Why NASA government is best bet for Kenya

The National Super Alliance (NASA) government structure, flag bearer and manifesto have all been unveiled. Kenya is ready to usher in the NASA government come August 8, 2017.

NASA will form an inclusive government that all Kenyans shall be proud of. Within 100 days of taking office, NASA will unveil solid and easy-to-implement socio-economic programs that will make every Kenyan feel that he is part of this nation.

NASA pledges to serve all Kenyans irrespective of their political affiliation, ethnic grouping, racial origin, and religious inclination. We shall strive to make sure that all Kenyans meet their basic needs and maximise their potential in order to meaningfully participate in economic development.

We understand that economic development is possible if the entire population is accorded an opportunity to pursue activities that are within their intellectual and financial means.

Programs

Through your support as Kenyans, NASA will roll out programmes that will ensure that nobody goes hungry. The five NASA principals recognise that there is a lot of research on production and commercialisation of agriculture that is lying in university libraries, research institutes and Kilimo House, which if acted upon would solve the problems that bedevil crop and livestock farmers, and assure food security for the nation.

NASA will not relent on the issue of food provision till every Kenyan can afford two square meals per day. This bold promise will define our legacy. Never again shall Kenyans visit local health facilities because of diseases emanating from poor diet. Never again shall unga miss in this country.

In the medium term our focus on health provision will be to treat malnourished children and pregnant mothers, and also equip health facilities with the necessary equipment and medicines, and also train health sector personnel to the highest levels.

The NASA government will not engage in non-achievable collective bargaining agreements with the medical profession. Above all, we shall not misuse any health monies like the Jubilee administration has done in these final years in office.

On matters shelter, Engineer Raila Odinga intends to encourage developers to turn to low-cost materials to cater for low-cost housing in both urban and rural areas thorough improvements in macroeconomics policies.

The NASA administration will fund all building materials research institutes to come up with low-cost housing technologies that will ensure affordability of housing among the low income earners. The new government will also embark on building low-cost houses across the country.

The NASA principals also recognise that many Kenyans are unable to eke a living because they either have no education or are poorly educated. The NASA government will not abdicate its responsibility to build primary and secondary schools in areas of need by pretending that the activity lies in the domain of county governments.

Once in office, our major task will be the provision of basic education to the youths residing in semi-arid areas to enable them compete with their counterparts in urban areas for university places. We are committed to save them from being a reserve army for cattle rustling, an activity that has benefited a handful of unscrupulous individuals in Nairobi.

Our commitment to education will extend to ensuring policies for free education in primary and secondary schools. Universities will be well funded. We shall increase research funding to all departments so that they can fulfil their role of generating knowledge. We shall encourage them to get involved in meaningful student and lecturer exchange programmes so that they can tap skills far and wide.

We are also committed to the employment of youths who graduate at all levels. We have a ready masterplan on how the country will generate a mix of energy not just to serve the households and conserve the environment, but also to serve light and heavy industries.

Our interactions with other peoples of the world have taught us that the level of skills possessed by the Kenyan people today would guarantee the establishment of cottage industries to produce industrial inputs for factories within and without.

Opportunities

We assure you in advance that we shall not brag about projects whose budgets run into hundreds of billions of shillings and have no immediate value. We shall only undertake projects that befit this nation, locating them in various parts of the country depending on local natural resources, so that all Kenyans can benefit.

We shall not place a Euro bond and fail to account for its usage. The NASA government will not hide under the guise of an expanded economy to tell Kenyans that borrowed money has fizzled out to all sectors. Ours will  be a transparent government that shall not tolerate corruption and capital flight.

We urge you to trust us and witness good governance that will make this place a darling of foreign investors. We promise to secure your lives and lay a good foundation for future generations.

 Dr Zani is Secretary General, ODM