DELIVERING THE KENYAN VISION: IMPLEMENTATION

Our first national vision was to be a free nation. We attained that vision in 1963 when the British Union Jack was lowered and replaced by our national flag. We must now build on our achievements and the determination shown by the Kenyans who sacrificed their lives so that we could enjoy the freedom we now enjoy. Our post- independence leaders pledged to work for a better Kenya devoid of “poverty, ignorance and disease”. That vision is yet to be fully realized.. Vision 2030 intends to make that dream a reality by bringing Kenya into the league of middle-income countries, where citizens enjoy widespread prosperity under which incidents of extreme poverty are few.. Vision 2030 intends to build on our strengths, our determination and our mutual destiny as Kenyans. Dissemination forums held in all provinces left no doubt that Kenyans not only welcome the promises of Vision 2030, but are ready and willing to do their part to realise it.

Kenyans have no illusions that the journey we are about to embark on will not be easy. Vision 2030 will be accomplished by our collective efforts; each Kenyan has a role to play. Kenyans have expressed the wish for a vision that is insulated from political competition among parties. They also want a vision that will improve livelihoods in their local communities. They also want to see results that will directly improve their lives. The government and the experts had these objectives in mind when preparing the vision. The projects proposed in Vision 2030 cover all the regions of the country and aim to ensure that everyone community stands gain from it. Vision 2030 stresses equitable development and modernisation through institutional changes and flagship projects distributed throughout the country to take advantage of each region’s uniqueness. The projects will be implemented through five-year plans. The first five-year plan runs from 2008 to 2012 and replaces the Economic Recovery Strategy that expires this year.

In the implementation of Vision 2030, the issue of primacy of infrastructure, particularly roads, will be addressed. Provincial and district forums frequently raised this issue. Recent government budgets have allocated unprecedented amounts of money to roads and infrastructure generally. Although considerable gains have been made in improving infrastructure since 2003, so bad was the situation prior to that date, that the importance of rehabilitating, building or expanding infrastructure is still a priority issue for most Kenyans. Other priority areas include science, technology and innovations, land reforms, human resources development, security and public sector reforms.

The long-term perspective in this document comes after economic recovery has been completed under the ERS. Vision 2030 therefore comes at a time when Kenyans feel more optimistic about the future of their country than they did previously. They have all, regardless of party affiliation, observed the progress the country has made since 2003 and are willing to build on that, in order to build a better Kenya for themselves and for future generations.

Building on our common determination, our common heritage and our hopes for a more prosperous nation offering a high quality of life to all its citizens, we can realise Vision 2030 and join the ranks of the newly-industrializing economies. From our struggle for

independence to winning gold medals in sports, we have shown determination that has we must capitalize on.

Vision 2030 comes at a time in the history of Kenya when the Government, the opposition and the people have agreed on the need to move “from business as usual to business unusual” Vision is designed to provide practical solutions to problems that the country faces at this juncture of our history, it cannot afford to be rigid in its approach. The international economy is in constant flux. New technologies products and markets will appear before 2030 that Kenya can ill-afford to ignore. Besides our traditional markets, the Vision must take stock of the unprecedented developments that we see in Asia. Kenyan economic sectors and our investors may strike out in directions we cannot fully predict today. Such is the essence of globally competitive markets. This calls for a pragmatic approach to development by Kenya, constant monitoring of both internal and external developments and a political will to make changes rapidly so that our economy does not lose any ground. A Vision that responds to the dynamic needs of the people must be flexible enough to respond to changing local and international realities. Vision 2030 is, therefore, expected to be a “living document” that will respond to within and outside of the country changes but still remain focused on the goals.

In the implementation of Vision 2030, we intend to draw lessons from our past experiences and from our peer nations that have successfully implemented similar projects. Through Vision 2030, the current generation intends to bequeath future generations with a much better Kenya. Kenyans have decided to take this opportunity to make history by being the generation that will fulfill the prophesy of the founding fathers, of our independence – a proud country, made of hard-working people that will conquer the ills of illiteracy, poverty and disease.

To deliver on this ambitious process of national transformation will require a fundamental shift from business as usual to business unusual (from multiple and often uncoordinated levels of decision making to centralised implementation process); a new management philosophy (from a limited sense of urgency to relentless follow up); legislation (from slow, reactive to fast, proactive legislating); special budgeting (from low and dispersed to high and ‘ring-fenced’ investments) as well as management of top talent (from shortage of skills to a war for talent). To this end, a Semi Autonomous Government Agency (SAGA) with the requisite capacity is being established to oversee the implementation of all Vision 2030 projects. In doing so, the agency will work in close collaboration with government ministries and departments as well as the private sector, civil society and other relevant stakeholder groups.

The Vision Delivery Secretariat

In order to successfully realize Vision 2030 and to particularly ensure the timely implementation of the flagship projects, the Government of Kenya intends to create a Vision Delivery Secretariat (VDS) to be housed in the Office of the President. The Secretariat will be managed by a Director-General of the Vision 2030 Office, under the overall guidance of the Vision 2030 Delivery Board, which shall play a policy-making and advisory role. The VDS shall be organized into eight departments. The Departments will correspond to the main project clusters or sectors of the Vision covering the three pillars.

Among other things, the VDS shall provide strategic leadership and direction in the realization of Vision 2030 goals, and closely collaborate with line ministries in developing the Five-year Medium Term plans for the realization of the Vision. The VDS will also have clear institutional linkages with other existing institutions, structures and organizations both in the Public as well as the Private Sector.