President Uhuru Kenyatta. Photo: @Ukenyatta-twitter.com
The Government has set aside Sh6 billion this year to improve infrastructure in public secondary schools to ensure all pupils who sit for their final class eight exams transit to secondary school next year, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.
President Kenyatta said his Administration is committed to ensuring that no Kenyan child is denied a chance to acquire secondary education as part of its effort to lay the foundation for youth empowerment.
“We are moving towards making education compulsory as part of our plan of laying a solid foundation for youth empowerment,” President Kenyatta said.
The Head of State – who was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and a host of Kisii leaders – made the announcement Wednesday during a leaders meeting at Nyanturago in Kisii County.
Saying the Jubilee Government has a vision for the country’s transformation, President Kenyatta said his Administration has started putting up technical training institutes and by 2019 every constituency in the country will have a technical training facility to equip the youth with skills that will earn them income.
“That is one way we are using to create employment and end poverty,” President Kenyatta said.
He said his Administration also recognised the importance of improved infrastructure in economic growth and has embarked on an aggressive journey of tarmacking roads across the country to make up for over 25 years that the country lagged behind in development as a result of negative politics.
The President pointed out that the Government has set aside Kshs 22 billion to tarmack over 400 kilometres of road in Nyamira and Kisii counties.
“That is not a mirage or empty talk. We are upgrading roads not only in Nyamira and Kisii counties but across the country,” President Kenyatta said.
The President, who is on the second day of his tour of the Gusii counties to launch development projects as well as inspect ongoing ones – urged the Abagusii community to join majority of Kenyans in supporting Jubilee which is focused on development and transforming the country.
President Kenyatta also addressed the youth at a town hall meeting where he challenged them to vote for Jubilee leaders who have the interest to transform their lives.
He said the youth hold the future of the country and urged them not to gamble with their votes by supporting Opposition leaders who have no agenda to improve their lives.
The President said the Jubilee agenda is to improve the country’s infrastructure by constructing roads, building railway, connecting electricity to households and putting up technical training institutes among other projects to empower the youth.
“As youth, you must think carefully before casting your vote,” the Head of State said.
He observed that countries like Singapore and Thailand were now ahead of Kenya in development because they put emphasis on development, saying for 25 years before the Jubilee Government Kenya lagged behind because of negative politics.
“As Jubilee, I want to assure you that we have a plan to transform your lives. This is why we ask for your support come the August elections so that we continue with our agenda of having a country that we can all be proud of,” he said.
He added: “We are putting in place policies that can bring our country back on track as far as development matters are concerned and to achieve that we require your support.”
Deputy President Ruto said the Government was building the railway, roads and technical training institutes because its agenda is to create more job opportunities for Kenyans and move the country to greater heights in development.
“When we say we have a plan for the youth, we have it unlike our opponents who do not have any plan for the country’s young people apart from spreading propaganda and divisive politics,” the Deputy President said.
The Kisii leaders and youth thanked the President and his deputy for the development projects implemented in their county, assuring them of their support in the August polls.
They said during the 2013 election they were misled into voting for the Opposition but they will not be caught in the NASA web of deceit in August.