NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 14- The Government has assured development partners that it has firmed up plans to ensure there will be a smooth transition after next month’s general elections.
During the final roundtable with development partners, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and senior government officials said there was no cause for panic as critical preparations for the handover have already been made.
He said that in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive, Cabinet Secretaries will present their handover notes in readiness for the expected change of guard and in appreciation for the need for continuity in government by the end of this week.
“The President has instructed us to prepare handing-over notes, and our Cabinet colleagues can tell you that all of us have completed our handing-over reports. We are prepared to do the democratic thing as government and we will ensure that there is a smooth succession, and we will give it 100 percent support,” he said.
He further said there was also no cause for alarm about the election impact on the economy and national security as special arrangements have been made to forestall any election upheavals and jitters traditionally associated with the General election.
He told representatives from the US, the European Union and international donor agencies including the World Bank and the IMF among others that a mapping of the current security situation compared to similar periods in the past informed the expectations that this year’s election will be largely peaceful.
He attributed the peaceful environment to the anticipation and containment of potential peace and security disruptions, adequate resourcing of security personnel and regular and open engagements with stakeholders including development partners.
“We have been having these meetings with the development partners to discuss the development of our country, and how we are planning to ensure that there is an effective, very successful transition, and that our country continues and remains stable even after the elections,” he said.
The CS also reiterated that the government will accord the IEBC the necessary support to deliver a credible poll.
He said, “Our democracy has come of age; the people of Kenya want a peaceful election, a peaceful transition of power, and continuity so that we can have a stable country. We are ready, prepared, and totally committed to support the Commission to deliver on this mandate.”
The meeting was also used to update development partners on the government’s post-Covid-19 economic recovery strategy, with Treasury PS Dr. Julius Muia highlighting key interventions and the post-election economic outlook.
The meeting also reviewed the drought situation in the country with records revealing that close to five million people in 23 ASALs counties face hunger and acute water shortage.
The development partners, through their chair, Frans Makken, undertook to increase their support for Kenya in its efforts to mitigate drought and famine.
The meeting was also attended by ICT Chair Joe Mucheru, Attorney General Prof. Kihara Kariuki, Deputy Inspector General Edward Mbugua, and Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) CEO Carol Kariuki.
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