National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) and public officers implementing Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) programmes have been directed to play their roles of sensitising and empowering the citizenry on how to utilise the programmes to invest.
According to Nairobi Regional Commissioner (RC) Gilbert Kitiyo, economic transformation starts in communities, where empowered citizens can convert effort into enterprise. This requires officials to create opportunities for citizens to enhance their livelihoods through BETA.
Nairobi, as the national government’s seat and the financial and commercial hub of Kenya, necessitates that its residents are knowledgeable about ongoing projects and programmes, given its role as a convergence point for formal and informal economies.
Photos by Benedict Wasiche.
The RC made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by the Nairobi North Sub-Region County Commissioner Simon Osumba yesterday, during the Regional Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) sensitisation workshop for Sub-Region Security teams, Deputy County Commissioners and Assistant County Commissioners held at Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
Kitiyo mentioned that Nairobi region hosts a rich ecosystem of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); youth-led innovations, women entrepreneurs, informal traders, transport operators, artisans, and service providers who are the backbone of the economy.
He said the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda which has prioritised productivity over dependency, enterprise over entitlement, and inclusion over exclusion, is an approach he noted reflects the foresight and conviction of President William Ruto.
“At its inception, BETA was met with scepticism and, in some quarters, outright doubt. However, as implementation progresses, its logic and effectiveness are becoming increasingly evident,” he stated.
“By deliberately shifting focus to citizens, households, and local enterprises, the President articulated a vision that many did not immediately appreciate but which is now steadily proving its relevance and impact,” said the RC.
He said the success of BETA depends on effective coordination and disciplined implementation, of which the NGAO officers are at the heart of this effort, and told them to ensure that policies, programmes, and projects reach the grassroots; community concerns are addressed promptly; and government interventions are understood, owned, and protected by the people.
The RC also called upon the National Police Service officers to ensure a secure environment at all times, as it is a prerequisite for development, while emphasising that without security and effective administration, even the best-designed programmes cannot succeed.
He said the sensitisation workshop provides a vital platform to enhance coordination among sub-region security teams, Deputy County Commissioners, Assistant County Commissioners, and all implementing agencies.
Kitiyo said the workshop also allows the officers to review progress, address emerging challenges, and align their actions with national priorities.
“Every officer represented here has a responsibility to ensure that BETA projects are supported, secured, and delivered efficiently. This forum is not merely informative; it is a call to collective accountability and shared ownership of the transformation agenda,” he emphasised.
He told the officers to play their role in sensitising members of the public on the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda for its success, noting that every action they take, every challenge they resolve, and every decision they make must contribute to its success.
Kitiyo said the success of BETA in Nairobi will ultimately be judged by tangible transformation at the grassroots, while calling on the officers to come up with clear, actionable outcomes that translate policy into visible improvements in livelihoods and service delivery during their deliberations.
The RC singled out agriculture, MSMEs, affordable housing, the digital and creative economy as BETA key pillars that will drive inclusive growth of the country, as well as transform livelihoods from the bottom up, to ensure that growth is broad-based, resilient, and people-centred.
Kitiyo at the same time noted that the Affordable Housing Programme, which is steadily reshaping the Nairobi skyline, will provide the residents of the city with dignified and decent houses, as well as opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
“Unsafe settlements are being replaced with planned, serviced housing that offers stability for families, creates jobs, and stimulates local economies,” he stated, adding that the development is a demonstration that economic growth must translate into improved everyday life for ordinary citizens.
By Bernadette Khaduli
