Kibaki launches long-awaited Vision 2030

Major reforms in the key sectors of the economy are expected beginning next month as the long-awaited development blueprint, Vision 2030, comes into effect.

Reforms are expected in priority sectors like agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, infrastructure and financial services.

Vision 2030, which contains the major policy changes and targets, was officially launched by President Kibaki on Tuesday.

Top on the agenda will be transforming the agricultural sector to achieve an average growth rate of seven per cent by 2012, which will add Sh80 billion to the Gross Domestic Product. The sector currently accounts for 24 per cent of the GDP.

Reforms targeting cooperatives, research institutions and regulatory bodies will be undertaken to increase the productivity of key crops and livestock.

Idle land will be utilised for crop and livestock production in the next five years and an additional 600,000 to 1.2 million hectares will be put under irrigation.

In the manufacturing sector, the development blueprint targets increasing its contribution to GDP by at least 10 per cent  per annum in the first phase which  begins next month and ends in 2012.

“The other target is to raise the share of Kenyan products in the regional market from seven to 15 per cent  and developing niche products with which Kenya can achieve a global competitive edge.”

To increase the export of manufactured goods, the Government plans to establish special zones and parks to promote export-oriented firms.

However, according to Planning minister, Mr Wycliffe Oparanya, a whopping Sh1.6 trillion worth of investments will be needed in the first phase of the implementation period.

In the tourism sector, the  Government will focus on four key products, namely beach tourism, safaris to premium parks, resorts in underutilised parks and conference tourism.

Focus on the key products, according to the document, will increase the number of international visitors from the current 1.6 million to 3 million by 2012.

President Kibaki expressed confidence that the country will achieve the targets.

The President said the vision will see Gross Domestic Product per capita increase to over $3,000 (Sh189,000) or six times the current rate.

“By the year 2030 we expect to be a country that will be so well integrated through good infrastructure of roads, railways, waterways and airports that it will be impossible to refer to any part of our country as being remote,” he said.

The vision will be implemented in successive five-year medium-term plans, until its conclusion in 2030.

The document, launched amid pomp and ceremony, will succeed the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation.

The new development blueprint is anchored on three major pillars: economic, social and political.

The economic pillar aims to improve the prosperity of all Kenyans by achieving a 10 per cent economic growth rate by 2012.

The political pillar aims at achieving a democratic political system that respects the rule of law and protects the rights and freedoms of Kenyans while the social pillar seeks to build a just and cohesive society in a clean and secure environment.

President Kibaki described the vision as the last major effort in eradicating poverty, illiteracy and disease as the founding fathers had pledged.

He said the Government had prepared the groundwork for the vision in the last five years “and I have no doubt in my mind that Kenyans will rise to the occasion”.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga said his office will ensure all ministries dutifully implemented the flagships highlighted in Vision 2030.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said the launch of the document was a major challenge for the Grand Coalition Government.