The Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) under the auspices of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) has embarked on preliminary preparations for a Target Review for the Government of Kenya on the ‘Big Four’ Agenda.
A team drawn from the Continental APRM is in Mombasa in a sensitisation meeting with NEPAD/APRM Kenya for the Target Review.
Kenya will be reviewed in the ‘Big Four’ Agendas which include, Affordable housing, expansion of manufacturing and quality jobs, food security and nutrition and affordable healthcare for all.
The implementation of the Big Four Agenda aims at directing investments to the projects and policies that will accelerate economic growth and transform lives by creating jobs, enabling Kenyans to meet their basic needs, improve health standards, improve living conditions, lower cost of living, and reduce poverty and inequality under the agriculture, manufacturing, health and housing sectors.
In an interview with the media in Mombasa, Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD/APRM Kenya, Ambassador Dr. Samori Okwiya, commended the government for various development projects undertaken.
Okwiya commended the government for the milestone in implanting the agenda.
“The APRM targeted review mission will be assessing governance of our Big Four Agenda. In addition, Kenya would like its Targeted Review to also cover some of the cross-cutting governance issues that we believe are critical and can provide useful lessons for the entire APRM fraternity. These include the fight against corruption, diversity management, youth unemployment as well as gender inequality,” said Dr. Okwiya.
Okwiya also underscored the importance of good governance structures in the country and the government’s firm commitment to the APRM initiatives including the ongoing National Governance report which he said is soon to be submitted.
Besides the targeted review, Kenya is also implementing the County Peer Review Mechanism (CPRM) which aims at cascading APRM good governance principles to the subnational units in line with the APRM’s decisions taken in 2019.
“The mechanism will foster democracy and strengthen efficient service delivery at all levels of government,” he added.
The CEO said that following the review, the Country will be provided with important data after the Targeted Review that will help improve governance as well as highlighting strengths and challenges that the Country is experiencing during the implementation phase.
Speaking at the Mombasa Continental Hotel on Tuesday, APRM Chief Executive Officer, Professor Eddy Maloka, applauded President Uhuru Kenyatta for allowing the Country to be reviewed by fellow African Heads of States in 2017, saying he has shown good examples of principles of good governance.
Namibia, Djibouti, Zambia and Sierra Leone have had their countries undergo a Targeted Review. Other states expected are Uganda, Ghana and Senegal.
By Chari Suche
