President William Ruto has highlighted the key achievements of his administration in advancing the Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda (BETA) during Kenya Kwanza’s third year in office. These accomplishments were outlined in a report on measures taken and progress made in upholding national values and principles of governance, which was presented to Parliament last week.
The report details strides in agriculture, security, education, health, and the economy, in line with Kenya Kwanza’s promise to transform the country. It includes an analysis of policies, legal frameworks, projects, programs, and administrative actions undertaken by the government.
Key Achievements by Sector
Agriculture
- The government invested Sh2 billion in the Shimoni fish port and Sh691 million to support beach management units in five counties.
- An additional Sh4 billion was allocated to support coffee farmers, and the government cancelled debts worth Sh6.8 billion owed by coffee cooperatives, benefiting 6,000 farmers.
- A Sh6.7 billion Coffee Advance Revolving Fund was established, alongside the registration of 10.6 million coffee farmers.
- President Ruto commissioned modern facilities, such as the New KCC Kiganjo factory in Nyeri County for camel milk and drinking water processing, and the Bukalama fish landing site in Busia County, capable of processing 10 tonnes of fish daily.
- Fertilizer costs were reduced from Sh7,500 to Sh2,500 per 50kg bag, lowering food production costs and the price of key staples like unga.
Economy and MSME Empowerment
- The Hustler Fund disbursed Sh54.5 billion to 23.6 million individuals and Sh182.7 million to 23,534 groups, generating Sh3.1 billion in savings.
- The fund was designed to provide affordable financing to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), eliminating the need for collateral and lowering interest rates.
Manufacturing
- The East Africa Device Assembly Plant in Machakos County was launched to produce affordable mobile phones retailing between Sh6,500 and Sh7,000, creating 500 direct jobs.
Affordable Housing
- Projects include 14,000 units under the Mukuru Social Housing Program, 4,054 units in Kibera, 1,400 units under Buxton Phase II in Mombasa, and a 320-unit project in Meru County. Collectively, these initiatives have created over 206,000 jobs.
Healthcare
- Key legislation was enacted to support universal health coverage, including the Primary Health Care Act and Social Health Insurance Act of 2023.
- Facilities such as the Naromoru Level 4 Hospital in Nyeri and the upgraded Piny Owacho dispensary in Migori were commissioned to expand healthcare access.
- 100,000 medical kits were distributed to community health promoters, enhancing grassroots healthcare delivery.
Digital Economy
- The Central Securities Depository Digital platform was launched, enabling electronic transactions for government securities.
- The Amazon Web Services Development Centre was inaugurated in Nairobi, and a digital skills lab was launched at Uriri Technical College to support the digital economy.
Legislative Progress
Parliament approved various bills, including the Tea (Amendment) Bill, the Nuts and Oil Crops Development Bill, and the Agricultural and Livestock Extension Services Bill, to support the implementation of BETA.
President Ruto emphasized that these milestones reflect his administration’s commitment to lowering the cost of living, enhancing productivity, and creating sustainable economic opportunities for Kenyans.
