The Merits of the Big Four Agenda

During this year’s Jamhuri Day celebrations, President Uhuru Kenyatta gave a speech that sounded like a sequel to the one he gave on the same day a year earlier. He spoke of the progress of his Big Four Agenda since he unveiled it in 2017.

Through this ambitious plan, President Uhuru wants to curve for himself a legacy by the time he leaves office. By 2022, his administration hopes to put up half a million low-cost houses, create jobs by revamping the manufacturing sector, provide food to all Kenyans, and ensure access to healthcare services.

“The Big Four Agenda responds to these needs. It is an accelerated development agenda designed to help us achieve the social and economic pillars of our Vision 2030 and the 2010 Constitution,” said the President in his speech.

Merits

Treasury said achievement of the Big Four plan necessitated prudent management of available public resources and the Government would continue to strengthen expenditure control and improve the efficiency of public spending through public financial management reforms.

Free services

“The residents of Isiolo, Kisumu, Nyeri, and Machakos counties will receive free health care services in all health facilities from their local centres all the way to the referral facilities,” said the President.

Uhuru also launched the first housing project under the affordable housing project (AHP). Plans are underway for construction of 1,500 low-cost homes on Nairobi’s Park Road estate in Ngara. This is after the contract was awarded to a Chinese firm.

Activities in the other two pillars, however, have not been as visible.

In the current financial year, the Government intends to pour billions into the Big Four. It has allocated Sh2.4 billion to support value addition in manufacturing in a bid to increase the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) to 15 per cent by 2022.

About Sh20 billion was set aside to enhance food and nutrition security for all Kenyans. Provision of affordable and decent housing for all Kenyans got Sh6.5 billion. It is universal healthcare that will receive the most funds, after the Government allocated Sh44.6 billion to the pillar.

The anchors of the Big Four Plan include allocation to counties, leveraging on information, communication and technology, ensuring equity and reduction of poverty, environment management and protection, flood control and water harvesting.

Other enablers of Big Four include enhancing access and transforming education system, investing in infrastructure to unlock growth potential and enhanced security for investment, growth and employment.

What do you think the government should do to achieve more in the Big Four Agenda?

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