In view of the significant financial resources required to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the implementation of the’ Big 4′ Agenda has been slowed down.
This is according to the second progress report on the implementation of the Big 4 Agenda, covering the period between January-March, 2020.
The report has been prepared by the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government.
For instance, while implementation of the 100% Universal Health Coverage(UHC) is progressing, the draft UHC policy that has already been developed is yet to be enacted into law. Only one internal review meeting has been held.
Planned consultation meetings with the 47 County Governments have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Digitalization of health records in all public health facilities commenced by the Ministry of ICT and MOH conducting an infrastructure assessment.
MOH technical teams are working virtually with international Technical Assistants. Documentation of the process mapping and system development is ongoing. One module has been completed.
The Government also directed that KSh 1.0 Billion from the Universal Health Coverage kitty, be immediately appropriated strictly towards the recruitment of additional health workers to support the management of the spread of COVID-19.
Three years ago, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that during his final term, the Government will focus its time and resources on a targeted transformative agenda based on four socio-economic pillars.
The agenda includes; increasing manufacturing, ensure 100% food and nutrition security, provide 500,000 affordable homes to low-income earners, and provide 100% Universal Health Coverage(UHC).
With regards to Universal Health Coverage(UHC), reforms of the National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIF) have been finalized. A National Therapeutic committee has also been established to review the KEML guide.
The State is providing free Primary Health Care services, basic equipment specifications to KEMSA and has trained 200 specialists through fellowships, placed 2,717-degree holders for internship including two months rural experience, and placed 5,493 final year KMTC students on attachment for period of 4 weeks to 3 months.
The Affordable Housing Program (AHP) is transitioning from the planning phase to implementation with several projects breaking ground in 2020.
Many of the projects will be commissioned this year as planning has been completed and funding issues unlocked.
With the seed funding provided by National Treasury, other anchor projects, comprising over 100,000 units, will be commissioned and contribute further to the achievements required for the realization of the 500,000 affordable homes.
For the manufacturing Pillar, the Country has been able to improve on its ranking on the Ease of Doing Business index from position 136 in 2016 to 56 in 2020.
The Kenya Investment Policy was recently approved by Cabinet and the last 3 budget statements have provided incentives to enhance local competitiveness and reduce inflows of imported products.
The Special Economic Zones Act was enacted and regulations gazetted with the second set of SEZ Regulations already developed to facilitate firms operating in the zones.
Despite the challenges of inadequate human resources & weak co-ordination with Counties and Private Sector in the provision of farmer advisory services and the diminishing land sizes/ small unproductive farms, the Ministry of Agriculture in the last eighteen months has laid a foundation by developing and enacting policies, strategies and regulations to achieve the 100% food and nutrition security.
It has also implemented several projects and programs aimed at achieving the aspirations of the 100% food and nutrition pillar.
For Food Security, the Ministry of Agriculture has laid a foundation for the realization of 100% food and nutrition security by developing and enacting policies, strategies, and regulations to achieve this.
It is implementing several projects and programs aimed at achieving the aspirations of this Pillar of the Big 4 Agenda.
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