What would you do if you were President for 6 months?
We often complain but offer no alternatives; now, imagine you have all the state machinery & power of the presidency for 6 months – what would you do for Kenyans before your exit?
This is what I would do: –
- Polish then implement my draft foreign policy:
(Read more here: Robert Mũnũku: My Letter to the President) - I would nationalize healthcare. This of course like (1) above would have a concrete policy plan. Among other things, private hospitals will be forced to reduce their rates and pay a higher tax. We’ll (my cabinet) also seriously revamp personnel and services in public hospitals.
- Nationalize public transport. If we can borrow money to build roads we can do the same (if need be) to create a government-ran public transport system. Think of ‘Nyayo Bus’ minus the corruption & subsequent collapse. This parallel system (as it would be with healthcare) will compete with private-public transport vendors like matatu and taxi services. I would also start a cheaper ‘uber’-type of service ran by government.
- Declare unemployment a national disaster. Again, if need be, I would borrow money to have a policy created to put all unemployed Kenyans to work, county by county. Unlike a road, this can pay itself back through statutory deductions that those put to work will remit notwithstanding the fact that they are building the economy by working.
- Nationalize land. All land in the country will belong to the government (protected by the constitution). No single citizen can own land but be allowed to lease & produce on it. Likewise, no foreigners can own land but can be allowed to produce on it/use it for commercial services that can build the economy.
- Revamp then nationalize the education system (see the same principle in 2 above)
- Lobby for a referendum to review the IEBC and subsequently political positions. This will be in order to reduce the superfluous wage bill that goes into our currently over-represented country. Reduce MPs (<200), Senators and MCAs. Abolish the Women's Rep role and instead lobby for the gender bill which will ensure QUALIFIED women are given a chance to hold office.
- Reform the police force.
- Reform the prisons system
- Revive regional integration and cooperation towards Pan-Africanism
Ian Lai
i would clean up parastatals. just clean up the civil service so intensely to an extent where you have close to 90% new staff who are not used to the old way of doing things. ministry by ministry.
Don Nyagudi
It’s a short duration of time but I would come up with policies that increase production here in Kenya for Kenya. This will in turn create more jobs for our people reducing unemployment levels and also more people will be able to pay income tax increasing revenue for our country. We can also start exporting more which will improve the value of our currency against our trading partners.
Other things like fighting corruption, working on the systems etc. In 6 months is a long shot. Even though I know the time is not the point here.
Shem Muthomiy
6 months is a short period to make alot of changes but one that i would do is to clear and get rid of some corrupt souls that are letting us down….but with no offence our current president is more corrupt than the souls i speak of
I would call for a referendum to dissolve the Kenya Revenue Authority and allow the 47 counties to collect taxes as they see fit. The counties would then fund the national government instead of the current reverse. This way the counties could dictate the funding for institutions and projects. Some institutions would be dissolved, privatized or sold to the counties.
For example, counties could reduce the budget and salaries for Parliament. If County Assemblies attempt to award themselves large budgets and salaries, it is easier to recall MCAs than MPs and Senators.
Mutemi Wa Kiama
Here is what a friend answered…
1. Sack all the cabinet
2. Call for a snap elections
3. Not vie
4. Preside over free and fair elections
5. Hand over power to the elected individual.
But is this enough to transform a country such as Kenya?
Daisy Mwikali
Is there a provision for this power in our constitution and if not it looks like your first move woud be to break the law otherwise, how would you go around the law?
Ken Karenju
I would ensure corruption in my government has gone to 0%
Don Nyagudi
This is an ideal that can’t be realized. Even more advanced & older democracies have this issue. We can just try and eliminate but it can’t be at zero.
I will Change the education system completely, empower women and youths economically and socially at all capacity, restabalize the economy by using what we have at hand, like talents in art, music, culture and natural minerals, replace corruption with tips and appreciation gift box, for a service well given, if demanded it automatically becomes corruption…
I will forgive all past injustices and corruption scandals to pave way for new beginning and building and rebranding our people and culture afresh…
Yes Challenges may arise along the way, but with a focused realigned Nation and people the mindet is dew to change.
Yes we were sold lies and fakeness in the beginning our Great nation and Africa at large but we can reright the wrong and become strong unified and well informed people… Just but few
I will Change the education system completely, empower women and youths economically and socially at all capacity, restabalize the economy by using what we have at hand, like talents in art, music, culture and natural minerals, replace corruption with tips and appreciation gift box, for a service well given, if demanded it automatically becomes corruption…
I will forgive all past injustices and corruption scandals to pave way for new beginning and building and rebranding our people and culture afresh…
Yes Challenges may arise along the way, but with a focused realigned Nation and people the mindet is dew to change.
Yes we were sold lies and fakeness in the beginning our Great nation and Africa at large but we can reright the wrong and become strong unified and well informed people… Just but few
7
I would deal with corruption head on.. Its so deep rooted in Kenya and its the cause of all the problems we facing. Name them, high unemployment rates, poverty, unequal distribution of resources, bad roads, uequiped hospitals,,
Chrispine Omondi
i will Make sure that i don’t have any of the municipal council in my government. but at least have an office for the tax collectors. they always harass local business people vigorously…its the only department in government that have primitive workers.
I would-make corruption a capital offense and have all prisoners convicted of capital offense like murder hang or shot in public like now(The US and China among others does it)…I would make health and education free and the money from that would come from the multi billions corruption industry whose architects I would have hanged and recovered money from by selling their properties…I would support entrepreneurs who are can provided solutions to the challenges in their respective communities…last but not least, I would bat all the current politicians from participating in any future elections…most of them would have been convicted of corruption which is a capital offense and therefore shot dead
Hannington Mambo
I think 6 months is a very short term to do all that is being suggested.
I will just make these laws then leave office:
1. have one-term, rotational Presidency across the 8 provinces: Equalization & Political Conflicts
2. ensure each of the 290 constituencies selects and completes a 1-billion shilling project every year in their constituency (note that we loose >Ksh300billion per year on corruption): Development, Equalization & Employment
3. change all national ID cards so that all names to be translated to Swahili names: Uzalendo
4. appointment to the board and heads of national institutions to be made by the 47 governors: Regional Balance
6. ensure that all government contracts are implemented by 70% Kenyan owned companies: Sovereignty
7. each government department & large corporation to award at least 1% of their annual purchases/tenders to innovations (GoK currently doesn’t fund innovations!): Develop through Innovations
8. elections to be managed by County Electoral Commissions. the 47 governors then elect a President based on the rules above.
9. all CSs and heads of government parastatals to make a quarterly report to the citizens. Citizens will vote online to extend their contracts or fire them.
10. Call a new election under the above guidelines.
Because these are the basic problems afflicting Kenya, I will gladly leave office
Lynnet Wawira
I would boss up even if it means to be an authoritarian. We are sinking into troubles because of the many systems that limit the action of the president. Robert, Yuri and Chris…you have heavy points that I fully support.
Daniel Kamau
I personally agree with @Chris Mukasa we should just hand this list to the President right now.
Joshua Mwangi
I would change the constitution and revert all land money and possessions stolen and grabbed by the greedy civil servants to the needy Kenyans.
Elkana Frin
Fighting against corruption
Reduce taxes
Stephen Teng'o
I’ll still be excited after the duration to have been the President. I would focus on research for health care before affecting the medical sector. I believe that a healthy nation is a happy nation. I also believe that a happy nation can be productive to themselves and the entire nation.
Stephen Teng'o
Thanks for asking Rob,
I would spearhead and uphold mental health , safety and positive recreation actions among the living on the land of Kenya
Robert Mũnũku
What you have just brought up is of utmost importance and often goes ignored in our country – mental health awareness.
Many young people are increasingly becoming victims of mental illness with no diagnosis. This leads to broken relationships and deaths. The overall effect on the country is also critical because the same population of mentally ill persons are often not diagnosed and hence unfit to lead functional lives, i.e. holding jobs and contributing to the economy.
I have had people very close to me suffer from mental illness, both diagnosed & undiagnosed. I have witnessed first-hand the dangers of not addressing mental health with the same importance given to physical health.
Phanice Wamukota
With Robert and Bravin side by side in the presidential office, I’d say our day of redemption is finally here!!
Koo Letta
Six months is enough to reduce corruption and environmental pollution probably work on our debts to China. I can put emphasis on these issues so that by the time am out anybody that comes in has no option but to finish what I started
Phanice Wamukota
Wueh!! Robert should just take over already with Bravin by his side. This just confirm to me that their is hope for better leadership.
Chris Mukasa
We should just hand this list over to the President right now.
Chrispine Omondi
sure haha
Bravin Yuri
1)Sack Every Police Officer and Start a Fresh Recruitment exercise because the Police Service is the most corrupt in kenya
2)I will propose a Change in the Education Curriculum where talent is invested in more and practicals rather than theories.
3)Declare Unemployment a National Disaster and put into motion ways to curb this by use of a Curriculum that gives kenyans an employer mind set rather than an employee mindset.
4)Cancel the construction of the SGR phase 2.
5)Bring a referendum to reduce the number if MPs in Parliament.
6)Involve Nurses in talks and Doctors to implement Universal health care and make cancer Screening Free.
7)propose Life imprisonment to any corrupt Government agent.
8)Introduce Mental Health in School
9)Address Electoral Injustices in a manner that will ensure future elections don’t always have to be violent.
10)Invest in Sports
Daisy Mwikali
I would hand over power to @Bravin here to execute this list. Is this even possible?
Elkana Frin
Perfect