Planning assistant minister Peter Kenneth has become the first Presidential candidate to release his election manifesto. He listed 13 sectors he will give priority if Kenyans elect him to succeed Kibaki. National security, food security and employment infrastructure, health care, education, tourism, slum upgrade, water, agriculture, diaspora, environment and manufacturing are the areas the Gttanga MP wants to concentrate on once he gets elected.
This is the most significant step Kenneth has taken since he declared his interest in the Presidency. He is expected to contest on a Kenya National Congress Party which unsuccessfully fielded candidates in Juja and Kitutu Masaba by-elections where they finished second and third respectively. “look at all of us and dismiss the noise makers. Let us look for a leader who will serve the entire country. So all i ever want is to work for you. That is all,” said Kenneth while on a campaign train in Tharaka Nithi. “I do not want to be anybody’s running mate. I want to work for Kenyans,” said Kenneth.
A part from Kenneth, a host of other politicians have either declared their interests or are widely expected to contest. They are Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta and Internal Security minister George Saitoti. The list also includes Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula, Gichugu MP Martha Karua, Gachoka legislator Mutava Musyimi and former Mps Raphael Tuju and Paul Muite. For national security, Kenneth says his administration will prioritize increasing the number of police officers, equip the force with state-of-the-art communications and crime-fighting equipment and also invest in training and re-training of the officers.
Kenneth has also promised to establish metropolitan police units in all the cities and computerize the police department to ensure easy tracking of criminals and their activities. “I will be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. I will drastically reduce crime throughout the country within the first three years of my administration,” he says in the blue print posted on his website page http://www.peterkenneth.com.
For health care, the assistant minister says his administration will usher in national health insurance for all, and build or upgrade the existing health facilities in each of the 47 Counties to the level of a referral hospital in the next three years. He has also said he will set aside Sh 1 billion per County for building or upgrading the facilities in the first year and Sh 1 billion in the subsequent year for equipment.
On employment, Kenneth has said the administration will strive to sustain annual GDP growth rate of 10 percent hence creating more employment and self-employment opportunities. On education, enumerated include raising its budget and employing more teachers as well as advancing their skills. On food security, the assistant minister has enumerated among others increasing strategic food reserves, reduction of post-harvest losses and establishing a strategic food policy.
As per the new constitution the the winner of the presidential race will be required to have more than half of all the votes cast and also at least twenty-five per cent of the votes cast in each of more than half of the counties. Planning assistant minister Peter Kenneth has released his campaign manifesto, becoming the first 2012 presidential aspirant to enumerate to the country what he will do if elected into State House.
Kenneth has listed 13 sectors as his priority areas in case he ascends to presidency which includes national security, food security and employment. Other major issues are infrastructure, health care, education, tourism, slum upgrade, water, agriculture, diaspora, environment and manufacturing.
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