KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY MS ANNE WAIGURU, OGW, CABINET SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF DEVOLUTION AND PLANNING TO THE THIRD ANNUAL ARID AND SEMI ARID LANDS STAKEHOLDERS FORUM (ASF) AT THE KENYATTA UNIVERSI TY CONFERENCE CENTRE ON MONDAY FEBUARY 23, 2015 Ms Mwanamaka Mabruki, Principal Secretary - Devolution Professor Abdi Guliye, Chairperson - ASAL Stakeholders Forum Representatives of County Governments Development Partners The ASF Steering Committee ASAL Stakeholders Distinguished Guests Ladies and Gentlemen: I am delighted to be addressing such an eminent gathering of stakeholders in the Arid and Semi Arid Lands during the third Annual General meeting of the ASAL Stakeholders Forum. I wish to take this opportunity to extend warm greetings to you all, your presence signifies the seriousness you attach to the future of the ASAL region. Let me take this opportunity to appreciate the Steering Committee led by Professor Abdi Guliye for organizing the meeting, and thank the committee for granting us another opportunity to connect with both the old and new partners, keen on working in the ASAL regions in support of our sustainable development agenda for these regions. This forum provides a platform to reflect on available opportunities, achievements made so far, as well as challenges encountered in the past year, and a chance to chart the way forward for sustainable development of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. The development challenges in ASAL regions are both cross-sectoral and multi-scale and take cognisance that pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods in the region require concerted efforts, to be turned into viable and sustainable ventures due to the unpredictability of dry land environments and economies. The theme of this meeting: Championing the Transformation of the ASALS is indeed timely and resonates well with the Government s agenda for ASAL counties. There is indeed recognition across the board that the ASAL counties are the next frontiers of development for our Nation. 1
Ladies and gentlemen, ASAL counties have historically lagged behind in development, prompting the Government to make targeted policies to deal with the unique challenges of these regions. Some of the key policy documents guiding this process include: The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, Kenya Vision 2030 Development Strategy for Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands, The National Policy for the Sustainable Development of Northern Kenya and the Arid Lands and the Medium Term Plan II (MTP II), in addition to other sectoral policies. These documents all spell out the need to invest in structures and systems necessary to spur development and innovation in the ASAL regions. The region s challenges have remained top of the Country s development agenda and affirmative action has been instituted in almost all the sectors in order to turn these areas into critical networks for development. However there is need to adopt a holistic approach to support development and improve livelihoods by building adaptable measures and reducing their vulnerabilities to environmental shocks. Ladies and gentlemen, The Ministry of Devolution and Planning is mandated with the responsibility of providing policy direction and leadership in planning, implementation and coordination of the sustainable development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands, including coordination of Ending Drought Emergencies (EDE). As you are aware, the Government has committed to Ending Drought Emergencies by 2022 in recognition of the fact that emergencies caused by drought can be prevented with timely and appropriate action. The strategy is now entrenched in the second Medium Term Plan of the Kenya Vision 2030, as one of the key foundations for national transformation. The Ending Drought Emergencies strategy is anchored on six pillars; Peace and Security; Climate Proof Infrastructure; Human Capital; Sustainable Livelihoods; Drought Risk Management; and Institutional Development and Knowledge Management, which once actualised, will address drought both in the shortterm and the long-term and will tap into the unexploited potential in the Arid and Semi Arid Lands. The Ending Drought Emergencies strategy is multi-sectoral, regional, inter-governmental, and requires the participation of a wide range of players, including National and County Governments, agencies, development partners, the private sector and the communities. The development of a Common Programme Framework for Ending Drought Emergencies in collaboration with stakeholders is on-going. This framework will facilitate effective coordination and financing mechanisms, which are critical if the Ending Drought Emergencies goal is to be achieved. 2
Additionally, the Development Strategy for Northern Kenya and Other Arid Lands underscores; 1. Protecting citizens by effectively managing risks, such as, conflict, drought, and climate change. 2. Improving the enabling environment for growth and development by investing in public goods and services, including infrastructure, energy, human capital development, and environmental management. 3. Promoting a socially just and inclusive society, in which the rights of all are protected. The Government has also initiated a range of projects and programs in order to accelerate development of the ASAL region. Through the National Youth Service, the Government has to date constructed 137 water pans and small dams in 16 counties. In addition, the Government in collaboration with County Government, development partners and other stakeholders has continued to support communities through the food relief and cash transfer program. The Government is also keen on the fundamentals of development for the region especially on modernizing the infrastructure, provision of water for human use, livestock and irrigation, human capital development, creation of more employment opportunities and enhancing security. Kenya s Vision 2030 envisages a globally competitive and prosperous future for the youth of this country who are expected to drive the transformation agenda. Another area of focus in growing the ASAL region is harnessing the potential of the Youth through empowerment programmes. The youth are an important group for our growing economy. His Excellency the President has always stated that the greatest resource of our country is the youth and subsequently, the success of our country depends on the youth. To harness this potential the Government is developing and implementing a wide range of initiatives, key among them is the Kenya Youth Empowerment Programme (KYEP) that is expected to create a critical mass of young men and women who will serve and drive the country s transformation Agenda. The Kenya Youth Empowerment Programme will soon be rolled out to the ASAL regions through the National Youth Service. NYS will work with the community youth on various intiatives aimed at empowering the youth through enterprise development, building community assets and instilling a sense of nationhood and community service. 3
Also on course is the expansion of access to credit to promote youth and women businesses and enterprises to generate gainful self-employment through the women and youth fund and the UWEZO fund. Further the President s directive that 30% of procurement in all public institutions be serviced by enterprises owned by youth and women is part of the Government s effort to ensure youth were mainstreamed in Government programs. The goal for the Government is to increase opportunities such as employment and entrepreneurship among the youth in the society. As Government moves to improve the lives of the youth, we encourage them to engage in peaceful and peace building activities in their communities, as peace is a prerequisite for sustained development. With your support and cooperation, our young women and men can be empowered to become change agents in the development agenda in the ASAL regions. The Ministry of Devolution and Planning is also in the process of reviewing the ASAL policy to ensure that it is in tandem with emerging legislative and development issues, which include restructuring of Government and devolution, among others. This has been necessitated by the experiences gained in the implementation of devolution. As I have previously stated here and elsewhere, devolution is a vehicle that will radically transform our Nation. Accordingly, any policy developed for the ASALs has to capture the involvement of the Counties and their unique challenges and opportunities. I know that as stakeholders in the development of the ASAL regions, some of you were involved in the development of this policy in 2012. I am therefore calling upon you to give your invaluable contribution to the Policy revision, to ensure that it is all-inclusive and addresses all the aspects that have a bearing on the region. Your invaluable contribution will thus greatly enrich this policy. I am pleased to learn that an ASF mapping tool has been developed and that the program will provide an important resource to enable stakeholders understand what each organization is doing and where the potential for synergy, collaboration and joint action may exist. As Policy makers we shall certainly benefit from this platform. We all have the unique opportunity to mainstream the sustainable development agenda in ASALs to ensure effective development outcomes for all people. 4
The ASAL Stakeholders Forum as one of the ASAL transformation structures is an essential part of the institutional framework for ASAL Development. Involvement of stakeholders, including the community is necessary if we have to achieve sustainable development. Project and program implementation should be characterized by participatory planning and decision making, consideration of traditional practices, as well as improvement of legal frameworks and security. In conclusion, I know one of the reasons we have assembled here today is to provide a united voice on how our individual and collective efforts will enable each and every one of us to provide essential services greatly needed by the ASAL communities. The dialogue between public and private sectors to help create capacity to implement the ASAL development agenda is important. We are grateful to our development partners, private sector and the civil society who have continued to finance and support various development projects in ASALs. I urge you to continue strengthening the participatory approach by involving our local communities in all our interventions as well as improve communication with our partners at all levels. We must all work together. With those few remarks, I now declare the third ASAL stakeholders forum officially open. I wish you all fruitful deliberations. Thank you Monday February 23, 2015 5