By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU ashiundu@ke.nationmedia.com ( email the author)
Posted Sunday, February 10 2013 at 16:30
Posted Sunday, February 10 2013 at 16:30
Amani coalition presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi on Sunday launched his manifesto with a promise to ensure that peace, reconciliation and security for the 40 million Kenyans, if elected in the March 4 General Election.
Addressing hundreds of party supporters who thronged the grounds at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Mr Mudavadi termed the Amani manifesto as “real”.
He said he has been in government long enough to know what can be done, and what can’t be done.
“I know what is probable, what is possible, and what is imponderable,” he added.
Top of his list is heavy investment in education, food security and the infrastructure projects under the national development roadmap, the Kenya Vision 2030.
The rollout of devolved governments, the fight against corruption and the redressing the so-called “historical land injustices” will also be a priority for the Mudavadi-led government.
The State will pay for education of the country’s children from nursery, through primary to secondary school, he said.
“State funded free nursery, primary and secondary education is not an enticement for your vote. It is a must do because it is the catalyst to a revamped economy and an avenue for inclusivity for the marginalised, minorities, youth and women. It is not grandstanding; it is real and achievable. It is what Kenyans have spoken about,” he told his supporters.
Retirees, ex-prisoners, ex-freedom fighters, the physically and mentally disabled will all be put under a welfare programme set up by the State.
“This will involve giving them access to subsidised healthcare, education, housing and allowances for sustenance of their livelihood,” reads the Amani manifesto.
Mr Mudavadi’s plan will also ensure that there are tax breaks for welfare institutions.
He also has promised to “bring down the price of food by eliminating import duties and other taxes on basic foodstuffs such as wheat, maize and rice”.
He also promised jobs – two million jobs through production of oil producing crops; 500,000 in the dairy sector; 60,000 jobs per year from small enterprises—and pledged to get half of the poor people in the country get into middle-class bracket.
Though his manifesto promised to grow the economy based on exports, it also proposes heavy investment in agriculture and infrastructure.
He’s focused on value-addition of agricultural produce. Reducing the cost of power, fast-tracking the building of Lamu Port and the Konza City are also top of the list.
Privatisation of the Mombasa Port, building the standard-gauge railway from Mombasa to Kampala, and expanding the Mombasa - Nairobi - Malaba road to a dual carriageway –all projects that have been on the government’s plans since the launch of the Kenya Vision 2030—are some of those that Mr Mudavadi will seek to implement.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s manifesto is also keen on the oil, gas, coal and gold discovered in Turkana, Lamu, Kitui and Migori.
The idea is that when he gets to power, the bulk of the proceeds from these resources will be ploughed back into the communities.
Mr Mudavadi said his proposals had taken on board the available resources and the difficulties in the collection of revenue by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
In the first half of the current financial year, the KRA missed its target by a whopping Sh34 billion.
“This means we don't have the money for grandiose dream projects, the kind I have read about lately,” said Mr Mudavadi.
KRA said it collected Sh80 billion by December last year, less than 50 per cent of the Sh881.2 billion that the taxman was hoping to net this year.
“We therefore must make real choices between those who promise heaven but will lead us to hell; and those of us who remain grounded on the optimism that together as a nation we will not run away from the difficulties ahead,” said Mr Mudavadi.
He repeated his refrain about a “safe pair of hands” as President Kibaki leaves office, and told Kenyans that they “do not want to go into a transition or exit one when we are uncertain and polarised.”
He also waded into the international controversy over the fate of the Jubilee coalition pair Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, who are accused of crimes against humanity, but who have a real chance of clinching the presidency.
Diplomats from the US, France, Switzerland and European Union have threatened Kenya with international isolation if the ICC-accused get into office.
“We are not an island; we live in a village called the world. When the recession coughs in Europe, we suffer the pangs of prolonged economic stagnation here. An economy that has collapsed does not create conditions for peace. We therefore must avoid the temptation to wish away out development partners. That kind of naivety can only mean we suffocate the gains we have so far struggled to attain,” said Mr Mudavadi.
He told the duo not to “play with the lives of 40 million Kenyan”.
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