Interior PS Raymond Omollo/MINAThe government has assured Kenyans that the country will hold peaceful elections as it called on political leaders and other stakeholders to conduct themselves responsibly during the new electoral cycle.
The Ministry of Interior and National Administration said citizens would be free to elect leaders of their choice without coercion or intimidation while urging leaders to uphold national unity throughout the campaign period.
Speaking during an education support event in Kajiado Central, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo urged young people to embrace national identity above ethnic, religious or regional affiliations.
“You may come from Kajiado, but you are Kenyans. When you go to school, do not see yourself only as Maasai, Kikuyu, Luo or Muslim. See yourself as a Kenyan and pursue the greater ideal of building the Republic we all aspire to,” he said.
Omollo also encouraged Kenyans to take part in discussions about the country's future beyond 2032 by sharing their expectations on education, healthcare, infrastructure and other development priorities.
He said every community should feel included in the country's progress and efforts to improve livelihoods.
The Principal Secretary described education as the country's greatest equaliser, saying it gives every child an opportunity to succeed regardless of their family's social or economic background.
He said the government had prioritised the sector through an allocation of more than KSh780 billion in the current budget. The investment also includes the recruitment of more than 100,000 teachers and the construction of about 28,000 classrooms nationwide.
Omollo said the government was also working to improve the higher education funding system so that students admitted to universities and other tertiary institutions can pursue their preferred courses regardless of their financial circumstances.
He noted that proposed legislation before Parliament is expected to strengthen access to university and tertiary education.
In Kajiado County, he said, about 90 per cent of learners had successfully transitioned to junior or senior school. He added that the government was working with education officials, chiefs, assistant chiefs, village elders, teachers and parents to achieve a 100 per cent transition rate and ensure that no child is left out of school.
The Principal Secretary said the ministry had operationalised additional administrative units to bring government services closer to wananchi.
He also welcomed the removal of additional vetting requirements that had previously made it difficult for residents of border counties, including Kajiado, to obtain national identity cards.
Omollo urged eligible residents to visit chiefs, assistant chiefs and registration officials to acquire national identity documents and register as voters.
He said accurate registration and population records are important for planning and ensuring development resources are distributed fairly across the country.
On healthcare, Omollo said about 65 per cent of Kajiado residents had registered with the Social Health Authority. He encouraged those yet to enrol to do so to improve access to doctors, medicines and well-equipped health facilities.
He commended parents, teachers, local leaders and organisers for supporting the education initiative and reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring children in Kajiado Central enjoy equal learning opportunities.
“Our objective is to build a cohesive and inclusive society in which every Kenyan has access to education, healthcare, infrastructure and government services, regardless of where they come from,” he said.
