By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
Senior Government officials are required to uphold high levels of integrity and be answerable for their conduct, as Kenyans push for reforms in all areas.
Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, has stressed the necessity of ensuring that all decisions are evidence-based, supported by reliable data, and implementing a feedback mechanism to enhance service delivery to Kenyans.
“We are accountable for our actions and the buck stops with us so let us just “get things done.” This is the legacy we should all aim to leave at the end of our tenure,” said Mudavadi.
He also emphasized that the government is responsible for listening to the voice of the people through the National Development Implementation Committee process.
CS Mudavadi emphasized that the joint NDIC meeting marks a crucial juncture in the nation’s history. This is the first time that the youth have actively utilized their constitutional right to canvass Parliament to oppose the Finance Bill 2024.
Their primary goal is to advocate for good governance and enhanced service delivery for the citizens. Mudavadi highlighted that the youth have been vocal in holding leaders accountable, sending a clear message to the Government that their needs are not being met.
“We gave them the ammunition to fight back by showing off our opulence, corruption and wasteful use of public resources. Essentially, they are pointing out how insensitive we are to the impact of our decisions on the wellbeing of our people in the face of difficulties arising from domestic and external shocks,” he said.
He mentioned that the youth are demanding a more inclusive Government that is attentive to the emerging issues affecting them and the majority of Kenyans, such as the high cost of living and the lack of employment opportunities.
On the other hand, Mudavadi highlighted that President William Ruto has responded to this unprecedented moment in our democracy by admitting leadership failures, rejecting the Finance Bill 2024, and sending it back to the National Assembly for adjustments.
According to the Press service of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, the import of this is that the Budget for 2024/25 has a gap of Sh346 billion that will make it difficult for the Government to realize its commitments for the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) programmes.
He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the delivery of National Government programmes and projects based on the limited resources available. This requires a stepwise approach to achieve better results, rather than attempting to do everything simultaneously.
He called for the need to embark on more assertive campaigns to seek alternative sources of funding from the private sector, development partners and other sources, which is necessary to complement the limited Government resources.
Mr. Musalia also said that more innovation will help the government solve many challenges facing Kenyans today. He added that youths are rich of ideas and they should be given a chance to participate in the decision-making process.
“Let us ensure all stakeholders are engaged in an inclusive, constructive and participatory ecosystem. Every voice matters and we must listen more than we talk,” he said.