Samwel Kumba and Jeff Otieno
7 August 2008
Nairobi — The Government has set priority areas for ministries under a new partnership with the private sector aimed at improving service delivery to Kenyans.
Making the announcement at Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the significance of the partnership is to accelerate the process in which Kenyans witness rapid transformation in their lives.
The PM spelt out expected actions and implementation timeframes from both the Government and the private sector.
The move targets a 10 per cent gross domestic product growth rate. The declaration was a result of the Prime Minister's round table discussions with the private sector that started on Tuesday.
"Under this new engagement framework, ministries will meet with business management organisations under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister on a quarterly basis to report implementation progress, identify critical issues for fast-tracking and point to obstacles."
During the press briefing, the PM said issues arising from the quarterly meetings shall be consolidated and submitted to a delivery unit to be established at his office for the necessary follow-up.
Mr Odinga also announced that the Government will involve the private sector in negotiations and trade representations and discuss issues with concerned sectors before going out of the country for representation.
The PM called for effective Cabinet committees' engagement with the private sector, rather than as individual ministries, when cross-cutting issues arise.
There are six cabinet committees which include: finance, administration and planning, infrastructure, services, security, productive sectors and public private partnership which is meant to provide investment.
The Prime Minister outlined, for each ministry, the immediate priorities it is expected to address.
-Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security is to reduce police roadblocks on the Northern Corridor from 47 to 15 by the end of this calendar year. It is also expected to co-ordinate private sector and Government efforts to make linkages on issues which can curb crime.
-Industrialisation ministry to help Jua Kali (informal) entrepreneurs, who number in the millions, to move towards industrial strength.
-Ministry of Agriculture to facilitate the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) to access domestic and offshore lending at 8 per cent and get banks to devote certain percentage of lending to agriculture. It will also remove Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) levies on fresh produce, all in the current financial year.
-Ministry of East African Community should strengthen its coordinating capacity by staffing it at appropriate levels within the current quarter.
-Ministry of Energy to ensure there is no power outage for Central Business Districts (CBDs) and industrial areas through Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC). KPLC is also to make monthly reporting of outages.
-Finance ministry to set up a private/public sector committee to harmonise all the revenue acts.
-Local government ministry is to immediately review multiplicity of levies and charges. Circular No 12 and 13 of June 8, 2007 on allowable fees and charges to be gazetted immediately. It has also been tasked to improve security in Nairobi and facilitate a 24 hour city with the completion of CCTV installation within 12 months.
-Transport to ensure the Port of Mombasa operates 24 hours, 7 days a week including all the required agencies immediately.
-The ministry of Roads to reduce weighbridges within Kenya to two, repair Enterprise Road in 8 months and rehabilitate Mau Summit-Kericho-Kisumu Road by December. It will also privatise the weighbridge at Mariakani, Athi River and Gilgil and bids have already been received.
-Environment ministry to publicise the environment as the foundation for sustainable development and strengthen National Environmental Management Authority.
-Lands ministry to prioritise implementation of the national land policy, Land use policy and land information management systems.
-Information and Communication ministry to provide a payment gateway and harmonise e-transactions bill with banking Act.
-Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs to decisively treat past corruption cases from Goldenberg to the Ndung'u Land Report.
-The Ministry of State for Public Service has to prioritise public sector stakeholder partnership (PSSP) policy to institutionalise private sector and Government engagement.
-Ministry of Trade to integrate private sector as partners in all missions to promote investment and market access, and provide market infrastructure for retail and wholesale markets.
On Agenda IV on the Constitution Review the PM said: "An implementation committee has been set up. Through the work of this committee, three bills have been published namely: the Constitutional Review, the Constitutional Amendment Bill and the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Bill."
He said that the Government must create an enabling environment for Private Sector growth, which also must respect the primacy of Government to make the ultimate decisions that will provide Kenyans with a new life.
"This partnership is an example of the new culture of 'business unusual' in Kenya. We together are Team Kenya, and we will deliver for Kenyans."
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