The Regional Commissioner
The Speaker of the Nairobi County Assembly, who is also the area MCA, Hon Chege Mwaura,
Members of the County Assembly, County Executive Committee Members and other staff, Wananchi wote wa Nairobi, HAMJAMBO!
It is my pleasure to join you and thousands of other residents who have gathered at various venues across Nairobi to celebrate the 56th Madaraka Day.
This important day in our annual calendar is set aside to mark Kenya’s independence and self-rule. The opportunity to govern ourselves was hard-fought and we must jealously guard our freedom and liberty.
Independence allowed Kenyans to reach their highest potential, and we have since developed our nation Kenya into a regional economic powerhouse.
Ladies and gentlemen, despite some setbacks along the way, Kenya has seen steady and progressive growth over the last 56 years. Our potential remains high, and we must all play our part to enable our country to become a newly developed nation by the year 2030. This economic growth must also be accompanied by social development. Too many Kenyans are still living below the poverty line, with most of them in urban areas. In Nairobi, hundreds of thousands of people still live in poor conditions in slums across the city.
My County Government is determined to improve the lives of the poor, and defend their rights to a safe and clean environment. Demolition of homes in the slums, without an alternative settlement will not happen under my administration.
His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta has also indicated that he does not support demolitions of homes belonging to poor people. If the President and the Governor are in agreement, who else imagines that they have the authority to carry out any demolitions in Nairobi?
I assure you that anyone who illegally demolishes houses within Nairobi will have to deal with me directly and face the law. Gone is the era when land grabbers roamed the city with impunity.
Ladies and gentlemen, Nairobi City County Government has taken various steps to ensure effective service delivery. We have partnered with the national government to fix many roads in the city.
We are also at advanced stages of completing various markets, fire stations and other infrastructure projects. Those who love sports have been happily following the progress we continue to make to improve facilities, including construction of 4 new stadia, as well as renovation of the City Stadium.
Nairobi offers free Early Childhood Development Education, and free school milk for our nursery children.
We also offer thousands of secondary school students full scholarships from Form One to Form Four. Our beautification programme, and efforts to clean Nairobi River are also receiving local and international attention.
We have received encouragement from all over the world, and wish to assure that we will sustain our efforts until Nairobi returns to its glory as the green city in the sun. These projects have also enabled us to provide employment to hundreds of young people, some of whom we have rescued and rehabilitated from crime.
Devolution has brought development closer to the people. The Nairobi City County Government has embarked on Phase One of its urban renewal programme to construct new houses in old residential estates. Under this phase, we target between 10,000 and 12,000 units. In total, we plan to deliver about 200,000 units in Nairobi, to support the National Government’s target of 500,000 new houses.
I urge all Nairobi residents to continue to support National and County Government development efforts. On our part, I direct that all major projects must be subjected to public participation. Nairobi residents must have a say on how their resources are . Nairobi is safe and was recently declared one of the most resilient cities.
I congratulate security agencies to continue to keep insecurity away, and encourage all Nairobi residents to jealously guard their peace. I assure you that I remain committed to deliver my promise of a better Nairobi, as the city of choice to invest, work and live in. I wish you all a Happy Madaraka Day.
Asanteni na Mungu awabariki.