The revival of the economy is one of the major talking points by leading presidential candidates ahead of the August 9 General Election.
The Kenya Kwanza Alliance has been at the forefront in criticizing President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration over the high cost of living being witnessed in the country.
Through the bottom-up economic model, Kenya Kwanza has promised to liberalize the dwindling economy.
Speaking at Kasarani Stadium on Thursday, June 30, the United Democratic Alliance presidential flag bearer unveiled an ambitious bottom-up plan aimed at reenergizing the country’s economy.
“Triple down economic model has failed because personal interests override the public interest where selective interest in policy and legislation supersedes the common good.
“It is based on an assumption that the market is properly governed and regulated. But most often, the market is captured by cartels driving it to monopolistic and duopolistic tendencies,” said Ruto.
n the Kenya Kwanza Alliance manifesto launched by Ruto, radical reforms in agriculture and transforming micro, small and medium enterprises, or MSMEs is the only way of rescuing the ailing economy.
In the Agriculture sector, Ruto to offer capital to the farmers to a tune of Ksh 250 billion in the next 5 years to reduce over-dependence on basic food imports.
The DP pledged to transform two million poor farmers from a food deficit to surplus producers through input finance and intensive agricultural extension support.
“We commit to revamping underperforming or collapsed export crops while expanding emerging ones such as coffee and boosting the tea value chain,” Ruto said.
The second in command has also pledged to provide Ksh 50 billion dubbed ‘hustlers fund’ per year to fund small businesses and start-ups.
“We will establish MSME business development centers in every ward, and an industrial park and business incubation center in every TVET institution,” the manifesto states.
In the housing sector, DP Ruto plans to deliver 250,000 housing units per year while looking to increase mortgages from the current 30,000 to 1 million together with establishing the Settlement Fund.
At the same, the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government will be giving incentives to developers so that they can build more affordable housing.
According to the UDA presidential flag bearer, a well-thought housing plan will create thousands of jobs for the country.
In the manufacturing sector, Ruto’s government plans to establish factories in various parts of the country.
Kenya Kwanza Alliance has earmarked to set up leather industries in Athi River, Narok, and Wajir countries as the areas have ready raw materials.
Kenya will become the leading exporter of textile products as Ruto plans to establish garment and textile industries across the country.
“The Kenya Kwanza government will work with the apparel export industry to develop a viable cotton raw material supply chain,” he said in the manifesto.
In the ICT and Creative economy, Ruto’s administration promises to construct 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic connectivity network.
The Kenya Kwanza government aims to roll out fiber to counties, villages, schools, and over 24,000 businesses and homes.
