President William Ruto has urged the Dawoodi Bohra community to intensify their partnership with the government of Kenya as the nation speeds up its bold drive to become a first, world economy.
During his official visit to the Aljamea, tus, Saifiyah campus in Karen, Nairobi, the President explained that Kenyas upgrade from a low, income country to a high, income one will only come about through the collaboration of strong credible investors, reputable institutions, and local communities deeply rooted in the social and economic fabric of the country.
President Ruto commended the Dawoodi Bohra community for what he called a quiet but consistent dedication to national development especially in the areas of housing, health, education, infrastructure, and human capital development.
He also informed that the community’s decades, long existence in Kenya has not only helped to raise the standard of living but also fostered national unity.
We cannot rely on the government alone to take Kenya to first, world status. We need to partner with communities and institutions which already exist in our society and are oriented towards sustainable development, ” the President emphasised.
He brought out the government’s aggressive development agenda which heavily integrates infrastructure, energy, education, housing, and healthcare as the major pillars of economic transformation.
Among other major infrastructure projects, the President made it clear that the Government intends to build over 30, 500 kilometres of roads nationwide. Out of the total kilometre, two and a half thousand will be designated as dual carriageways to improve connectivity, reduce transport costs and promote regional trade.
Healthcare is still very much a focal point within Government’s agenda as evidenced by the huge investments made in hospital infrastructures as well as increasing the number of people accessing the services under the Universal Health Coverage programme.
Education has also been given priority with the sector receiving an additional KSh200 billion in the budget to facilitate learning infrastructure, skills development and human capital growth.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi who is the President’s principal assistant pointed out that the Dawoodi Bohra community has played a significant role in Kenya’s development throughout history. He stated that the community has been at the core of the country’s economy since the 1870s, being a force of unity, philanthropy and helping to achieve peaceful coexistence among people.
According to Mudavadi, the collaboration between the government and the Dawoodi Bohra community is a perfect example of how the public, private partnerships can be a successful formula to roll out infrastructure, social development and human capital investments.
“The Dawoodi Bohra community has always been the example of how development and social harmony can be achieved simultaneously. This partnership shows the way that the government and the communities can work hand in hand for the country’s progress, ” he added.