Congratulations President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta
and deputy William Ruto for winning the election in round one. This was
surely a digital win. We have to be over with celebrations on Tuesday as
a lot of work is pending. Here is a list of five key expectations.
First we need a hands-on president. Remember you
once criticised President Kibaki for being hands-off, eyes-off,
ears-off, legs-off and everything-off.
We hope you will be a more hands-on President
though we do not ask for a President who is all over our lives. We are
asking for a healthy balance of having a hands-on president but
respecting and allowing the democratic space to thrive. A hands-on
president will need to put in more than eight hours of work daily and
skip any afternoon naps lest they are picked up by media!
Two, we need a gender sensitive president. The
fairer gender members are delighted to see you and your deputy
surrounded by the three most important women in life – mother, wife and
daughter. You have started well by asking that your wife holds the Bible
as you take the oath on Tuesday.
You recently held a meeting with women leaders in
which you made promises, among them, appointment of women to strategic
decision making positions honouring the 2/3 gender rule and going
beyond.
Mr President, reach out for 50-50 gender parity in
appointments to the Cabinet and Principal Secretaries. We ask Mr
President that you appoint women to some critical portfolios, simply the
real government – Security, Agriculture, Finance, Justice, Foreign
Affairs, Health and Education.
In matters of women agenda, we pray for a match of
words and actions – kusema na kutenda. We await appointment of a gender
advisor in the Office of the President. Mr President be the champion of
women rights including difficult topics like inheritance by daughters.
You and your deputy must be honorary women!
Remember the Women Representatives are yet to get offices in Nairobi and
at the county level and have no budget for their work, do find a role
for them in your leadership for instance in the Women Enterprise Fund.
Women of Kenya expect a lot from the Jubilee government.
Three, be Big Brother to the Youth. Mr President
given your youthful demeanour and the powerful shoulder greeting that
you have perfected, we ask of you to be a big brother to the youth of
this country. Together with your deputy, hustler number one, you form a
powerful team that can find solutions to most of the youth problems.
We are confident you can find solutions as you had implemented the Stimulus Programme (kindly consider its reinstatement).
Mr President you have promised that 30 per cent of
government contracts will go to the youth and women. Ensure that this
is implemented both at national level and county governments. Support
and fund capacity building initiatives for the youth and women to be
able to take advantage of all the policy reforms your government will
introduce including the zero interest loans.
Mr President you have spoken about issues of
sports, arts and culture. Under your government cause rapid development
of sports in Kenya both national and county levels. Consider funding the
nascent film industry in Kenyan and theatre. Pray, with increased
security attend some plays!
Four, be keen on international relations. Mr
President support the opening up of Kenya to the international world.
Check and negotiate relationships with all African countries. Negotiate
relationships with European countries for instance Italy and pursue
direct flights from Kenya to the United States. Travel opens doors,
ideas, jobs and business.
Five, be keen on inclusion and participation of
all in Kenya’s development. Mr President continue to meet different
groups and stakeholders inviting them to take their rightful place in
pursuit of development.
Affirm and validate all Kenyans. Try to rebuild
the role of the church and religions groups as the moral compass of our
society. Do not confine yourself to any one or few groups.
Bon Chance Mr President, we remain committed to
working with you for a better Kenya. We support your government and your
agenda. God bless Kenya.
Priscilla Nyokabi Kanyua is Women Representative, Nyeri County
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