THE ‘BIG 4 NOTHING’ AGENDA

On Jamhuri Day of 2017, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta launched a transformation agenda popularly known as the ‘Big Four Agenda’. The President would dedicate the energy, time and resources of his administration to four key areas namely:

1. Manufacturing
2. Affordable Housing
3. Food Security
4. Affordable Healthcare

Out of the 4 agenda areas, three of them are liabilities in the sense that they take away revenue and generate zero revenue. They are: Housing, Healthcare and Food security. Only Manufacturing is able to generate direct revenue through sale of manufactured and/or processed commodities. However, with the unregulated importation of products from Asian countries, the local manufacturing industry is also on the verge of death.

Some may say that Food security, Healthcare and Housing are basic needs and thereby should not be considered as liabilities. The truth is, if Kenyans were empowered accordingly, they would not need the government to build houses for them, pay for their medical bills or buy them food. They would comfortably do this themselves. Therefore, the government should focus on an agenda that empowers their citizens to be independent for a lifetime.

My Big 4 Agenda 

I believe the government should make it their mission to make every Kenyan independent and self – reliant. If they asked me, my big 4 agenda would be as follows:

1. Technology and Innovation. We are lucky enough to be at the middle of a global Technological revolution that is sweeping across every industry internationally. Should the government invest in Technology, in a way that every Kenyan is technologically empowered in terms of knowledge and infrastructure, problems such as Poverty will disappear through innovative solutions from Kenyans themselves. Kenya and Nigeria rank as the two leading nations with regards to access to and use of internet in Africa. Since Kenyans already have access to Technology, all they require is support from the government in commercializing technology through provision of local solutions for local problems.
2. Tourism. Kenya is a nation well – endowed with a wide array of attractions and destinations that if tapped to their maximum, would make the country self – reliant. Kenya, being the East African entry point for most multi – nationals, is a hub for International Business Events.
3. Education. The government should invest lots of resources to creating a generation of people who don’t just read, but study. Our current education system only gives its students knowledge with no clear structure of how to reap value from it.
4. Affordable Health Care. The only Big 4 Agenda item I would retain from the current agenda is Affordable Health Care. This is because health is the only thing in this world that we do not have total control over. You may wake up one morning and get involved in an accident that may require you to undergo an expensive surgery that you had not budgeted for. Apart from eating well, exercising and having peace of mind, there are quite a number of uncontrollable factors that affect your health and well – being.

I believe that in an environment where the above four agenda areas are invested in strategically and objectively, we would have thriving businesses, thriving people and a thriving country which is what being sustainable is all about.

DISCLAIMER

The opinions expressed herein are my own and are as independent as my thoughts. Should you have a different opinion, feel free to express it here or email the writer via kiiru@kiirumacharia.com