Heads of Departments (HoDs) at both the national and county governments have been urged to help in communicating presidential messages in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
This is aimed at reaching out to the wananchi at the grassroots so that they can understand and embrace the priority government projects at their localities in order to support President Dr William Ruto’s ambition of making Kenya a first-world country.
Speaking during a two-day workshop on the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) at an Eldoret hotel, Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr. Eddyson Nyale emphasised that the government was doing a lot in terms of development to transform lives of its people and this information therefore needs to be made available to citizens right at the community level.
Nyale affirmed national government officials commitment to sensitising residents on public priority projects and programmes like SHA registration, the Fertiliser Subsidy Programme, Affordable Housing and others.
The sensitisation forum was spearheaded by Executive Office of the President Secretariat (EOPS) led by Charles Kemboi.
The HoDs, particularly the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) were urged to make use of every opportunity like public barazas and other social events to communicate government development agenda and policies.
“Communicate the message of the president down to the wananchi so that they may relate the information with the ongoing projects and programmes in their areas,” noted Kemboi.
Through the sensitisation, implementation, and dissemination of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the government aims to transition the economy from the “top-down” model to a grassroots-driven approach, with the overarching goal of fostering inclusive growth, reducing the cost of living, and eradicating hunger.
The key focus areas for sensitisation include the five core pillars expected to drive the country’s inclusive growth including agriculture, where the government has already launched subsidised fertiliser, Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System registration, coffee sector reforms and livestock vaccination.
The government is also offering access to affordable credit through Hustler Fund, support for “Mama Mbogas,” besides development of the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs), under the Micro Small and Medium Enterpr ses (MSMEs) economy pillar.
In Housing and settlement, the government aims to accelerate the Affordable Housing Programme to provide jobs and affordable units for Kenyans.
Equally, under the Universal Health Coverage pillar the state is supporting the Social Health Authority (SHA) and improving health infrastructure to ensure every Kenyan regardless of economic status is guaranteed access to high-value health care.
The last pillar, touching on the youth, is the digital superhighway and the creative economy, where the government is expanding fibre optic networks and installing public Wi-Fi hotspots across the country to ensure the youth access online jobs and at the same time monetise their talents.
The government is therefore focusing on increasing internet connectivity in rural areas and training citizens on digital skills, thus enabling access to government’s e-citizen services.
by Ekuwam Sylvester
