President Uhuru Kenyatta has resounded a stern warning that the Jubilee government will not tolerate terrorist activities in the country. While delivering the annual State Of The Nation address before the joint session of the National Assembly and the Senate Assembly, the president said that a raft of measures will be implemented to guarantee the safety and security of the nation.
"Threats to safety will indeed be met with our full might," President Kenyatta said adding that in due course, the police force will be increased from the current ratio of one officer to 750 civilians, to one officer to 535 civilians.
Additionally the president added that along with the 1200 vehicles that have already been supplied to assist officers in patrols around the country, officers will be insured in the line of duty.
Installation of CCTV cameras in major cities in the country and broadband connectivity at entry points to deter unwanted intrusions are also going to be implemented by government according to the president.
During the address, the president also mentioned the resettlement of internally displaced persons that the Jubilee government embarked on and is ongoing.
"In September 2013, the government began the implementation of a cash payment programme for all pending cases of IDPs that had not been resettled so far, a total of 8298 households. A total of 777 have received cash payments of Ksh 400,000 per household, totalling KSh 3.3 billion," Kenyatta said.
The president also reiterated the government's full commitment to supporting devolution as evidenced by the budgetary allocation of 32 per cent as opposed to the proposed 15 per cent in the first year of devolution contained in the constitution.
"In support of the county level of government, my administration arranged a massive transfer of skilled men and women to the counties. Across Kenya, public servants with the best training are building our country from its roots. The key inter-governmental structures they need to support their labours, and align their plans with those of national government, have almost all been established," the president said.
The president while concluding his address handed three reports; the first appraising the country's progress in realizing the national values and principles of governance outlined in Article 10 of the Constitution, the second a consideration of the country's progress in fulfilling international obligations, and the third report examining the state of national security
Credit: The Star Nairobi
