Wednesday, 2nd May 2018

Your Excellency, Hon. Uhuru

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Further, Article 132(1) (c) requires the President to, among others, once every year, report, in an address to the nation, all the measures taken and the progress achieved in the realisation of the national values set out in Article 10 of the Constitution. In addition, Article 240(7) of the Constitution requires the President, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the National Security Council, to report to Parliament annually on the state of the security of the Republic.

In this regard, pursuant to Article 132(1) (b) and (c) (i) and (ii) of the Constitution and Senate Standing Order No.22 (1) and (2) upon a request by His Excellency the President vide letter reference No. OP CAB 140 dated 9th April 2018, gave notice of today’s Special Sitting to the Hon. Senators by Gazette Notice No. 3551 which was published in the Kenya Gazette on 17th April 2018. Accordingly Hon. Members, this Special Sitting is properly convened.

Your Excellency, Hon.

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Hon. Speakers, and Hon. Members of Parliament, I begin by saying that today is a profound honour for me to deliver the first State of the Nation Address of my second term in office. However, I wish with your joint permission that before I proceed any further, let me, at this early juncture, pay tribute to the late Hon. Kenneth Matiba whose patriotism inspired greatly the Constitution under whose authority we meet today.

A certified version of this Report themselves, but we are building preventive tools and ways for citizens to become more involved in reporting graft. My administration, I must emphasise, despite these challenges, has remained committed to the implementation of devolution. We are today far above the 15 per cent threshold for resource allocations to our counties as provided for by the Constitution. From an allocation of Kshs210 billion in the Financial Year 2013/2014, we now stand at Kshs327 billion for the Financial Year 2017/2018, an increase of 56% in five years. I also recently signed the Division of Revenue Bill 2018, which sets aside Kshs372 billion for counties in the coming Financial Year 2018/2019. The national Government, also during our period, complemented county service delivery in the reporting year by injecting Kshs9.6 billion for the Managed Equipment Services, Kshs5.2 billion for free maternity and Kshs900 million for user fees.

Moreover, Kshs2 billion was distributed to 11 counties from the Equalisation Fund to improve services. In addition, and in the spirit of upholding devolution, my administration further decentralised service delivery by initiating the “Huduma Mashinani Programme”. This programme brought vital services from registration services such as identity cards to the NSSF and NHIF Services, amongst others, closer to the people. Kenyans believe in devolution, and my administration has matched that belief with strong and tangible support for it.

Mr. Speaker and Hon. Members, I now turn to the urgent matter of how we live our constitutional values as a people, before I report on their expression in governance. Kenya is a country of God-fearing and generous people. In our moments of need, we are kept going by the compassion and empathy of our countrymen and countrywomen. Indeed, it goes without saying that most of us are honest to a fault, and intolerant of the fraudulent. In our private lives, we live together, whatever corner of the country we call home, whatever language we speak, and whatever faith we subscribe to. In other words, the Kenyan people are ahead of us, their leaders. This must change. Leaders at every level of government must demonstrate a desire and commitment to serve and, in particular, we must maintain the highest degree of integrity. Those days when one could enjoy public goods without fear that action will be taken against you are gone. Indeed, to demonstrate this point, last year, ill-gotten public assets valued at approximately Kshs500 million were recovered and civil proceedings were instituted for the preservation and recovery of other assets valued at more than Kshs6 billion.

To deepen good governance, we have continued to digitise key services to seal loopholes used for fraud. I do expect that the new officials whom we have worked together to put in office both in prosecution and in investigations will bring cases against all including the powerful and privileged to show Kenyans that none of us are above the law. Through the Chief Justice who is with us today, I also urge the Judiciary to do their part to ensure that orders are not frivolously used by individuals to avoid justice. I urge you, Hon. Members, to give us the legal tools we need to win the war against the lords of graft.

Having made all these efforts, I want to repeat what every Kenyan in their heart of hearts knows – that we must all come together to fight this vice if we are to conquer it. The Government and the private sector also, must report fraud and protect whistle blowers without the slightest hesitation. Kenyans, on their part too, must report any crimes they may come across. Families must feel ashamed by one of their members becoming involved in corruption and they must insist on the upholding of their name as a family. Teachers as well as parents must explicitly teach our children the value of honesty and the concept of honour. It is only by coming together in this way as a people that the values in our Constitution will take life in the governance our country. That is how we will manage to position Kenya to join the league of prosperous nations.

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Hon. Members, these constitutional advances must, of course, be paid for, so it is natural to turn our attention to the economy. Where goals are concerned, I believe all of us, irrespective of our political persuasion, are in broad agreement. Kenyans want to see lower cost of living. They want jobs for their sons and daughters, affordable food on their tables and to see broad and inclusive prosperity. Those goals are reasonable and some of them are constitutional requirements in their own right.

None of us in this august House will have forgotten that last year was an election year or that our region was severely affected by drought. Despite this, it is encouraging to note that despite those challenges, our economy remained resilient. Our real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.9 per cent in 2017 which was much higher than the 3.6 per cent for world real GDP and 2.6 per cent for sub-Saharan Africa. Even more encouraging was the performance of our tourism sector. Tourism earnings grew by 20 per cent, which was proof that even when our politics were at their hottest, Kenya kept its visitors’ confidence.

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When I assumed office as President, we promised to tarmac 10,000 kilometres of road across the country. We are on target having completed 3,000 kilometres to date and with a further 5,000 kilometres under construction. Among the many roads we have completed, I just want to mention one, namely, the Isiolo-Moyale Road, which is part of the Trans-African Highway Corridor running to our border with Ethiopia. This road is transforming the economy of the people of Isiolo and Marsabit for the better.

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Hon Members, the concerted and coordinated response by our disciplined services means that terrorists have had less room to target our people. There have been fewer and less lethal attacks in Kenya today even as terrorist groups elsewhere damage democracies. I once again commend the diligent men and women from our multiple agencies, who detect and prevent attacks. They have kept Kenya safe, and sometimes paid the highest price for our safety. May God comfort the families of the men and women we have lost not just in the fight against terrorism, but in every effort to defend Kenya’s sovereignty and security. However, even as I say so, we cannot rest for the threat is ever present and all Kenyans must constantly be on the alert.

At this point and moment, I also recall with great sadness, the tragic loss of one of our Principal Secretary, Ms. Mariamu el Maawy, to the consequences of a terrorist attack. I pray that her family, friends, and colleagues may be comforted. I also pray too that this nation never forgets the selfless public service she gave to it.

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I cannot also at this juncture resist mentioning a visit to Somalia in the first quarter of last year during which I had the opportunity to speak to our soldiers deployed there. Their courage and their devotion to their mission were extraordinarily inspiring. I ask you, Hon. Members, as I have done in the past, to keep our men and women in uniform in your prayers and in your deliberations and to devote yourselves as wholeheartedly as they have to our region’s peace and therefore security.

If Somalia remains unsettled, let us admit that South Sudan remains in crisis. Thousands have died while hundreds of thousands more have been displaced. In the year since I last spoke to the House, we and neighbouring countries have hosted hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese refugees and we have joined friends and partners to help those still suffering inside that country. Equally, we have lent our support to the multilateral peace process and we continue to urge the leaders of South Sudan to put the interests of their people and motherland above their own. As we have in the past year, Kenya stands with the people of South Sudan in their search for lasting peace.

Elsewhere in our region, there is better news. In the East African Community, we are growing closer by the day despite challenges. Last year, I had the opportunity to open our borders to our brothers and sisters from the region who now have the freedom to live and work in Kenya more easily than they ever have and they can now partner with us in the task of building a free, united and prosperous community.That openness to our brothers and sisters is proof of our commitment to the unity not just of the region, but also of the entire Continent.

For years, all sorts of barriers, legal and custom wise, have delayed Africa’s progress and prosperity. Indeed, in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement that we signed in Kigali a few weeks ago, we now have, at last, a real chance of opening up the continent’s trade, once and for all. If we succeed, then trade, goods and services will flow across Africa, not outside it and this in turn will bring jobs, skills, and unity. That we are so close to a final agreement now shows the vision of our generation of African leaders, among whom we must count on you, Hon. Members of this House, for ratifying the Agreement without delay. I can only hope that every African nation will show the same foresight that you, our Hon. Members, have displayed and I say to you asanteni sana.

Thank you very much.

A certified version of this Report animating value of our Constitution is unity. We all take pride in our diversity, as we say in the very preamble of our Constitution, and we are determined to live as one sovereign people, undivided. These are words of great beauty; whether we have let them guide us throughout the last year is the big question.

Hon. Members, let us allow ourselves to cast our minds back to last year’s political competition. Kenyans cast their votes twice in peace. In the end, I believe, the result reflected the will of the people and respect for the law of the land and our institutions held firm.

To our Judiciary, I can only ask that their independence be joined to even greater effort on their part to ensure that their arm of government attains the highest standards of conduct and integrity, and that they will never loses sight of the interdependence of all arms and levels of government.

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Hon. Speakers, I am not the only leader who deeply felt the need to restore unity: the Right Hon. Raila Odinga did so too.

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Order, Hon. Members. Let all of us be upstanding. Your Excellency the President, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly and Hon. Members, we have come to the conclusion of business today. It is now time to adjourn. The Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, 8th May 2018 at 2.30 p.m.

Hon. Members, we have come to the close of business for today. The National Assembly stands adjourned until 3rd May 2018 at 9.30 a.m.

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(Hon. Members rose in their places while His Excellency the President left the Chamber) Parliament rose at 4.17 p.m.