Oil resources will be used to benefit all Kenyans, says PM @RailaOdinga

Oil resources will be used to benefit all Kenyans, says PM @RailaOdinga 

Pime Minister Raila Odinga became the first presidential candidate in Africa to use the live stream - social media technology in a political campaign. The PM answered questions from Kenyans across the globe, on the early morning show Friday, hosted on his website,www.raila-odinga.com.

The Prime Minister said that oil recently discovered in Turkana will be exploited to the full benefit of all Kenyans, if he is elected president in the coming elections. He said that as opposed to examples in many African countries where oil has been a curse, he will ensure that the mineral is used to transform Kenya’s economy for the good of the citizens.

“We will transform the country from a resource-poor to a resource rich nation. Presently our country is energy deficient. This makes energy expensive, thus making our products uncompetitive. We must invest in energy, and the oil has come as a blessing,” the PM said in response to questions on how to improve the economy

The PM said that apart from increasing agricultural production and food security by initiating massive irrigation projects in areas currently considered arid like Wajir, Marsabit and Turkana, his government will promote value addition and empower farmers through the provision and subsidization of farm inputs. He used the example of Malawi, which has transformed itself from a food-poor nation to a regional breadbasket after adopting farmer-friendly economic policies.

“In doing all these, we will be able to create jobs in our rural areas. It is jobs. It is jobs. It is jobs. That’s what Kenyans need. To do this, we must move to exploit other resources as well and also diversify by investing in other sectors, including technology,” the PM said.

“We must invest in and improve our infrastructure. We must move to invest in our infrastructure in order to build our economy and create jobs. I will champion the expansion of highways and the building of railways and roads to ensure all the counties are connected and accessible,” the PM added.

He said for the country to move forward, tribalism and corruption must be tackled as the two greatest enemies of nationhood and development.

“This country must be united. Yet ours is still a very divided country where we live in ethnic compartments. We will create national values to help kill tribalism. Corruption must be dealt with surgically like cancer. Institutions dealing with corruption like the police, the courts and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, must be strengthened to make them more effective in fighting corruption. We must also be ready to re-evaluate our values as a country,” he said.

He called upon Kenyans to conserve the environment, saying this would form the foundation of a green economy. “I appeal to Kenyans not to invade forests,” he said.

He said he will ensure fiscal discipline and acute drop in government spending by putting in place measures against waste and leakages of government resources, observing that currently up to 85 percent of government revenue is consumed by the recurrent budget.

The PM responded also to questions on universal health care, climate change, security and land.

The live streaming interactive session shall be held once every week to allow the PM to personally and directly respond to issues being raised by Kenyans.