The transfer of Sh2.44 trillion to the counties is among the many achievements President Uhuru Kenya has realised in the last nine years in office.

 While addressing Kenyans during his last Madaraka Day speech on Wednesday, Uhuru said that being the first President elected under the 2010 Constitution, he was able to give impetus to the devolved system of governance.

 “Today, the results of my administration’s proactive and enthusiastic support, are markedly visible: from Makueni to Mandera, Busia to Bungoma, Mombasa to Meru, Lamu to Laikipia, and from Turkana to Tharaka-Nithi,” he said.

Regional front

During the celebrations held at Uhuru Gardens, the Head of State used the opportunity to highlight his transformative programmes in healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, titling of land, housing, social protection, affirmative action, commerce and industry, and the ease of doing business.

On the regional front, he said that Kenya led the push to admit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into the East African Community (EAC) that saw the EAC grow to an expanded market of 300 million people.

 To exemplify this, he said Equity Bank had already broken even in DRC and is now the second-largest Bank there.

 In return, diaspora remittances increased tenfold in the last decade; and they now stand at an all-time high of over Sh400 billion in 2021; surpassing traditional exports and making human capital the greatest export.

 “This position has cemented our international stature and enhanced opportunities for Kenyans in the diaspora and within the international civil service,” he added.

In health, a total of 17.1 million Kenyans have been insured under NHIF

 An additional 1,912 healthcare facilities have been constructed countrywide. ICU capacity has been increased by 502 per cent from 108 to 651 ICU ready beds.

On roads in the first term, his administration built 3,000 Kms of tarmac roads while in the second term, close to 8,000 Kms were completed. Over 6,600 kms of tarmac roads are currently ongoing.