Healthcare Marginally Improves Among Jubilee’s 2013 Empty Promises

Expansion of free maternal care, 6.5 million new jobs, expanded health care, World class stadiums, 57 large-scale dams are just but a few of the promises the Jubilee Government made to Kenyans during their campaigns in 2013 and again in 2017.

The 57 large-scale dams were far-fetched to only get to your vote, so were the 500,000 affordable houses.

5 years since Kenyans voted in the current Government and a look at the country’s current state of affairs paints a glim picture. The Government is in a state confusion and obviously overwhelmed by the expectations it created in its citizens. The corruption-free Government promised is now the most corrupt.

Jubilee Manifesto pillars of 2013 focused on National Cohesion, Sports and Culture, Healthcare, Education, Youth and Women Empowerment and Social Protection. We take a look at how the Uhuru, Ruto led Government has performed five years later.

National Cohesion

Uhuru and Ruto, in their manifesto, promised Kenyans that they would eliminate ethnic division through Affirmative Action to ensure that the under-represented and marginalized groups are well represented in every aspect. The duo promised to bring Kenyans together after elections irrespective of who would win.

Though analysts insist there is little to show on this pledge, Uhuru’s coming together with Raila has brought the country together though it has also dimmed the powers and responsibility of the opposition party.

Sports and Culture

Jubilee promised to establish a National Lottery Scheme which would be enhanced by the National Budget allocations to fund and support professionals of local sporting leagues. The Government promised to facilitate the introduction of professional coaches in schools which is yet to be seen

The establishment of Youth Development Centers in all the Counties that would house an ICT hub, a fully equipped library, and five sports pitches (football, basketball, netball, volleyball and swimming). This is a promise that shows that Jubilee was willing to feed Kenyans on all the lies to get their votes. Kenyan’s were probably too ambitious in believing this one.

The Government would oversee the construction of a social hall and five new national sports stadia in Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret and Garissa respectively. The existing sports stadiums would be upgraded to the county level to include swimming pools, tennis courts, basketball and rugby grounds. The existing stadiums are still in their previous sorry state while those promised stalled at foundation levels.

Healthcare;

Jubilee promised to establish full-fledged low-cost diagnostic centers for persons with chronic or terminal conditions. The Government assured Kenyans that once in power, it would provide adequate screening and treatment facilities for illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and kidney failure, in every county.

The government has partly delivered on the promise through the Managed Equipment Services scheme which aided the increase and improvement of medical facilities across the country.

The promise has, however, been watered down by recurring nationwide doctors’ strike, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Pumwani Maternity Hospital scandals.

Dialysis machines have increased from 44 (2013) in public health institutions, including at Kenya’s largest referral hospital, KNH, to an impressive 289 machines across the country.

Ultrasound machines have increased from 10 in 2013 to more than 100 machines today while the ICU beds have increased from 2013’s 58 beds to todays’ more than 116.

The jubilee Government has scored highest in increasing the number of expectant mothers with access to affordable maternal healthcare from a previous 600,000 in 2013 to a doubled 1.2 million by 2016 December.

Education;

Jubilee’s promise to deliver laptops to all Class One students within the first 100 days failed as unsatisfied bidders challenged how the supplier was identified; the project did not even go past the tendering stage.

Youth, Women Empowerment and Social Protection.

Jubilee’s promise to make sure 30 percent of public bodies would be led by women, the youth, the disabled and the marginalized groups was never actualized as the positions are given out in a corrupt manner.

Government appointments are given to political rejects or well-connected individuals in the society and not on merit.