By M, KNA
The Kenya Kwanza Government has marked the third-year anniversary since the swearing-in of President Dr. William Ruto highlighting achievements in its Medium-Term Plan 4 of the Kenya Vision 2030 under the five critical pillars of agriculture, healthcare, housing, small businesses, and the digital and creative economy.
According to the Government Spokesperson Dr. Isaac Mwaura, the government has made considerable progress in transforming the lives of ordinary Kenyans through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, popularly known as the BETA Plan.
Speaking in Nairobi during a media briefing, Dr. Mwaura noted that in the agriculture sector, there has been a significant subsidy that reduced the cost of fertilizer from Sh 7,000 per bag to Sh 2,500, a reduction of Sh 5,000 which has translated into billions of shillings saved for Kenyans.
He added that support has been extended to farmers of edible oils, rice, nuts, cotton, and pyrethrum, thereby reducing household spending.
“To date, 7 million farmers have been registered in the digital database, and 21 million bags of fertilizer distributed countrywide,” stated Dr. Mwaura, adding that as a result farmers’ earnings have increased significantly: coffee by 52 percent, tea by 40 percent, and sugar by 76 percent.
Further, he exemplified these critical gains that are transforming the lives of farmers where the average price of coffee per kilo is now Sh 120, with some cooperatives paying as high as Sh 150, Tea is trading at about Sh 64 per kilo, while sugar prices have risen from Sh 4,000 to Sh 5,500 per metric ton.
“In Nakuru, for instance, we witnessed how pyrethrum farming is reviving livelihoods. We met Mr. and Mrs. Gitao of Njoro, whose lives have been transformed by the revitalization of the pyrethrum processing factory,” he narrated, assuring that these are the deliberate efforts geared towards achieving guaranteed minimum returns for farmers, as promised.
On jobs, businesses, industrialization, loans, and opportunities, the Government Spokesperson revealed that 2.25 million small businesses have been formalized, while 31 constituency industrial development centers have been upgraded.
These efforts, he maintained, have created over 9,000 jobs, giving young people greater access to employment.
Additionally, Dr. Mwaura pointed out that cold storage facilities, incubation hubs, and county trade fairs have also opened up new markets for young entrepreneurs.
“We also have functional digital hubs across the country, well stocked with computers and the internet. Just this past weekend in Embu, we saw the impact first-hand. Young people are earning significant incomes—one of them even shared how he made KSh 3 million in a short time,” he reported, stressing that these hubs are proof that industrialization, combined with the digital superhighway, is creating opportunities.
Likewise, Dr. Mwaura disclosed that over 13 counties are at advanced stages in setting up agricultural industrial parks, citing the one in Sagana, Kirinyaga County, which is already performing at extreme levels in addition to others, such as in Homa Bay, which are similarly well established.
By combining county industrial development centers with digital marketing platforms, the Government Spokesperson insisted that Kenya is expanding its manufacturing footprint where more young people are working remotely as virtual assistants for international companies, thanks to internet connectivity.
On another note, Dr. Mwaura announced that 161,911 affordable housing units are under construction, a tremendous increase from the 8,872 units in 2022.
This progress, he asserted, has created more than 330,000 jobs in the construction and dual academy sectors adding that KSh 4.4 billion has been invested in training artisans, with over 1,000 certified to supply building materials.
“A total of 3,855 new mortgages have been issued at lower interest rates, making home ownership more accessible,” he added.
Further, Dr. Mwaura mentioned that the program is also supporting thousands of suppliers -cement, steel, – sand, artisans (fundis) and transporters describing the country as a construction site with affordable housing projects being visible from Thika Road near TRM to Ruiru, Kapsabet, Laikipia, and even Northern Kenya.
He reaffirmed that these houses are for all Kenyans, teachers, police officers, civil servants, salaried and unsalaried workers boasting that individuals to own an apartment for KSh 1–2 million is unheard of globally.
“Despite challenges at the start, we are on course to deliver the promised 200,000 units per year. Already, 161,000 are under construction, with over 700,000 more in planning,” he reassured.
Moreover, Dr. Mwaura said that the housing program has also created opportunities for women and youth as young women’s participation has been increased from 20 percent to 30 percent, while 4,000 engineering internship placements are giving graduates their first experience in government
Notably, the Government Spokesperson noted that in healthcare, under the new Social Health Authority—Taifa Care—25.8 million Kenyans have been registered, a sharp rise from 8 million in 2022 which demonstrates expanded access and availability of services.
He disclosed that the government is also registering indigent households, ensuring nobody is left behind.
Dr. Mwaura divulged that the Ministry of Health has recruited and trained 107,000 community health promoters, established cancer treatment centers, and screened millions for chronic diseases.
Since 2022, he declared that over 350 hospitals have been built or upgraded, in partnership with counties, and 10,582 facilities have been digitized.
“Over Sh 68 billion has been disbursed under Taifa Care, with Sh 13 billion allocated to primary health care and Sh 10 billion to emergency and critical care,” he proclaimed, emphasizing that for the first time in history, every Kenyan now has a chance at healthcare coverage.
In the digital superhighway and creative economy, Dr. Mwaura identified that cheaper internet, enhanced government service access, and new jobs are driving transformation citing locally assembled smartphones which have lowered device costs, while 834 studio recordings have supported creative talent.
Concurrently, he echoed that nearly 300,000 digital jobs have been created through ICT training and over 40,000 kilometers of fiber cable have been laid, enabling 1,578 public Wi-Fi hotspots and 404 digital hubs.
“More than 21,000 government services have been digitized, raising government collections to between Sh 700 million and Sh1 billion daily up from just Sh 60 million,” remarked Dr. Mwaura, voicing that these funds are now available for better services to Kenyans.
The Government Spokesperson affirmed that education has also advanced, with TVET enrollment rising from 340,713 in 2022 to over 718,000 today.
In mining, he revealed that three laboratories have been established, and artisanal cooperatives registered reporting that for the first time, a gold refinery is nearing completion at Ikolomani in Kakamega, ensuring local communities benefit directly.
Meanwhile, for foreign and diaspora relations, Dr. Mwaura confirmed that more than 200 agreements have been signed, strengthening bilateral ties.
He claimed that diaspora remittances reached Sh 660 billion, about USD 5 billion, with 85 percent supporting rural households.
“This surpasses tea and coffee as Kenya’s highest income earner even as the President has directed that this be scaled to Sh 1 trillion,” opined Dr. Mwaura adding that agreements with Saudi Arabia, Germany, the UK, and others are ensuring fair terms for Kenyan workers abroad.
The Government Spokesperson stated that Tourism and wildlife are also booming highlighting that during the high season, tour operators are fully booked, generating Sh 462.21 billion in revenue.
In addition, he pronounced that Kenya received 2.42 million international arrivals, alongside over 5 million domestic tourists.
“Just at KICC, thousands of schoolchildren are experiencing Nairobi’s heritage. The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) has made Kenya more accessible, and the sector is projected to surpass 5 million international arrivals in the near future,” observed Dr. Mwaura
He reiterated that the government remains steadfast in turning its promises into tangible results for a stronger, inclusive, and more prosperous country.