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{
"id": 1556541,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556541/?format=api",
"text_counter": 199,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Agenda 2030 have been a rallying point for economic, social and political advancement in the globe. As you recall, we had the Millennium Development Goals, which then morphed into the Sustainable Development Goals or the 2030 Agenda. In Africa, we also have the Agenda 2063. What is silent in all these lofty agendas is Vision 2030. This country came up with a clear, lucid strategy which envisaged that in the next four years, Kenya would be a mid-level, not low-mid-level income, but a true middle- income economy. Today, no one talks about Vision 2030. If you listen to the political players who are supposed to be providing leadership, the conversation has turned to Agenda 2027, which is about re-election. The focus has changed from thinking about the next generation and empowering them through building a resilient economic, social and political infrastructure. The subjects of this high-level forum, which report is on the table, focused on a number of SDG. It looked at SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 13, 16, and 17. Today, SDG 1 is still extremely relevant to Kenya; eradication of poverty in all its forms everywhere. This was the challenge of the post-independence leadership. Remember, Jomo Kenyatta framed it quite well that our enemies were poverty, illiteracy and disease. More than 50 years down the line, poverty still remains an enemy and a matter of great concern. Vision 2030 had clear roadmaps on how to ensure that we reduce the number of people living in absolute poverty. Mr. Temporary Speaker, how I wish the political class could come back and have a compelling vision. The power of vision sometimes is illustrated in the American example. When the Americans decided they were going to the moon, it sounded grand. However, President John F. Kennedy and the subsequent presidents that came on board were able to rally and mobilise the national psyche. They were able to align research, innovation, technology, investments, everything towards achieving that national pride and goal. Kenya needs to go back to the drawing board, look at Vision 2030, which is obviously off track, and come back with a compelling vision. I usually say that the Mwai Kibaki’s Government left us with some things that we could learn from. We had a National Economic and Social Council. It was highly powered. We even had people who had run successful economies in Singapore and outside Africa. Why can we not bring back a National Economic and Social Council anchored in law? This Council should be given the necessary independence and facilitation to think through the challenges that this country is facing. It should come up with a compelling vision that is aligned to the 2030 goals and the 2063 Africa Union goals? The late President Hon. Mwai Kibaki, had a dedicated ministry for national planning. Today, we have got a Cabinet Secretary in charge of the the National Treasury and Economic Planning. From my observation, since this position was created, most of the cabinet secretaries have focused on the issues of the National Treasury; the issues of disbursements, fiscal policy and ensuring that there is money moving from taxpayers to relevant sectors of the economy. There has been very little attention to economic planning. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}