The Government would like to counter allegations against its record of achievements in various sectors of the economy by the Hon. Raila Odinga and state as follows;

It is not true that Kenya today is affected by poverty, insecurity, poor education, inadequate health services, absence of opportunity disempowerment as alleged by Hon. Raila. It is also wrong to impute that Kenyans are plagued by hopelessness and despair. At no other time have Kenyans been as optimistic since independence as they are now, full of hope for our country, since the Government of President Mwai Kibaki came to power.

Kenyans are well aware of the facts as they are and let the truth be told. Kenya’s economy has grown at a tremendous rate from 0.2% in 2002 to all high 5.8% in 2006. Health services have greatly improved and Kenyans now have a better and affordable health care. For example, all children under the age of five years now receive free medical attention in all government health institutions, HIV/Aids patients get free ARVs, medicines are available in all public health centres across the country, TB and Malaria treatment is free in all government health institutions. In conjunction with these services, health institutions have been boosted through building of more than 1,000 new dispensaries and funds availed for rehabilitation as well as operation of the health centres with each health centre receiving Ksh.180,000 and dispensaries receiving Kshs.240,000 for rehabilitation.

In the area of education, the Government of President Kibaki made Free Primary Education for all Kenyans a priority immediately on assuming power in January 2003. The Government has recently waived tuition fees for secondary school education to make education accessible and increase the progression rates to secondary school. The Government will be employing more teachers to boost education of our children.

The Government has also made empowerment of Kenyans a priority. Money now goes to the grassroots and so far over Kshs. 60,000 has been transferred to each constituency annually. Funds to the grassroots are availed to the people also through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Constituency Bursary Fund, Constituency Roads Fund, Constituency Aids Fund, and the Local Authorities Transfer Fund (LATF).

Opportunities for wealth creation and employment have been created through the 1 billion Youth Enterprise Development Fund, and the proposed Women Development Fund initiatives. The government policies for empowerment of women have also been boosted through the 30% employment policies adopted by the Public Service for all new appointments and promotions. These opportunities have a trickle down effect on the economy of this country as well as the lives of all Kenyans.

All these initiatives offer mitigation against poverty for all Kenyans. The massive reconstruction of roads currently going on all over the country is meant to boost the economic growth of this country as farmers and traders will be able to access markets for their produce and goods.

The Government is committed to the fight against corruption and has employed a zero tolerance towards corruption. Land grabbing in the country has reduced by more than 30%, with issuance of Title Deeds to landless communities at the Coast Province, tackling the issue of absentee landlords and setting aside Kshs.400 to resettle squatters and victims of clashes.

The government is in the process of rehabilitating all transportation infrastructure. In the area of transport and communication, the Government has already put in process the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and other major airports in the country. Towards this end, the Government has set aside Kshs. 9 billion for the upgrading of JKIA, Kshs. 2.6 billion for the Kisumu Airport and Kshs. 200 million for Mombasa International Airport. Other important airports and airstrips around the country are also scheduled for major rehabilitation or reconstruction.

It is a fact that things have become better and they are going to get even better for all Kenyans.

Truth be told, these are the facts.



DR. ALFRED N. MUTUA EBS
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY &
GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON