Author Reference
Lango,
B. (2017). List of 10 projects that will change Kenya
in the new political calendar 2017-2022. Intel Fire Group of Companies Blog.
Nairobi, Kenya. June 17, 2017.
The fact that Kenya will be holding
its election in August this year is common knowledge to both its citizens and
those having interests in the country’s activities. This election will usher in
a new a political calendar that either will have the same faces with the same
script or different faces playing the same script (read either way the script is the same). However what will stand
out is the major development projects that are implemented in every political
calendar of a country and for Kenya’s case this will be the next five years.
The focus of this article is the five years between 2017- 2022 and without
mentioning extensively the last five years as the author is a non-member and
non-partisan in the political conduits of the major parties and independent
candidates. Politics aside, this are the major projects that will change Kenya
if considered for full implementation in the year 2017 - 2022:
1. Development of resort cities in Diani, Kilifi,
Lamu, and Turkana Project
Focusing on the economic pillar of
development, this project is posed to improve the overall GDP of the country
once completed. The vision 2030 documented plan indicated these projects were
to be done between the period 2008 and 2012 which formed the Medium Term Plan 1
(MTP 1). Records from various quotas and particularly from the Kenya Vision
2030 website (www.vision2030.go.ke), indicates that this project has
not been started and is behind schedule. The project seeks to make Diani,
Kilifi, Lamu, and Turkana major tourism and vacationing towns affordable not
only to the international visitors but also the local Kenyans who would like to
take a break from their busy lifestyles. Remember is real money is leisure
activities that is why taking a break from work means spending more and Kenyans
generally spend more during holidays than any other period.
2. Building of ten (10) tier 1 markets Project
This project when completed as
envisioned in Kenya vision 2030 will ensure that at least every region within
the country has one specific market (call
it tier 1 if you like) that is considered the largest and well known in
providing mostly agricultural products from its location and enjoys both
national and international recognition and acceptance. The main objective of
the project is to create an increased economic activity in its location and
creating jobs through localization of the market. It should be noted that the
tier 1 market project is completely different from the refurbishing of existing
markets around the country. This project has not been implemented but listed as
one of the flagship projects in MTP 2 (2013-2017) with a pilot project to be
done in Athi River Kenya. From general reports on the mainstream media
platforms in the country, the project has commenced with a design plan and
feasibility study being conducted.
3. Building of ten (10) wholesale hub market
Project
This is one of the projects where Unga would have been distributed easily
if it was in place as at the time this article was written. Why? The wholesale
hub market is a vision 2030 dream to create at least a model wholesale market
in every region in the country where prices can be regulated and the farmers
get value for their hard work without the middlemen. This project if completed
in the political calendar 2017-2022 will ensure that inefficiencies in supply
of basic commodities are addressed and at the same time create direct jobs at
the local level. According to vision 2030 MTP 1 implementation 10 such
wholesale hubs were to be built with the first model market being done in
Maragua a town in central part of Kenya. Kenya Resilience Investment Tracker
(KRIT) indicates that Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has funded the
pre-feasibility study for creating the pilot wholesale hub in Maragua. Kenya is
basically an agricultural economy and this project is of fundamental importance
as it will support the retail chain in basic commodities supply while
eliminating the middlemen that makes the price go higher. What will happen to
the middlemen if they do not open their own retail hubs is a project for
another article.
4. Establishment of Konza Technology City Project
Poised as the blue-chip hub, the
project, which is on-going, is intended to make Kenya a Business Process
Outsourcing (BPO) destination both locally and internationally by increasing
the demand of BPO services from Kenya globally. The project phase in MTP1
(2008-2012) was most active with the master plan and SEZA study reports being
done. It is also one of the flagship project that boast of a specific
development authority to steer its operations. The Konza Technology Development
Authority (KOTDA) was gazzeted by the government to champion Konza course in a
5, 000 acres of land to grow into a community of over 200, 000 attracting 17,
000 jobs and help Kenya attain the middle income status by 2030. Who would not
want to implement this project and leave a legacy to be remembered for ages?
5. Revision of education and training curriculum
Project
This is the project that the famous
Dr. Matiangi is implementing partly in the education system and partly being
implemented by the ministry of planning and devolution in youth polytechnics
and middle-level technical colleges. For the education system the project
proposes a 2-6-3-3-3 system where one would take 2 years in early year nursery
school, 6 years in primary school, 3 years in lower secondary, 3 years in upper
secondary, and finally 3 years in university. This is on course and expected to
be completed in 2022 when the current learners in the current system are
completely phased-out. On the other hand, the training curriculum for youth polytechnics
is being improved to ensure the learners are impacted with skills that are
demand-driven as well as instill behavioral and life skills that changes the
youth characters that is currently eroded. Do not be cheated that one does not
require a degree in heaven or earth as the world keeps on changing and with
knowledge you can change the world for a better purpose in heaven.
6. One billion tree planting Project
This is a vision 2030 flagship
project with the aim of planting one billion trees in Kenya to improve on
forest cover and minimize the effects of global warming. In 2007 Kenya planted
455 million trees in contribution to the United Nations Environmental Programme
(UNEP) “One billion tree” initiative.
In order to address food security in Kenya, this project must be started and
seen to completion in the period 2017-2022. The developers of MTP 3 (2017-2022)
must therefore take into consideration seriousness of this project as it has a
direct impact on the quality of life and a threat to human existence if
ignored. They say responsible live for today to ensure your children’s children
have a future to live for.
7. The 24 medium sized multipurpose Dams Project
With the main aim of increasing the
total water capacity to 2 billion cubic meters, the 24 medium sized dams will
supply water for domestic, livestock, and irrigation use in ASAL areas. The
envisioned 24 dams in Kenya vision 2030 are: Bunyunyu; Munyu; Londiani; Itare;
Upper Narok; Chemesusu; Kiserian; Yatta; Kitui; Mwingi; Thwake; Rare; Thiba;
Umma; Rumuruti; Badasa; Archer’s Post; Awasi; Kora; Ndarugu; Mwachi; Ruiru A;
Siyoi; and Nyahuru. From the list it evident that the most talked about dams “Umma” and “Itare” are the most common due to political interests but at
whatever costs these dams should be built to change the lives of Kenyans in
regions with perennial water problems and the dams are covering the whole
country (Not a campaign statement).
8. Phase 2 standard gauge railway project From
Nairobi to Kisumu
Now that the first phase of the
standard gauge railway is complete, the focus is now on the phase 2 of the
project which will start from Nairobi to Kisumu. Even though the political
focus has been on the Nairobi – Naivasha route, the 2nd phase covers
the distance up to Kisumu in western part of Kenya. The main objective of the
project will be to provide a modern high speed, high capacity standard gauge
railway for passengers and freight to reduce load capacities on roads hence
reducing the rapid road damage while providing a safe and rapid intercity
passenger transport.
9. The Nairobi – Mombasa Superhighway Project
The project which is a political
vision 2017 and one that has already been commenced by some quotas seeks to
build a six-lane superhighway from Nairobi to Mombasa to ease the traffic from
both towns. This project once completed would open up the areas between the two
major towns making travelling to both towns an event that will be economically
sustainable even to the most time conscious of all. It is also common knowledge
that in order to open up a village, build infrastructure and this project will
further open the village towns along the corridor including Machakos, Kibwezi,
Mtito Andei, Makueni, Voi and others.
10. The Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru
Surveillance Camera Project
This project has been dubbed the
urban centers private eyes with the main aim of enhancing security in urban
centers to enable harmonious living and doing of business. The camera project
dubbed in the city as “Kidero cameras” albeit
not has been implemented all over Nairobi CBD and its environs. This project is
currently being implemented in other major urban centers of Mombasa, Kisumu and
Nakuru. The project which is run by the national government is a Kenya vision
2030 flagship project to improve on the security status of major urban centers
in Kenya and improve on business hours that will herald the 24-hour economy.
These projects have been randomly
selected for inclusion in this list and are not categorised into the various
pillars of development.
The writer is a PhD Generalist in
Safety Service Delivery and Project Management.
