It is a new dawn for Kenya. On the 8th of August 2022, Kenyans took to the polls to vote for the fifth president of Kenya. Seven days later on the 15th of August 2022, a new president-elect elect was officially announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (The official independent regulatory body in Kenya), Honorable William Samoei Arap Ruto. As my beloved country changes the reins of leadership, I feel compelled to look into what the new president-elect brings to the table for Kenyan families.
In the midst of vigorous campaigning, each presidential candidate launched their manifestos. These manifestos are basically published documents that detail the plans and intentions of the presidential candidates if they are elected into office. William Ruto launched his manifesto titled Kenya Kwanza: The Plan. (Kenya First). In his manifesto should it be effectively implemented, Kenyan families stand to benefit greatly.
One of the key points of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto aims at providing homes to up to one million landless families. In addition to this initiative, the manifesto also promises to build 250,000 new affordable homes each year through a public-private partnership. Housing and displacement is a battle Kenya continues to face. Kenya has an annual housing demand of 250,000 units.
Quite a number of Kenyans are often unable to afford proper housing. The increased migration to urban areas has also led to the cropping up of slums characterized by low levels of hygiene and sanitation, lack of access to clean water ,and deplorable living conditions. Families are constantly at risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and parasitic infections such as jigger infestation.
Another key point of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto that directly benefits the family is doubling the money that is allocated to the school feeding program. I once volunteered at a public school and I remember the excitement of the children when the lunch bell rang. They would rush out of class eager to be among the first on queue to receive a hot lunch. A lot of children especially those from families living below the poverty line depend greatly on that lunch meal they receive in school.
Feeding our children is equivalent to feeding the nation because well-fed students flourish and concentrate in class in order to be shaped into the leaders of tomorrow. The mind after all needs to be properly nourished to grasp concepts and formulas. Any person who has tried to sit through a class or lecture with a growling stomach appreciates the difficulty in trying to pay even the slightest bit of attention.
If all goes well and the newly elected president takes up office in the coming days, I hope work begins on making his manifesto a reality. The family needs constant protection and uplifting. Ensuring our children are fed and families are housed is a good way to start.
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