REPUBLIC OF KENYA

THE PRESIDENCY

MINISTRY OF DEVOLUTION AND PLANNING

REMARKS BY MS. ANNE WAIGURU, OGW, CABINET

SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF DEVOLUTION AND PLANNING,
DURING THE 1st MOST FORUM OF MINISTERS OF SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
FOR
EASTERN
AFRICAN
COUNTRIES
HOSTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF KENYA GLOBAL
JUSTICE HELD ON 24 -26 FEBRUARY 2015, AT THE HILTON
HOTEL, NAIROBI, KENYA
Your Excellency Hon. William S. Ruto, Deputy President of
Kenya
Amb. Dr. Mary M. Khimilu, Vice President of the MOST ICG
Va (Africa)
Professor Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of
Environment, Water and Natural Resources/SAC Member,
MOST
Professor Jacob T. Kaimenyi, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of
Education, Science and technology, Government of Kenya
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H.E. Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, AU Commissioner for

Social Affairs
Mr. Getachew Endiga, Deputy Director-General, UNESCO
The Deputy Director General UNESCO,
Officials of UNESCO,
Officials of the UN,
Officials of the AU,
Members of the EAC,
Representatives of Development Partners
Ministers of Government of other Nations
Kenya Government Officials,
Representatives from other institutions/organizations
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen;

I wish to cordially welcome you all, as the co-host of this

Management of Social Transformation (MOST) Forum of Ministers
of Social Development for East African countries. I wish to note
that this forum takes place at a very significant time as we reflect
on the Post- 2015 Development agenda on MDGs.
You will recall that the programme of Management of Social
Transformation was launched by UNESCO in 1994 with an
objective of strengthening and dissemination of knowledge to
member states on managing challenges from the consequences
of social transformations. Some of the key elements of social
transformation that County governments will continue to address
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include ending poverty and addressing inequalities. I urge the

forum to discuss these issues in addition to paying attention to
implications of social science research.
Today, social transformation affects all types of society in both
developed and less-developed regions, in the context of
globalization of economic and cultural relation, trends towards
regionalization and the emergence of various forms of global
governance.
Any analysis of social transformation therefore requires analysis
both macro-social focus and local traditions, experiences and
identities. Social transformation can lead to positive social and
political action to protect local and national communities against
negative consequences of global change.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Kenya has made tremendous efforts towards social transformation
for its people in the last decade. Enormous strides have been
taken towards the realization of social transformation through the
thematic areas of the empowerment of women, youth,
marginalized communities and vulnerable persons.
The Constitution of Kenya 2010 is the single most important step
in entrenching social transformation in Kenyas political and
economic agenda. Chapter 4 on the Bill of Rights recognizes
Economic and Social rights including the right to property,
housing, a clean environment and health
The Kenya Vision 2030 under the social pillar aims at building a
just and cohesive society that enjoys equitable social
development in a clean and secure environment. The second MidTerm Plan (MTP II) of Kenya Vision 2030 focus on the
implementation of policies, programmes and projects in social
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sectors to ensure that they contribute towards prosperity and

social transformation.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
As the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry for Devolution and
Planning, my Ministry is tasked with the actualization of Vision
2030 and ensuring the success of the Devolution process.
The
National
Social
Policy
informs
the
Social
Transformation processes and the Ministrys social
transformation agenda is driven through its programmes
targeting Youth, Women and Vulnerable persons.
Through the National Youth Service programme, the Ministry is
promoting social transformation of the youth through
empowerment and re-socialization. The intention is to ensure that
young people are constructively engaged and socialized to avoid
risky behavior and realize their fullest potential.
So far we have increased the intake from 4000 to 21,870 annually.
Young people are trained at NYS and sent into communities to work
with and mentor another 200,000 youth in squads of not more than
15 for a period of at least 3 months. These numbers are multiplied
exponentially when the 200,000 mentored and trained youth, go
into their communities and impact an exponential number of
people.
Those trained then transfer knowledge and skills to youths in the
communities who they will be working with in various development
and community service projects. They are also expected to transfer
the social transformative values they learn in training such as
patriotism, patience, sacrifice, selflessness, discipline and good
virtue within the youth population in the communities. These
activities also build social capital that creates bonding amongst the
youth and thus, there is a transfer of values that creates a ripple
effect.
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Additionally, the youth go through vocational and technical

training. This allows the youth to obtain relevant technical skills in
line with industry specific needs thus making them more
employable and productive;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Addressing inequalities is critical in any social transformation
process. To this end, the Ministry has been playing a leading role in
ensuring that we apply a mainstreaming approach to ensuring
gender equality is taken up as a cross-cutting issue across the
sectors.
Under the Gender program, the MoDP has developed a gender
mainstreaming strategy, whereby gender officers have been
trained and seconded to every other Ministry within government.
Additionally, there are youth officers who are also trained and who
are seconded as well within Ministries. The gender and youth
officers are placed in the central policy and planning units within
Ministries and engage in monitoring and influencing policies on
youth and women affairs.
The Ministry is also promoting improved access to affordable credit
to the youth, women and disadvantaged groups, to ensure that
they can engage in income generating activities, and thus have
sustainable livelihoods: This includes:
i.
ii.

iii.

The Ksh. 6 billion Uwezo Fund which has already started

disbursing funds to these groups;
The Youth Enterprise Development Fund which has so far
disbursed over Ksh. 6.5 billion in loans to the Youth to
date;
The Women Enterprise Fund which has so far disbursed
more than Ksh. 3 billion to over 43,000 women groups;

Further, the Ministry is promoting greater access to government

procurement opportunities which reserves a minimum of 30% of
public procurement for the youth, women and people living with
disability.
This is a significant opportunity for expanding
economic opportunity, as the government at national and county
level is the single largest consumer of goods and services. This
will put real money in the pockets of these previously
marginalized groups, thus improving their social and economic
welfare.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Inequalities does not only manifest across demographic groups, but
also across regions. Communities living in Arid and semi-arid lands
have been singled out since arid lands make up 89% of the country
and are home to 38% of the population. The primary challenge is
ensuring food and nutrition security in a sustainable manner in the
ASALs. Underpinning the policy behind addressing the ASAL
regions challenges is protection of the environment, managing
drought and enhancing adaptability to climate change.
The National Government in collaboration with the Country
Government is committed to implementing the interventions to
improve the livelihoods of communities in ASAL areas.
Through ASAL inter-governmental consultative meetings the
national government works and consults with county governments
and other partners to identify and address interventions in ASAL
areas to scale up efforts aimed at addressing the prevailing
situation in a coordinated manner.
MoDP provides relief food provisions to counties that are food
insecure. Through the joint GoK/World Food Programme Food/Cash
for Assets programme, the national government provides food for
cash to 691,800 beneficiaries in 13 target counties. In addition, we
are implementing a Hunger and Safety Nets Programme, where
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over 70,000 households receive a Ksh2,450 Cash transfer every

month. Through these efforts, the government is seeking to reduce
the vulnerability that communities face in ASAL regions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In conclusion, I hope the deliberations and sharing of experiences
during this forum will push forward the agenda for social
transformation and development as we seek new and innovation
policy interventions for equitable and inclusive societies in this
region.

Thank you