Kenya
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
STATEMENT BY IRUNGU NYAKERA, PRINCIPAL · SECRETARY,
STATE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND STATISTICS, MINISTRY
DEVOLUTION AND PLANNING, DURING THE MINISTERIAL
MEETING OF THE HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM (HLPF) HELD
ON 17TH - 20TH JULY, 2017, UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, USA
Mr. President,
Kenya's development planning process is consultative and involves all stakeholders.
This is in line with the constitution. The Kenya Vision 2030, our country long term
development blueprint, mirrors the Agenda 2030. Kenya Vision 2030 is being
implemented through five-year medium term plans. Currently third Medium-Term Plan
(2018-2022) is being prepared. Budgetary allocation is based on priorities outlined in
the plans.
The government of Kenya has produced a roadmap to guide the implementation of
SDGs. In order to ensure that the SDGs are prioritized for effective implementation,
each of the 17 SDGs has been mapped with the Vision and the plans. Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will therefore include SDGs in their policy, planning,
programming and budgeting. They will also be required to report on their relevant SDGs
indicators.
Mr. President,
Reporting on implementation of SDGs will require quality, reliable and timely data which
is disaggregated appropriately. Kenya is building the capacity of the Bureau of Statistics
to enable it support effective reporting on the implementation of SDGs. For initial
national monitoring, a total of 128 SDG indicators out of the 230 from Global Indicator
1
..
Framework have been identified. More indicators will be incorporated once there is
consensus on the methodology particularly for the measurement of Tier III indicators.
In order to ensure that no one is left behind, the country has developed an elaborate
programme to reach all its citizens and address their needs. Kenya continues to
implement targeted economic empowerment programmes to segments of the
. . .
population especially the youth, women and persons living with disabilities. The
· vulnerable persons are,also supported through cash transfers.
IEC materials have been produced and disseminated and sensitization forums different
stakeholders held. The Coalition of Civil Society on SDGs in collaboration with the
Government has also been undertaking community outreach programmes on the
Agenda. Social media platforms are being used to disseminate SDGs messages to the
members of the public especially the youth who are techno savvy.
To ensure universal access to comprehensive health care, the National Hospital
Insurance Fund has been reformed. The reforms include the introduction of free
maternal health care in all public health facilities. Two initiatives that have contributed
to· reduction in maternal deaths are KIROR and the Beyond Zero Campaign. The Kiror
are homes near health facilities in remote arid and semi arid areas where expectant
mothers are accommodated and taken care of to ensure that they do not travel long
distances before reaching medical facilities to deliver. Through the Beyond Zero
Campaign, mobile clinics have been delivered to all the 47 county referral hospitals in
the country.
To address disparities among regions, our country adopted a devolved system of
Government which has decentralized both services and resources to the sub-national
levels. An Equalisation Fund has also been established to support those regions that
were previously marginalized to bring them to par with the rest of the country.
2
Mr. President,
Advances in JCT have not only revolutionized the way of doing business but also
improved efficiency in delivery of services. Mobile phones and mobile money (MPESA)
has radically changed provision of health care especially in informal settlements and
poor rural populations. M-TIBA is a "mobile health wallet" that allows people to save,
borrow and share money for health care at very low cost through an MTIBA nationwide
network. Development partners and insurers can use M-TIBA to offer healthcare
through vouchers and other modes of payments.
Growth of the ICT Sector has greatly expanded financial inclusion in Kenya. This year,
financial inclusion stands at 75.3 % compared to 66.9 % in 2013. Kenyans are now able
to make financial transactions from all parts of the country and save and borrow money
for small scale investments using their mobile phones.
Kenya recognizes the critical role of infrastructure, industrialization and innovation in
the achievement of its long-term development goals. In May 2017, Kenya launched its
first phase of the Standard Gauge Railway covering 500 kilometers from the port of
· Mombasa to the City of Nairobi. This has reduced the time ·of travel from 10 to· about 4
hours while cost of rail transport for both passengers and cargo freight between the
two cities is now 40% cheaper than road transport. Plans are underway to extend the
railway to the border with Uganda.
To increase regional connectivity, the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport
(LAPPSET) is under implementation and will open up Northern Kenya and provide
reliable transport to Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda. These developments will spur
economic activities along this hitherto unconnected region.
Mr. President,
Kenya is a youthful country with about 67 per cent of the population below 35 years. In
order to harness its demographic dividend, Kenya has put in place programmes to
empower the youth to enable them participate effectively in productive economic
3
•'
activities. These include increased and sustained investments in health and education
particularly for women, the girl-child, the youth and other vulnerable groups. The Youth
Enterprise Funds, thirty percent access to government Procurement (AGPO) and
Women Enterprises Funds are but a few examples of government's initiatives towards
empowering this segment of the population.
The Government of Kenya recognizes the role played by Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) in job creation. MSMEs employ about 14.9 million Kenyans and
contribute 28.8 % to the GDP. This sector will continue to get Government support.
Already the government is putting in place a credit guarantee scheme to facilitate
financial access to MSMEs.
Finally, public services have been brought closer to the people through one-stop shops
known as Huduma Centers. These centres offer 66 different types of government
services and have greatly reduced the cost and time taken in delivery of services to
citizens. I am happy to report that these centres have also won awards and accolades.
I THANK YOU
4
STATEMENT BY IRUNGU NYAKERA, PRINCIPAL · SECRETARY,
STATE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND STATISTICS, MINISTRY
DEVOLUTION AND PLANNING, DURING THE MINISTERIAL
MEETING OF THE HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM (HLPF) HELD
ON 17TH - 20TH JULY, 2017, UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, USA
Mr. President,
Kenya's development planning process is consultative and involves all stakeholders.
This is in line with the constitution. The Kenya Vision 2030, our country long term
development blueprint, mirrors the Agenda 2030. Kenya Vision 2030 is being
implemented through five-year medium term plans. Currently third Medium-Term Plan
(2018-2022) is being prepared. Budgetary allocation is based on priorities outlined in
the plans.
The government of Kenya has produced a roadmap to guide the implementation of
SDGs. In order to ensure that the SDGs are prioritized for effective implementation,
each of the 17 SDGs has been mapped with the Vision and the plans. Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will therefore include SDGs in their policy, planning,
programming and budgeting. They will also be required to report on their relevant SDGs
indicators.
Mr. President,
Reporting on implementation of SDGs will require quality, reliable and timely data which
is disaggregated appropriately. Kenya is building the capacity of the Bureau of Statistics
to enable it support effective reporting on the implementation of SDGs. For initial
national monitoring, a total of 128 SDG indicators out of the 230 from Global Indicator
1
..
Framework have been identified. More indicators will be incorporated once there is
consensus on the methodology particularly for the measurement of Tier III indicators.
In order to ensure that no one is left behind, the country has developed an elaborate
programme to reach all its citizens and address their needs. Kenya continues to
implement targeted economic empowerment programmes to segments of the
. . .
population especially the youth, women and persons living with disabilities. The
· vulnerable persons are,also supported through cash transfers.
IEC materials have been produced and disseminated and sensitization forums different
stakeholders held. The Coalition of Civil Society on SDGs in collaboration with the
Government has also been undertaking community outreach programmes on the
Agenda. Social media platforms are being used to disseminate SDGs messages to the
members of the public especially the youth who are techno savvy.
To ensure universal access to comprehensive health care, the National Hospital
Insurance Fund has been reformed. The reforms include the introduction of free
maternal health care in all public health facilities. Two initiatives that have contributed
to· reduction in maternal deaths are KIROR and the Beyond Zero Campaign. The Kiror
are homes near health facilities in remote arid and semi arid areas where expectant
mothers are accommodated and taken care of to ensure that they do not travel long
distances before reaching medical facilities to deliver. Through the Beyond Zero
Campaign, mobile clinics have been delivered to all the 47 county referral hospitals in
the country.
To address disparities among regions, our country adopted a devolved system of
Government which has decentralized both services and resources to the sub-national
levels. An Equalisation Fund has also been established to support those regions that
were previously marginalized to bring them to par with the rest of the country.
2
Mr. President,
Advances in JCT have not only revolutionized the way of doing business but also
improved efficiency in delivery of services. Mobile phones and mobile money (MPESA)
has radically changed provision of health care especially in informal settlements and
poor rural populations. M-TIBA is a "mobile health wallet" that allows people to save,
borrow and share money for health care at very low cost through an MTIBA nationwide
network. Development partners and insurers can use M-TIBA to offer healthcare
through vouchers and other modes of payments.
Growth of the ICT Sector has greatly expanded financial inclusion in Kenya. This year,
financial inclusion stands at 75.3 % compared to 66.9 % in 2013. Kenyans are now able
to make financial transactions from all parts of the country and save and borrow money
for small scale investments using their mobile phones.
Kenya recognizes the critical role of infrastructure, industrialization and innovation in
the achievement of its long-term development goals. In May 2017, Kenya launched its
first phase of the Standard Gauge Railway covering 500 kilometers from the port of
· Mombasa to the City of Nairobi. This has reduced the time ·of travel from 10 to· about 4
hours while cost of rail transport for both passengers and cargo freight between the
two cities is now 40% cheaper than road transport. Plans are underway to extend the
railway to the border with Uganda.
To increase regional connectivity, the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport
(LAPPSET) is under implementation and will open up Northern Kenya and provide
reliable transport to Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda. These developments will spur
economic activities along this hitherto unconnected region.
Mr. President,
Kenya is a youthful country with about 67 per cent of the population below 35 years. In
order to harness its demographic dividend, Kenya has put in place programmes to
empower the youth to enable them participate effectively in productive economic
3
•'
activities. These include increased and sustained investments in health and education
particularly for women, the girl-child, the youth and other vulnerable groups. The Youth
Enterprise Funds, thirty percent access to government Procurement (AGPO) and
Women Enterprises Funds are but a few examples of government's initiatives towards
empowering this segment of the population.
The Government of Kenya recognizes the role played by Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) in job creation. MSMEs employ about 14.9 million Kenyans and
contribute 28.8 % to the GDP. This sector will continue to get Government support.
Already the government is putting in place a credit guarantee scheme to facilitate
financial access to MSMEs.
Finally, public services have been brought closer to the people through one-stop shops
known as Huduma Centers. These centres offer 66 different types of government
services and have greatly reduced the cost and time taken in delivery of services to
citizens. I am happy to report that these centres have also won awards and accolades.
I THANK YOU
4
Stakeholders