USHUJAA IS DOING ORDINARY THINGS, IN EXTRAORDINARY WAYS
Written by Obwoge Joseph on October 20, 2024
On the 10th of October 2024, Kenya commemorated the 61st Mashujaa day in Kwale, an event which was presided over by the president, H.E William Samoei Ruto. The president urged all Kenyans to pull together toward nation-building.
The celebration was held without the presence of the deputy president, following the impeachment of the second deputy president of the republic Rigathi Gachagua, who was not physically present.
Among the many matters President Ruto focused on, he commemorated Kenyans who came to Kenya first and defended the country from colonial oppressors.
The Ushujaa
“We have what it takes, including the values, principles, and commitments that define ushujaa to break free, from oppression, Humiliation, poverty, and indignity.”
“For our nation to be free, brave men and women, young and old, from every community and every region struggled with exemplary determination until Kenya was free.”
The Heroes and Heroines recognized
Otenyo Nyamantere and Moraa Ng’iti – Kisii, Wanameme Masinde in Bungoma, Oigo Paul Agwech and Oyugo Phoebe Ambio – Kisumu, Igogi Teresa Kiambi – Meru, Kalondu Matheka Mbalu – Mkueni.
A Lesson passed down from them: “Every citizen of Kenya is a full and equal member of our political community, entitled to make a contribution to nation-building and with an unalienable right to a full, just, and fair share of all the benefits from our development.”
Economy
Freedom is a key, that opens a door to sustainable progress in every sector. The heroic struggle of our time must focus on achieving this [Sustainable Development] through inclusive growth.
“We are diving into agricultural transformation through major interventions across all value chains, including fisheries and aquaculture, Horticulture and Food crops, Livestock, Beekeeping, and rangeland development.”
“Investments are being made to boost production and supply of quality inputs provide extension services, reduce post-harvest losses, and maximize returns for producers. We will make sure that prices of fertilizer are universal, retailing at Ksh. 2500.”
Digital Economy
“We have invested in developing digital and ICT Hubs in all wards and expanding last-mile Faiba connectivity across the country reaching areas previously considered remote and underserved.”
“I must congratulate the members of parliament, across Kenya for being partners with us in this effort, and I want to encourage them to prioritize the construction of ICT hubs across Kenya to give digital opportunities for our young people.”
Banking Industry
“I want to comment on the banking industry or extending an additional 150 billion in loans and loan facilities to Micro, Small, and Medium enterprises (MSMEs) to complement our efforts in making sure that we attend to the people lower in the category.”
Healthcare
“We have transformed the provision of healthcare to enable all Kenyans to access promotive, and preventive services in addition to curative services.”
“Under the SHA framework, Afya Bora Mashinani has onboarded over 100K community Health promoters who provide healthcare directly to people in their homes.”
Affordable Housing
“We are targeting to deliver 200K homes annually to meet the growing demand for houses. This initiative aims to tackle the deficit that has left many Kenyans living in insecure unsanitary and poorly constructed dwellings fostering the growth of sustainable communities and generating jobs and opportunities in many sectors.”
“We all know that the future is urban, 60% of our population globally will be living in urban areas. We can make a choice of what kind of a living, and settlements this population will be leading.”
So far, 124K housing units are at different stages of completion across 75 sites in 37 counties. Over 547 registered users of online Boma Yangu of whom 52K have collectively saved more than 2.3B towards home ownership.
“In December this year, we will achieve a major milestone by handing over 1080 new studio units at the Mukuru meteorological site in Nairobi with Mortgage price at Ksh 3200 per month to citizens who today pay the same amount but live in a slum.”
So far the affordable housing program has created over 150K jobs, throughout the housing program value chain. We are working to increase female participation to 30% from the current 20% in the industry.
The government has allocated Ksh 4.4B specifically for payments to MSMEs supplying goods and services under this program.
Mashujaa Objective
The objective of the freedom struggle was for the citizens of Kenya to have full rights and opportunities to live in dignity and achieve a high standard of living with security, health, and wealth.
“Healthcare remains a priority under our bottom-up economic transformation agenda. We are advancing the scope of healthcare coverage to give every Kenyan access to promotive, preventive curative, and emergency services.”
“As of the beginning of this month, 1.9 million Kenyans were registered with the Social Health Authority and all public health institutions and 50% of private facilities were already enrolled to provide services.”
“The government of Kenya has released 3 billion shillings to settle outstanding payments to hospitals and other service providers.”
Change is coming
“Ladies and gentlemen, the time for doubt and anxiety is slowly but surely getting behind us, and the space for criticism, skepticism, and pessimism is over.”
“Real change ushers us into unfamiliar places, transformative change overturns old assumptions and unlocks unprecedented possibilities. Every step into the future takes a measure of courage and the comfort of the familiar can become a temptation to hesitate or backslide.”
Impendence, multi-party democracy, and our progressive constitution have made Kenya stronger, enabling our country to move forward and upward even amid unprecedented challenges.
Lesson from freedom fighting: We must not allow the fear of change to imprison us in our past, and we must have greater faith in our collective capacity to achieve inclusive transformation and usher in progress that leaves none behind.
Call to Kenyans
“I call on all Kenyans to have faith and a little patience, in a matter of weeks, SHIF will be serving is efficiently and making the dream of universal coverage come true.”
“I want to assure all former employees and those now serving, that no one will lose their jobs and I appreciate their dedication and service during this transition. We will make sure that everybody from the former outfit is transitioned to the current outfit.”
Blue Economy
“The Swahili saying, “Mgaagaa na upwa, hali wali mkavu,” is an understated hint of the promise held by our blue economy. The blue economy contributes 20 Billion to the economy annually and is expected to rise to over Ksh 80 billion in 5 years.”
This transformation will create thousands of jobs; we are investing Ksh. 2.7B in the construction of fish landing sites and markets equipped with cold storage facilities across the country with 1.2B allocated specifically to the coast region.
Additionally, we are releasing 1.7B in grants, to support 612 fishing cooperatives groups in the region.
“To promote and enhance aquaculture and Mariculture in the country, the government is investing 2.4B including 1.4B allocated to the coast region in the development of the national mariculture resource and training center in Shimoni – Kwale county.”
“The government has procured and distributed 123 fishing boats to local communities and planning to acquire deep sea fishing vessels for offshore fishing of a total budget of Ksh. 600M, this year.”
Motivation
“Let us do our part to promote national cohesion and inclusion and to combat division, tribalism, and exclusion. Let us remember that without unity our freedom and future will be under threat. Together we are unstoppable in pursuit of our aspirations and immovable in the face of any challenge.”
“I am encouraged by the bravery, diligence, and loyalty with which Kenyans of all walks of life undertake their profession, and social tasks fighting crime and terrorism, defending the nation’s territorial integrity, Treating the sick, feeding the nation, teaching our children, and serving the needs of underprivileged citizens.”
“Ushujaa is doing ordinary things, in extraordinary ways. Therefore, whatever our vocation let us apply ourselves with zeal because that’s how great nations are built.”
