President Uhuru Kenyatta has said political leadership should not be viewed as an end in itself but a means to inspire positive change in the economy and society.
Speaking in Diani when he addressed the second national leadership summit, co-organised by both Houses of Parliament and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Uhuru said the call and opportunity to lead is a privilege afforded to a few by the people of Kenya.
“It is a responsibility that we must take seriously and we owe it to our people to deliver on commitments we make,” he said.
Noting that in 2013, the country’s economy maintained a positive growth for the first time during an election year because of peace and unity, the President expressed the need to build on that positive experience as the country heads to the 2017 general elections.
He highlighted some of the gains the country has made over the last four years of his administration, citing critical investments and key reform initiatives implemented in line with the Jubilee manifesto and the Kenya Vision 2030 to promote inclusive prosperity of Kenyans.
“In the last three years, we have seen Kenya’s rank in the World Bank Doing Business indicators improve from 137th globally in 2014 to 108th in 2015 and further to 92nd in 2016,” President Kenyatta said.
During the same period, the President said, Kenya has been on the global map as the third-most improved country globally for two consecutive years.
In February this year, Nairobi city was reported to be the most attractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment in Africa, for the first time, displacing Johannesburg in that position.
The President said the business environment reforms his administration has implemented have positioned Kenya in the global map as an economic and a diplomatic powerhouse, attracting major international organizations including multinationals that have set up regional headquarters in Nairobi.
He said security has also improved significantly and most countries have reduced the risk level for Kenya and withdrawn their travel advisories.
“At no time in the history of this country has Kenya played host to so many major international conferences nor have we ever hosted so many sitting Heads of State, including USA and South Africa, who had never visited Kenya before,” he said.
The President commended the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the Mkenya Daima Committee for spearheading sustained dialogue on the importance of safeguarding peace and security.
“It behooves us, as leaders, to join in a common cause and pledge to support this objective.
In the run-up to the 2013 General Elections, many leaders pledged their commitment to peaceful elections and incorporated peace messaging in their campaign messages,” the President said.
The President emphasized that all Kenyans – including the media, civil society, private sector and politicians – have a role to tidying up and telling a good story about the country to the rest of the World.