President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and NASA's Raila Odinga (right). [Photo/standardmedia.co.ke]It is exactly 40 days before Kenyans go to the general election, whose date is August 8.
The two main horses in the race - Jubilee Party and The National Super Alliance (Nasa) - unveiled their manifestos on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
President Uhuru Kenyatta (Jubilee) will be seeking a second term in office, while his rival, Raila Odinga (Nasa) will be eyeing the presidency for the fourth time.
Mr Kenyatta beat Mr Odinga in the 2013 polls.
Jubilee launched their manifesto on June 26, 2017. [Photo/PSCU]
Here's a summary of what both Jubilee and Nasa are promising Kenyans:
The Jubilee Party 10-point manifesto include:
1. To create 1.3 million jobs every year and work with county governments to establish at least one industry in every county.
2. To establish a government sponsored apprenticeship programme of up to 12 months for all university and TVET graduates.
3. To double the number of vulnerable citizens supported through the cash transfer programme (Inua Jamii) from 700,000 to 1,400,000. This will include all citizens above the age of 70; in addition, all citizens above the age of 70 will obtain health insurance cover through the NHIF.
4. To expand the free primary school programme to include free day public secondary schools in Kenya.
5. To facilitate mass housing production of at least 500,000 affordable homes in 5 years across the country by working in partnership with financial institutions, private developers, manufacturers of building materials and cooperatives to deliver homes faster and reduce the cost of construction by at least 50%.
6. To expand free maternity care to include government funded NHIF cover for every expectant mother for one year.
7. To ensure every citizen is connected to reliable and affordable electricity (on or off-grid) by 2020.
8. To expand food and agricultural production, double the fertiliser subsidy initiative, reducing the cost to farmers to less than Ksh1, 500. Expand the programme to include all crops with a resultant increase in production and support the expansion and capacity of local fertiliser manufacture.
to complete the 57-large-scale dam construction programme, support small-holder agricultural irrigation and work with the private sector to enhance food and agricultural production on at least 1.2 million acres.
9. To make government more transparent and accountable through the digitisation of all government procurement; expand and deliver e-government services through the growing network of Huduma Centres.
10. The President started his tour of Tharaka Nithi in Mukuthima and is due to address a total of ten rallies in different parts of the County.
Nasa principals dance during the launch of their manifesto on June 27, 2017. [Photo/rao.co.ke]
Nasa’s 16 point manifesto include:
1. Infrastructure: Dual road from Mombasa- Nairobi- Nakuru- Kericho Junction (to Kisumu-Busia-Malaba)- to Eldoret. 2. Free Primary and Secondary Education: From September, immediately after swearing in. 3. Electric Train: To improve SGR to electric train from Mombasa- Nairobi- Naivasha- Eldoret- Kisumu- Kakamega- all to Malaba reconnecting Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia to ease trade. 4. Boost Farming: Farmers will receive support, good rates for their products and continued flow of production like it's done in Egypt. 5. Uniting Kenyans: Kenya will belong to all and for all, our government will run on an open interaction basis including all Kenyans without regional imbalances. 6. Historical Injustices: To solve with peace and reach consensus with families who have faced problems with their lands, IDPs and livestock to make Kenyans proud of their country. 7. Increased exportation: Kenyans are known for farming and creativity. We will create an enabling environment for exports of Miraa, Tea, Coffee, Flowers, cereals, technology to expand our per capita. 8. Job Creation: To achieve this, Nasa will promote empowerment in various sectors, promote investors in our country, promote private companies, promote local production. Unlike today, we kill our entrepreneurs while importing even labour from China, promote counties forming various economic blocks. 9. Security: To achieve, Nasa will ensure peace and security across the borders, we will devolve security to ensure each county is well equipped and vast in protecting her citizens, we will retain chiefs and DOs equipping them accordingly to report any security alarming issue, our forces while also receive advanced weapons and machinery needed for security. 10. Devolution: Nasa will ensure more resources are channeled to the county government to promote growth and development, in years to come, we want to see Nakuru become our New Jersey, Kisumu- New York, Meru- California, Machakos- Florida, Murang'a- Hawaii, Nyeri- Texas, Busia- Pennsylvania, Kakamega- Alaska, Migori- Alabama, Homa Bay- Michigan, Kisii- Ohio, Bomet- Georgia, Eldoret- Virginia and etc that is why we fought for devolved government, you must elect competent governors. 11. Rent: Living in our own nation should not be exogenous, through the constitution, we will control land rates, lower rents and mortgage rates for Kenyans to concentrate on developing our economy. 12. Lower Prices of Basic Commodities: Nasa government will not sleep in expense of our citizens, we will carry out research, welcome experts views to control prices of basic commodities, ensure availability and production. 13. Lower P.A.Y.E: Nasa government will pay our citizens according to their efforts, reward them genuinely and lower taxes on their income to take care of their families. Nurses, Doctors, Teachers, all Civil Servants, Jua Kali, police and even private sector will be entitled to good pay. 14. Pension For The Old: Equal distribution to our elders will be mandatory, we will ensure steady health for us to continue learning from them, breeding wisdom. 15. Health Sector: Nasa will work with Our Doctors Union to build advanced hospitals in each county. We should be able to handle advanced diseases including cancers without going abroad, instead our countries will be flying in for our expertise. 16. Youth, Women and Persons Living with disabilities: Our Youths are the future of our nation. We will empower them to be productive. We will empower women to boost our economy, we will ensure persons living with disabilities are not seen as a burden to comfortable and productive in our nation.