On 20 November 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta used a public event in Liwatoni, Mombasa, to tell Cabinet Secretaries to stop spending their time in offices and instead supervise government work on the ground.
Speaking after the launch of the Kenya Coast Guard Service, the President said ministers should personally inspect projects, including road construction, and follow up on stalled works rather than waiting for reports to reach them.
He said he had kept the Coast Guard planning process away from Cabinet Secretaries because he expected they would raise the cost and turn the matter into a political debate. “I knew they will start telling me about billions required and other stories. I started the plans with General Mwathethe (Chief of Kenya Defence Forces General Samson) quietly as we knew some people will bring up some politics here and there,” President Kenyatta said.
The Head of State added that holding office should mean active supervision, not routine attendance at meetings. He said officials needed to visit project sites, ask questions about delays and make sure public money was used for the intended work. “The only thing we want to do is to see ourselves on TV and newspapers. We need to work for these people. We have been given those positions so that we can work for them,” he said.
Kenyatta also pointed to his own low-key visits to the Coast, saying he and General Samson Mwathethe had made night trips to the Liwatoni Fisheries Complex to recover the fish landing site. “We used to go round at night and some of you did not even know that we were here and we finished our work and left knowing what we had planned. Why can’t CSs do the same?” he asked.
He urged the Cabinet to focus on service delivery until the political season begins, including checking on grabbed public land, recovering public utilities and ensuring funds allocated for projects reach their targets. He also warned against corruption and said Kenyans wanted results, not excuses. “Ama mwasemaje wenzangu? Si hivyo ndio tunataka?” he asked, adding that he remained committed to helping Kenya exploit its natural resources to strengthen the economy.
Deputy President William Ruto and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho praised the President’s push for development. Mr Ruto said the government’s focus was on creating opportunities for young people and advancing manufacturing and food security.
Mr Joho said the renewed energy would help the country meet its development goals. “The President has done his part. The question is, are we ready for the opportunities we did not get then and are seeing now? We should ensure we work towards building this nation for the sake of our people,” he said.
Joho, who had previously been one of the Jubilee administration’s critics, said he had made peace with President Kenyatta after the handshake between the Head of State and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Nyakundi Report notes that the article was published on 20 November 2018.
