The Principal Secretary, National Treasury Dr. Chris Kiptoo, has assured Kenyans that the economy is improving given the positive ratings being given by various international organisations.
The PS said the country’s Gross Domestic Product currently stood at approximately Sh20 trillion, which translates to around Sh300,000 per capita income.
Speaking at the Cheptebo AIC Agricultural Training centre during its 40 years’ celebrations, the PS called on Kenyans to continue working hard to improve the economy, saying the government is doing all it can to ensure there is a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive.
Dr. Kipto regretted that everywhere he goes he receives application letters from Kenyans seeking government jobs, saying the government could only employ a number of people, adding that the private sector was better placed to create more jobs.
“Currently we have 21 million Kenyans in the workforce, with 3.2 million being formally employed, while the rest, 17 million, work in the informal sector. Out of the 3.2 million, only 1 million are working in the public sector,” he said.
He therefore called on Kenyans not to rely on the government to provide jobs, saying there were very few job opportunities in the government to cater for the hundreds of Kenyans entering the job market every year.
The PS said while Elgeyo Marakwet has huge potential in agriculture, there is a need to improve on their agricultural practices to ensure that their products access international markets.
“We must work hard to ensure that the area is declared a disease-free zone for our products to meet international standards, which is one way of creating more jobs,” the PS said.
Addressing the same occasion, the CS Interior, Kipchumba Murkomen, said the government is planning to establish massive irrigation projects in the Kerio Valley through the revival of the construction of Arror, Kimwarer and Embobut dams in Elgeyo Marakwet county.
Murkomen said this was part of the government’s efforts to develop and improve the area economically, adding that the government would also construct a major road cutting across the Kerio Valley to ease the movement of goods.
The CS cautioned residents against planting food crops along the escarpment, saying they were courting disaster, as this is what led to the deadly landslides in Chesongoch and other areas in the past.
He appealed to residents to plant coffee, mangoes and avocados, among others, which help in environmental conservation.
“We will conduct sensitisation meetings to talk to our people against such agricultural practices but if they fail to heed, then we will have to use enforcement in a bid to save lives,” the CS said.
The CS said the government would not convert Tambach Teachers Training College to a university but would instead construct the Kerio Valley University College adjacent to the TTC before establishing a branch in Marakwet East.
The CS said peace had been restored in most parts of the North Rift, with 1200 guns being repossessed, adding that the government was ready to sponsor reformed youths to various TVETs to gain skills to earn a living.
By Alice Wanjiru
