President Kenyatta: Devolution key to achieving SDGs

Kenyan · 2015-09-28T12:13:51+00:00

President Uhuru Kenyatta has said that devolution is vital in helping the country achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The president reaffirmed his government's commitment to fight corruption and bolster efforts to achieve development goals. "We need to put ourselves in a position where the SDGs agenda is not driven by aid but sustainability and implement an aggressive agenda," he said. He also highlighted the need for the government to streamline its expenditures in order to create a sustainable economy that will be beneficial to the citizens. "The government has to make tough choices in order to implement SDGs, including cutting back on unnecessary expenditure, focussing more on social protection endeavours and expanding safety of the old and children," he said. The President also pointed out the need to cut back on debt and focus on self-sustainability as a way to ensure balanced growth in the country. "We have to work on how we can deal with the debt burdens of the past that sometimes limits our ability to executive some of the programmes that we have." He further pointed out that devolution should play a key role in the attainment of SDGs by using county allocations to initiate development in infrastructure, investment and employment opportunities. "The fund should be used to improve healthcare by setting up property health facilities for mothers to deal with maternal deaths and infant mortality and expand infrastructure and investment opportunities and create employment for people in the counties." Fighting corruption President Kenyatta said that in as much as the government intends to foster development in the country, it is vital that the projects are spread to the counties to improve livelihood in the impoverished parts of Kenya. "We have to ensure not only to do we get the growth that we require but make sure it is equitable and reaches as many people as possible including young people, women and those previously left behind," he said. Answering a question touching on corruption allegations that have marred the Ministry of Devolution which have seen Ksh 791 million lost through fraudulent transactions at the National Youth Service (NYS), Kenyatta called on anti-graft agencies to move with speed and prosecute those involved in corruption. "The most important thing we need to recognise these days is that corruption cannot be swept under the carpet," said President Kenyatta. "Agencies tasked to fight corruption should handle such cases independently and proceed to prosecute them within the shortest time possible." The Head of State, however, warned political factions against constant naming and linking individuals to graft saying Kenyans should let the due process take its course. The President's pronouncements come a day after he spoke at a joint meeting with other heads of states and governments and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon during the launch of Global Strategy for Women, Children and Adolescent's health in New York. In his speech, President Kenyatta reiterated his government's commitment to improve healthcare in the country saying he will undertake all the necessary actions to make sure maternal and child deaths are prevented. The United Nations General Assembly ends on Tuesday. Citizentv

Thread starter Kenyan
Start date Sep 28, 2015

Kenyan

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President Kenyatta: Devolution key to achieving SDGs

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