-base of graduates for employers to access; and to
Increase the number of youth work-integrated learning opportunities, such as those already mentioned above
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
The health of our people has a direct correlation on productivity. I have trained my eyes on our key referral units in Kajiado, Ngong, Ongata Rongai, Loitokitok, Mashuru, Ngatataek and Ewaso Oonkidongi. These facilities will continuously receive substantial resources to make them true referral hospitals. This work has begun in earnest and the residents of these areas can attest to this.
To ease the cost of healthcare, my Government has rolled out the implementation of universal healthcare through the registration and use of the National Hospital Insurance Fund. This will ensure that the people of Kajiado have accessible and affordable healthcare.
I have begun the ‘Mbuzi Moja Afya Bora’ program through which I’m encouraging every household to sell a goat so as to raise the annual fee to cover the NHIF annual fee.
I have also engaged over 70 nurses on contract and engaged 5 consultants across the sub counties to address the major shortage of healthcare personnel in the County. This week, through the National Government’s efforts, we expect the arrival of the 100 Cuban doctors in the Country, of which Kajiado County is a beneficiary of two specialists. This support will supplement the effort towards attainment of Universal Health Care as envisaged in the President’s Big Four Agenda. We fully back this initiative.
My Government will in the next financial year, beginning 1st July 2018, recruit 100 health personnel who will be deployed to various health facilities across the County.
My Government has made strides in improving access to health services and notable achievements include the following:
At least 50 percent of the population of Kajiado County is accessing basic health services within 5km radius due to construction and upgrading of dispensaries, health centers, clinics and hospitals.
31 clinics and health centers were constructed or upgraded, including a few clinics that were donated by the private sector and Non-Government institutions.
My Government is working to improve availability of medicines and medical supplies through the construction and equipping of a medical store. I have also ordered that the Department of Health installs a Real Time Medical Supplies Inventory Tracking System that will manage, monitor and control clinical supplies from their entry into a facility’s stockroom to the point of dispensing. At the end of April 2018, we had raised the average availability of vital drugs at our facilities to 80 percent.
My Government has been receiving support from Partners in the medical field. I would like to express my gratitude to AMREF, Global Fund, European Union (EU), and CDC, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), KOICA, United Nations (UN) Family, and other Partners for the support they continue to grant the County. We cannot do this alone without their support. With a fragile economy like ours, we still need the support of development partners both financially and technically, and I therefore urge development partners to continue working with Kajiado County.
Mr Speaker!
Hon Members,
As part of the Big 4 Agenda is the question of housing. Kajiado County takes up this national aspiration by ensuring a houusing policy and plan.
The significant increase in settlements as a result of land fragmentation/ subdivision in sections of Kajiado County has led to a decrease in food production and unsustainable land uses. The urban population is growing; hence urban sprawling and this could be attributed to the spill over from Nairobi City County.
My Government has received conditional grants from the World Bank that will go towards upgrading of two towns into municipalities. I have conferred the status of municipalities to two towns, namely Ngong and Kajiado. This will positively impact on development of these areas and their neighborhood. My Government has also commenced the preparation of local physical development plans for several towns as well as zoning and part development plans for public utilities within the County.
My Government has digitized records for land and plots in the County. Their information has been securely captured and stored in the workflow system. To address the above challenge I am directing the CEC Member responsible for lands to conclude the County Spatial Plan within the next three months. This plan is a broad policy framework that will guide land use within the County. I’m also pleased to report that the Department of Lands has been able to recover over 3000 acres of land that was not in the possession of the County for over 30years. This Land is currently being fenced and is under use for hay production.
Development of strategic infrastructure
Mr. Speaker Sir,
Honorable Members
Strategic infrastructure development is essential for sustaining both the social and economic growth and development needs of Kajiado County. Our focus is on expanding and maintaining infrastructure required for both social and economic development.
Across the County, the roads are dilapidated or poorly maintained. My Government has increased the budgetary allocation towards improving our road network. My Government is keen to see that our infrastructure planning is robust enough and avoid a situation where we discourage potential investors as a result of poor infrastructure planning.
In this regard, My Government will, going forward, pursue the adoption of a programme to lease heavy machinery as opposed to the current use of contractors that has proved expensive and slow. As such, therefore, I direct the CEC for Roads to quickly operationalize this shift in policy from purchase to lease of heavy machinery. This will see the County save funds and use these funds in roads network expansion.
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
I now turn to water. My Government is concerned about the stability of our water infrastructure. From the onset of my tenure, it is apparent that water will be my legacy. The development f our water sources and the accompanying infrastructure will be my main area of focus.
Not only is most of our water infrastructure non-existent but there is also a serious disconnect between the various delivery agents in the water sector that calls for reorganization of our water companies for a cost effective delivery of service.
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
Development must be sustainable and the County’s environmental assets and natural resources must therefore be well protected and continually enhanced through synergistic development practices.
Environmental sustainability of the County is challenged, in particular as a result of erratic and severe weather conditions and poor land use practices.
My Government is in the final stages of concluding a Natural Resources Use Policy which include sand harvesting. This will bring order where disorder reigns.
At this juncture, Honorable Members of this House, I wish to reiterate that logging and charcoal burning, remain banned in this County. In line with a National Government moratorium on these forest products, I categorically aver that we are still enforcing this ban and we shall not relent until we fully conserve our precious environment.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to confirm that we remain as committed as ever to honour the climate change resolutions emanating from various international agreements to which Kenya is signatory to.
To combat adverse effects of climate change, within my mandate under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, I have embarked on a massive tree planting exercise in collaboration with the National Government and other sectoral players.
Hon Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
Achieving all the above mentioned development programs and deliver service to the people of Kajiado requires resources and prudent use of public finances.
I note that National Treasury allocations to County Governments are to some extent, pegged on the ability of devolved units to generate their own revenue.
I note with concern that Kajiado County missed a share of the Ksh 6.8 Billion “bonus” by the Commission on Revenue Allocation, given to counties that have improved their collection of local revenue in the last financial year.
I will strive to ensure this does not recur during my administration. I look forward to the newly drafted County Enhancement Revenue Policy by the National Treasury that is meant to support counties in revenue generation.
I also note with concern that in the first six months of this financial year the there was insignificant collection from our own revenues sources, we have collected Ksh 600Million in the last four months. While this may be attributed to the aftermath of the elections, this was way below our potential as a County.
I firmly and categorically call upon the County Treasury to tap in resources from under exploited revenue streams. I am, therefore, directing the CEC in charge of Finance to immediately map out all our revenue areas with the aim of devising a strategy to full collect revenue accruing from the revenue streams currently performing below par. I look forward to a Sh. 1.5 Billion target for local revenue in the next financial year.
Good Governance with clear, relevant Policies
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Hoorable Members
The people of Kajiado County must have confidence in the governance structures and the levels of service delivery in the County. I am committed to offering a caring and competent leadership that places people first.
I am absolutely committed to effectively combat fraud and corruption and reduce unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. I will apply a zero-tolerance approach in dealing with those who are found guilty of these transgressions.
I will be starting lifestyle audits of officials in high risk positions and we are starting with our Supply Chain Management Units. This will be done in collaboration with the EACC.
I am equally not impressed that we do not meet standards as far as our commitment to have all payments to suppliers made within 60 days. Special measures are being implemented to improve our reporting on payments and to ensure that appropriate management steps are taken where required.
My Government will instil a culture in the government where integrity is at the core of everything we do, through our proactive integrity management programmes in the public and private sectors.
My Government commits itself to be held accountable for delivering on all the programs and targets set. I acknowledge and respect the oversight role of this House. My Government also commits to work with this honorable House in strengthening and deepening this oversight function, because it is the right thing to do.
We also accept that we are ultimately accountable to the people of Kajiado County. We also take very seriously our duty to report to our communities on progress with implementation of these programs and plans that are aimed at improving the quality of their lives. My Government fully recognises the authority of this House to call us to account.
Commitment to Partnerships
Mr. Speaker, looking at what lies ahead of us in 2018, my Government is humbled to acknowledge that Government cannot deliver on its development agenda in isolation. My Government has a responsibility to create an enabling environment for all stakeholders in this County to make their own contribution.
It is for this reason that I recently convened a meeting with non-state actors operating in Kajiado county to assure them of my commitment to our collaboration. Further, the Department of Public Service, Public Administration and Citizen Participation is currently reviewing the Stakeholder Engagement Framework to clarify our respective roles and responsibilities, as well as the institutional arrangements to facilitate engagements and partnerships.
Our Challenges
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
While we have many successes, we admit we have many challenges as well. There have always been challenges and we choose to perceive them positively and focus on what we can do about them, rather than be immobilized by them. We recognize the following major challenges, and, together with our partners and stakeholders, I commit to overcome them.
Our disaster risk reduction management strategies were put to test during the prolonged drought towards the end of the year, and during the raging floods in the last two months.
Delayed disbursements from the National Treasury
Inherited Incomplete or delayed projects
Pending bills and delayed payments to our service providers
Poor automation of Government Services and poor ICT infrastructure.
Unmapped revenue sources;
Poor solid waste management
Disorder and encroachment in public spaces in our major towns
Proposed Legislative Action
The churning of Bills and proposed legislation has been slow from both the executive and the Assembly. I urge particularly my CEC Members to be prompt in initiating Bills for debate by the House.
The core business of the Assembly is to make laws. Having said this, My Government proposes several legislative actions to address the above stated challenges among them-
Rules Defining of Flagship Project/ Program / establishing criteria for determining what qualifies as flagship
Cooperative Development Bill
Disaster Management Bill
Sports Management Bill
Youth Entrepreneurship Management Bill
Administrative Structure Bills
Investment Promotion Bill
Early Childhood Bill
Water and Sanitation Services Bill
Medical Stores Bill
Historic Resources Bill
Arts Center Bill
Sand Harvesting Regulations
Charcoal Burning Regulations
Cemeteries and Burial Sites Bill
Solid Waste Management Bill
Urban Planning and Management Bill
Public Finance Management Regulations for Payment to Suppliers
Public Finance and local revenue
Hon Speaker!
Achieving all the mentioned development programs and deliver service to the people of Kajiado requires resources and prudent use of public finances.
I note that National Treasury allocations to County Governments are nowadays to some extent, pegged on the ability of devolved units to generate their own revenue.
Let me admit that we have not been doing well on this front. I note with concern that Kajiado County missed a share of the Sh 6.8 Billion “bonus” by the Commission on Revenue Allocation, given to counties that have improved their collection of local revenue.
I will strive to ensure this does not recur during my administration. I look forward to the newly drafted County Enhancement Revenue Policy by the National Treasury which is meant to support counties in revenue generation.
I note with concern that only Sh 557 Million was collected in the last year of the former administration (2016/2017 Financial Year). This was way below our potential as a County.
I further note that as at yesterday (25 days before the close of this financial year), we had collected Sh592 Million thus surpassing what was collected in the previous entire financial year by Sh 35 Million. This is not good enough. It is far much below our potential.
To address this, Mr Speaker, we are reviewing our internal systems and capacity to tap in resources from earlier under exploited revenue streams. I am, therefore, directing the CEC in charge of Finance to immediately map out all our revenue areas with the aim of devising a strategy to full collect revenue accruing from the revenue streams currently performing below par. I look forward to a Sh 1.5 Billion target for local revenue in the next financial year.
Appreciation
Mr Speaker and Honourable Members, I want to express my appreciation to the members of the County Assembly for their robust oversight over our work.
I cannot forget all categories of staff across all government departments for their dedication and hard work.
The contribution of the people of Kajiado County through Citizen Participation Forums has been very encouraging.
The input received through our emails and social platforms is an indication of a determination from the people of this County to work with government to create a prosperous future. Their input and comments especially through social media is a great way of keeping my Government in check and I encourage the feedback.
TO THE SECOND SESSION OF THE SECOND ASSEMBLY
Hon. Speaker!
Hon Members of County Assembly,
It is an honor and privilege to serve in this coveted leadership role, and a wonderful moment for me to deliver my first State of the County Address as your Governor of our great County of Kajiado. I appreciate the commitment and our shared unique perspectives on the various aspects of development affecting us.
The State of the County Address is basically a performance report of the County Executive Committee and public service to the County Assembly for consideration. It is an opportunity for us all to highlight our accomplishments and progress on our plans, in cognizant of the challenges and improvement to be made going into the 2018/2019 Financial Year; The first for my government. It is also an opportunity for us to lay bare our foundation for the desired developmental agenda, going forward.
I cherish working with you as a team to set policy and make decisions, and deliver services that impact on the lives of the people of Kajiado County.
As I present these accomplishments, I acknowledge the partnership and collaboration of our County Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Honorable Johnson Osoi.
I also acknowledge the strong support of the national government, under the leadership of His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta, represented in this County, by the County Commissioner, Mr. David Kipkemei. I further appreciate the support I have been accorded by other county leaders among them our Members of Parliament. Our solidarity and show of unity has made Kajiado an envy of other counties.
Today, we can take comfort in the fact that through our complementary efforts as the executive and legislative branches of our Government, we are able to make substantial progress towards promoting the well-being of the people of Kajiado County. Notwithstanding the challenges on the way, our County will continue to move forward along the path of inclusive development.
While a journey towards a more perfect society in an imperfect world can never be complete, our own progress continues to be marked by measurable milestones contained in our long-term Vision 2030, National Development Plans, the Sustainable Development Goals and our County Integrated Development Plan II.
As enjoined by Section 30(1)(k) of the County Government Act, the State of the County Address accords opportunity to the Governor to account to the County on how far we have come as a people. This Address will account on the implementation status of developmental programs at the County Level for the period under review, and inform priorities for the year ahead against the thematic pillars of:
Effective Governance and Service Delivery;
Economic advancement;
Social progression; and
Infrastructure Development .
In my address to the people of Kajiado in various fora, I have repeatedly stated that I envision a strong, united, inclusive and prosperous Kajiado County; A haven of peace and refuge for all its residents and a jewel of Kenya.Theme of the SOCA
My Government is keen to see effective, efficient and radical implementation of programs that will ensure our communities receive the service they deserve.
Mr. Speaker Sir, on the back of a firm commitment of making our future work better, the theme of the 2018 State of the County Address is;
Leading with integrity towards an inclusive economy for targeted and effective service delivery to improve the quality of life.
Kajiado within the National and International Context
Mr. Speaker Sir,
Honorable Members
As a County aspiring to be an important gateway down South and up North, we have to be alive to international developments that have an impact on our County. We also understand that although matters of international relations are within the ambit of the National Government Policy, international events do have a significant impact on our County.
We are, therefore, noting with great interest, the latest development related to the World Bank Projects that our County has benefited from, among them the establishment of our two municipalities of Kajiado and Ngong and the Kitengela bus park. This shows investor confidence in us. I, therefore, undertake to ensure good governance linked with sound and prudent financial and fiscal management, leadership with integrity, as we contribute to a climate conducive for investment confidence. We reaffirm our resolve to pursue vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr Speaker Sir, I reaffirm my resolve to deliver a County that can contribute to the realization of the Country’s Vision as advocated in Vision 2030. I have aligned the County Integrated Development Plan II 2018-2022 (CIDP) with Vision 2030, my manifesto and the Sustainable Development Goals as espoused by the Countries of the World all geared towards ending poverty and enjoying peace and prosperity.
We must be reminded that the CIDP and Vision 2030 are simply not government strategies but a collective commitment and a social contract between the government and her people.
Update on Flagship Projects
As I took over office as your Governor, I asked myself what a flagship program is. I inherited several flagship programs from my predecessor, which ended up being projects that were either incomplete or were yet to begin. It has been the norm that with every dispensation, new ideologies and new manifestos are brought forth.
The challenge is whether to abort the old and bring in the new. In keeping with the prudential guidelines and financial integrity, my Government has taken upon itself to define what a flagship program is. In discussing the legislative agenda, I am later in my legislative agenda calling on this Honorable House to legislate and provide a criteria for the definition of flagships.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND LOOKING FORWARD
Growing an inclusive economy
Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members of this House, I acknowledge that the Youth form approximately 60 per cent of the population of this County. Many of them remain unemployed within the context of slow international and national economic growth.
The Youth remain unemployed, not because they don’t have the motivation, the ambition nor the energy: But the real barriers facing our young people are inexperience, lack of specific employment skills and lack of opportunities. This cycle of “no job, no experience or “no experience, and no job” can be broken with appropriate government and private sector interventions and society collaboration.
One such collaboration is our partnership with the KCB Foundation that I challenge other corporates and investors in the County to emulate. In this Ksh 100 Million program, where our contribution will be Ksh 50 Million every year, we shall use an integrated approach for prioritization of youth employment and empowerment programs and initiatives for maximizing the positive impact of the outcomes.
1,000 Youth will undergo vocational training and be handheld through an entrepreneurship start up program that will see them start, strengthen and execute their business ideas. This is a program that I intend to see grow throughout my tenure. It has already kicked off with 300 out of the 1,000 targeted youth this year reporting for training at our host institution-The Masai Technical Training Institute. 700 more will be enrolled in the next three months.
My Government will create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive that will in turn create employment opportunities for our youth. I will continue to promote a culture of entrepreneurship to develop and sustain youth labor that is market relevant and ready while taking advantage of the emerging sectors.
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Hon Members
Majority of our County’s population lives in the rural areas. Without good access to markets, an ordinary household cannot market its produce, obtain inputs, sell labor, obtain credit, learn about or adopt new technologies, insure against risks, or even obtain goods at low prices.
Equally important, it cannot use its scarce resources like land and labor efficiently. It is for this reason that in trade, my main objective is to improve access of agricultural produce to markets so as to create the conditions for ordinary residents to overcome poverty.
I have made infrastructural contributions as well as strategic and policy interventions that will strengthen the market position of small farmers and traders to make a pathway out of rural poverty. Reforms will be made along the market chain to make it more competitive and efficient, but this will not automatically create benefits for the poor.
In infrastructural development, my Government has received a Ksh 800 Million grant from the World Bank towards the construction of the Ngong Market. This will see the County developing a state of the Art structure that will house over 1,200 traders. This means that the hawker and trader selling his or her wares outside will have access to facilities that shelter them from the harsh weather conditions. The infrastructure will also provide amenities such as banking halls; SACCOs just to name a few. This should see growth in a holistic way of trading. In the same breath the Kiserian, Loitokitok, Namanga and Ole Kesasi markets are under my radar. The same can be said about our livestock markets in Bisil and Emali.
Hon Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
On policy reforms, my government is advocating for new high-value agricultural market chains thus linking the farmer/ producer to the market/ consumer. Agricultural value chain has been said to be a game changer especially for the smallholder farmers and businesses. We are keen on taking advantage of opportunities offered by our proximity to Nairobi City County.
In this life changing value chain enterprises front, we are humbled by the selection of Kajiado County as a host to a Ksh 10 Billion leather processing plant in Isinya, Kajiado East Sub County, which is part of the National Government’s Big Four Agenda under the Manufacturing sector. This will immensely transform the incomes of our livestock farmers as well as create thousands of jobs within the County.
Our Small and Micro enterprises and cooperative development and support programs provide the mainstay of our quest for enterprise development to broaden participation in a growing economy. A policy on investment is at an advanced stage to engage fruitfully with various investors to identify opportunities for investment.
My government is also specifically developing a policy of promoting equal and active participation of women (e.g. management training, financial services, upgrading of skills) so as to empower our women and remove them from the throes of marginalization. I’m aware that the Cooperatives Bill had been tabled in the 1st August House but was not assented to. My Government will therefore work to bring the Bill back for debate and enactment.
Mr Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
Our tourism has always been wildlife based. But the very assets that underpin this wildlife-based tourism – the wildlife itself – are under severe threat. The threats come from a multitude of sources: habitat loss, pollution, infrastructure, climate change, over-exploitation and illegal trade, the most immediate threat to wildlife. If we lose the wildlife, we lose the wildlife-based tourism and the jobs that go with it.
I challenge wildlife authorities to create incentives for communities that neighbor game parks and private ranches to provide habitats to wildlife. The current hostility between our communities and wildlife emanates from the former not benefitting from their wildlife. And I repeat, “their wildlife”. The continued lack of compensation for lives lost and property destroyed by wildlife remains a thorny issue that must be addressed.
My Government has documented over 25 things that you can do in Kajiado. This is with a view to expanding our tourism beyond wildlife and see Kajiado as a haven for rich touristic attractions. Kajiado scores high on natural and cultural resources. Though some aspects of our tourism infrastructure remain underdeveloped, my Government will therefore develop the tourism policy for the development and promotion of Tourism in Kajiado.
Recently, we were privileged to host the Kenya Pastoralists Week, an event that saw over 1,000 visitors from all over Kenya, including policy makers, discuss and develop approaches to building on the pastoralists knowledge, traditional organizations and social networks with a view to contributing to sustainable management of their sparsely populated marginal areas.
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
Culture ensures unity in diversity, influences identity, debate and dialogue. Culture is the fountain of our progress and creativity and must be carefully nurtured to grow and develop. I hold our culture close to my heart.
I have therefore set aside funds in the next financial year to document and articulate the specific ways in which the Maasai culture can contribute to sustainable development and our national pride.
It is for this reason that this morning, I unveiled a Task Force to carry out this mandate and it will be chaired by our renown scholar, Dr Naomi Kipuri. Further to this I wish to announce that the Maa Cultural Festival will be an annual event. In this regard, I direct the CEC responsible for Culture to immediately kick start action plans that will raise this event to International Standards in the forthcoming years.
With regard to Human Resources, Mr. Speaker Sir, a paradigm shift is long overdue. The focus will now be more on contract employment geared towards achieving targeted results rather than permanent and pensionable terms that have been discovered to breed unproductive individuals. This performance-based contractual system will be enhanced by commensurate reward system as well as benefits. In this regard, Mr. Speaker Sir, I direct that effective July 1, 2018, all officers from the level of director upwards, be put on performance contracts.
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
On education, our focus must be on ensuring that there is a well-connected continuum in our education pipeline, from early childhood development, through to pre-primary, primary, secondary, tertiary education and through to workplace skills development and adult learning.
In this regard, the County Integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD) Action Plan that is being developed by the Department of Education will contribute immensely to improve access to ECD services. We now have more than 40,000 children attending 710 ECD centres funded by my Government.
My Government understands the need to reduce the persistent high dropout rate of learners from grades 1 to 8 and even more so between primary school and high school. A situation where approximately 60% of learners entering grade 1 in any particular year, do not transit to Secondary School should not be accepted. This trend further worsens between Secondary and Tertiary Institutions.
This is not to apportion any blame to any individual stakeholder in our education system. It reflects a much broader societal challenge. In a society where our children and learners lose hope because even graduates are unemployed, what incentive is there for them to finish school.
I am not pleased with the matric results of the Class of 2017. Majority of our form four leavers attained grade D. The recent Education Stakeholders Workshop depicted Kajiado as a D + County. This grade is an impediment to their access to employment or effective competition in the job market. It will take the concerted effort of the entire community to see the improvement of our education sector.
Poor performance has over the years hampered future opportunities for our children.
This is not a situation we can endure, especially not with the opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution on our doorstep. For the sake of our children, we must ensure that we create a stable environment for them to learn and prepare themselves for a bright future.
It is for this reason that I recently appointed a multi-agency Task Force to bring together sector players to seek a solution to this worrying situation. I acknowledge the support that I have received towards this cause from the Ministry of Education, Teachers Service Commission(TSC), Kenya National Union of Teachers(KNUT) who form part of this Task Force.
It is important to note that the County Government, through its bursary programme is contributing in a significant manner towards improvement of education. The Department of Education has allocated over Ksh 80 million for the next financial year to benefit approximately 2,000 bursaries.
We laud the National Government’s effort for a Fee-Free Higher Education for poor households and the potential impact this could have on our efforts to create youth employment and to eradicate poverty.
Some of the most significant interventions we are committed to pursue in the drive to improve our skills base in this County are to:
Undertake a skills audit to determine the skills shortages in key areas;
Ensure an appropriate “programme and qualification mix” at universities, Universities of Technology and TVETs to promote the production of professionals and academics;
Establish a data-base of graduates for employers to access; and to
Increase the number of youth work-integrated learning opportunities, such as those already mentioned above
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
The health of our people has a direct correlation on productivity. I have trained my eyes on our key referral units in Kajiado, Ngong, Ongata Rongai, Loitokitok, Mashuru, Ngatataek and Ewaso Oonkidongi. These facilities will continuously receive substantial resources to make them true referral hospitals. This work has begun in earnest and the residents of these areas can attest to this.
To ease the cost of healthcare, my Government has rolled out the implementation of universal healthcare through the registration and use of the National Hospital Insurance Fund. This will ensure that the people of Kajiado have accessible and affordable healthcare.
I have begun the ‘Mbuzi Moja Afya Bora’ program through which I’m encouraging every household to sell a goat so as to raise the annual fee to cover the NHIF annual fee.
I have also engaged over 70 nurses on contract and engaged 5 consultants across the sub counties to address the major shortage of healthcare personnel in the County. This week, through the National Government’s efforts, we expect the arrival of the 100 Cuban doctors in the Country, of which Kajiado County is a beneficiary of two specialists. This support will supplement the effort towards attainment of Universal Health Care as envisaged in the President’s Big Four Agenda. We fully back this initiative.
My Government will in the next financial year, beginning 1st July 2018, recruit 100 health personnel who will be deployed to various health facilities across the County.
My Government has made strides in improving access to health services and notable achievements include the following:
At least 50 percent of the population of Kajiado County is accessing basic health services within 5km radius due to construction and upgrading of dispensaries, health centers, clinics and hospitals.
31 clinics and health centers were constructed or upgraded, including a few clinics that were donated by the private sector and Non-Government institutions.
My Government is working to improve availability of medicines and medical supplies through the construction and equipping of a medical store. I have also ordered that the Department of Health installs a Real Time Medical Supplies Inventory Tracking System that will manage, monitor and control clinical supplies from their entry into a facility’s stockroom to the point of dispensing. At the end of April 2018, we had raised the average availability of vital drugs at our facilities to 80 percent.
My Government has been receiving support from Partners in the medical field. I would like to express my gratitude to AMREF, Global Fund, European Union (EU), and CDC, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), KOICA, United Nations (UN) Family, and other Partners for the support they continue to grant the County. We cannot do this alone without their support. With a fragile economy like ours, we still need the support of development partners both financially and technically, and I therefore urge development partners to continue working with Kajiado County.
Mr Speaker!
Hon Members,
As part of the Big 4 Agenda is the question of housing. Kajiado County takes up this national aspiration by ensuring a houusing policy and plan.
The significant increase in settlements as a result of land fragmentation/ subdivision in sections of Kajiado County has led to a decrease in food production and unsustainable land uses. The urban population is growing; hence urban sprawling and this could be attributed to the spill over from Nairobi City County.
My Government has received conditional grants from the World Bank that will go towards upgrading of two towns into municipalities. I have conferred the status of municipalities to two towns, namely Ngong and Kajiado. This will positively impact on development of these areas and their neighborhood. My Government has also commenced the preparation of local physical development plans for several towns as well as zoning and part development plans for public utilities within the County.
My Government has digitized records for land and plots in the County. Their information has been securely captured and stored in the workflow system. To address the above challenge I am directing the CEC Member responsible for lands to conclude the County Spatial Plan within the next three months. This plan is a broad policy framework that will guide land use within the County. I’m also pleased to report that the Department of Lands has been able to recover over 3000 acres of land that was not in the possession of the County for over 30years. This Land is currently being fenced and is under use for hay production.
Development of strategic infrastructure
Mr. Speaker Sir,
Honorable Members
Strategic infrastructure development is essential for sustaining both the social and economic growth and development needs of Kajiado County. Our focus is on expanding and maintaining infrastructure required for both social and economic development.
Across the County, the roads are dilapidated or poorly maintained. My Government has increased the budgetary allocation towards improving our road network. My Government is keen to see that our infrastructure planning is robust enough and avoid a situation where we discourage potential investors as a result of poor infrastructure planning.
In this regard, My Government will, going forward, pursue the adoption of a programme to lease heavy machinery as opposed to the current use of contractors that has proved expensive and slow. As such, therefore, I direct the CEC for Roads to quickly operationalize this shift in policy from purchase to lease of heavy machinery. This will see the County save funds and use these funds in roads network expansion.
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
I now turn to water. My Government is concerned about the stability of our water infrastructure. From the onset of my tenure, it is apparent that water will be my legacy. The development f our water sources and the accompanying infrastructure will be my main area of focus.
Not only is most of our water infrastructure non-existent but there is also a serious disconnect between the various delivery agents in the water sector that calls for reorganization of our water companies for a cost effective delivery of service.
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
Development must be sustainable and the County’s environmental assets and natural resources must therefore be well protected and continually enhanced through synergistic development practices.
Environmental sustainability of the County is challenged, in particular as a result of erratic and severe weather conditions and poor land use practices.
My Government is in the final stages of concluding a Natural Resources Use Policy which include sand harvesting. This will bring order where disorder reigns.
At this juncture, Honorable Members of this House, I wish to reiterate that logging and charcoal burning, remain banned in this County. In line with a National Government moratorium on these forest products, I categorically aver that we are still enforcing this ban and we shall not relent until we fully conserve our precious environment.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to confirm that we remain as committed as ever to honour the climate change resolutions emanating from various international agreements to which Kenya is signatory to.
To combat adverse effects of climate change, within my mandate under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, I have embarked on a massive tree planting exercise in collaboration with the National Government and other sectoral players.
Hon Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
Achieving all the above mentioned development programs and deliver service to the people of Kajiado requires resources and prudent use of public finances.
I note that National Treasury allocations to County Governments are to some extent, pegged on the ability of devolved units to generate their own revenue.
I note with concern that Kajiado County missed a share of the Ksh 6.8 Billion “bonus” by the Commission on Revenue Allocation, given to counties that have improved their collection of local revenue in the last financial year.
I will strive to ensure this does not recur during my administration. I look forward to the newly drafted County Enhancement Revenue Policy by the National Treasury that is meant to support counties in revenue generation.
I also note with concern that in the first six months of this financial year the there was insignificant collection from our own revenues sources, we have collected Ksh 600Million in the last four months. While this may be attributed to the aftermath of the elections, this was way below our potential as a County.
I firmly and categorically call upon the County Treasury to tap in resources from under exploited revenue streams. I am, therefore, directing the CEC in charge of Finance to immediately map out all our revenue areas with the aim of devising a strategy to full collect revenue accruing from the revenue streams currently performing below par. I look forward to a Sh. 1.5 Billion target for local revenue in the next financial year.
Good Governance with clear, relevant Policies
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Hoorable Members
The people of Kajiado County must have confidence in the governance structures and the levels of service delivery in the County. I am committed to offering a caring and competent leadership that places people first.
I am absolutely committed to effectively combat fraud and corruption and reduce unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. I will apply a zero-tolerance approach in dealing with those who are found guilty of these transgressions.
I will be starting lifestyle audits of officials in high risk positions and we are starting with our Supply Chain Management Units. This will be done in collaboration with the EACC.
I am equally not impressed that we do not meet standards as far as our commitment to have all payments to suppliers made within 60 days. Special measures are being implemented to improve our reporting on payments and to ensure that appropriate management steps are taken where required.
My Government will instil a culture in the government where integrity is at the core of everything we do, through our proactive integrity management programmes in the public and private sectors.
My Government commits itself to be held accountable for delivering on all the programs and targets set. I acknowledge and respect the oversight role of this House. My Government also commits to work with this honorable House in strengthening and deepening this oversight function, because it is the right thing to do.
We also accept that we are ultimately accountable to the people of Kajiado County. We also take very seriously our duty to report to our communities on progress with implementation of these programs and plans that are aimed at improving the quality of their lives. My Government fully recognises the authority of this House to call us to account.
Commitment to Partnerships
Mr. Speaker, looking at what lies ahead of us in 2018, my Government is humbled to acknowledge that Government cannot deliver on its development agenda in isolation. My Government has a responsibility to create an enabling environment for all stakeholders in this County to make their own contribution.
It is for this reason that I recently convened a meeting with non-state actors operating in Kajiado county to assure them of my commitment to our collaboration. Further, the Department of Public Service, Public Administration and Citizen Participation is currently reviewing the Stakeholder Engagement Framework to clarify our respective roles and responsibilities, as well as the institutional arrangements to facilitate engagements and partnerships.
Our Challenges
Mr. Speaker Sir!
Honorable Members
While we have many successes, we admit we have many challenges as well. There have always been challenges and we choose to perceive them positively and focus on what we can do about them, rather than be immobilized by them. We recognize the following major challenges, and, together with our partners and stakeholders, I commit to overcome them.
Our disaster risk reduction management strategies were put to test during the prolonged drought towards the end of the year, and during the raging floods in the last two months.
Delayed disbursements from the National Treasury
Inherited Incomplete or delayed projects
Pending bills and delayed payments to our service providers
Poor automation of Government Services and poor ICT infrastructure.
Unmapped revenue sources;
Poor solid waste management
Disorder and encroachment in public spaces in our major towns
Proposed Legislative Action
The churning of Bills and proposed legislation has been slow from both the executive and the Assembly. I urge particularly my CEC Members to be prompt in initiating Bills for debate by the House.
The core business of the Assembly is to make laws. Having said this, My Government proposes several legislative actions to address the above stated challenges among them-
Rules Defining of Flagship Project/ Program / establishing criteria for determining what qualifies as flagship
Cooperative Development Bill
Disaster Management Bill
Sports Management Bill
Youth Entrepreneurship Management Bill
Administrative Structure Bills
Investment Promotion Bill
Early Childhood Bill
Water and Sanitation Services Bill
Medical Stores Bill
Historic Resources Bill
Arts Center Bill
Sand Harvesting Regulations
Charcoal Burning Regulations
Cemeteries and Burial Sites Bill
Sol
Lastly, but not least, I want to express my appreciation to my family for their unwavering support.
I Thank You all
God Bless You All ! God Bless Kajiado, God Bless Kenya
H.E JOSEPH OLE LENKU,EGH
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