3. The Economy

Despite the fact that the economy has recorded impressive growth of over 6% in recent times, the benefits accruing there from have not trickled down to the common man/woman, most of who live below the poverty line. The ever rising costs of fuel and electricity have also resulted in high cost of living for ordinary Kenyans. It has also made Kenyan goods uncompetitive hence discouraging investments. In fact some businesses have had to relocate. Poor infrastructure increases the cost of production and acts as a fetter to economic growth. If this situation is to be reversed then a multi-faceted strategy that includes both medium and long term goals in the key subsectors of the economy such as agriculture and tourism should be put in place. The current practice of providing education and training for purposes of employment only is insufficient as long-term careers can only be ensured in a thriving economy, which must not be shackled by extensive taxation or bureaucracy as is the current state. To this end basic as well as secondary education, together with opportunities for further training and learning, are crucial therefore making the state duty bound to provide them. The FORD People party envisages a vibrant economy that is well-managed in which government revenue is efficiently, accountably and equitably utilized. In order therefore to realise the vision above, a FORD-People led government shall determinedly pursue the following:

▪ A multi-pronged strategy that gives prominence to the growth of the Agriculture and Tourism sectors shall be put in place since these are engines of industrial growth

▪ Regulate and modify both income and corporation taxation so that the systems are more transparent and with much simpler documentation.

▪ Establish and co-manage an efficient public transport and communications system particularly in and between major towns to avoid delays and wastage in order to spur economic growth..

▪ Strengthen the existing trade and industry policy so as to encourage sound economic management, wealth and job creation including capacity to manufacture and produce for export.

▪ Create an enabling environment for the development of relevant skills and manpower that are critical to economic growth

▪ Make quality education together with opportunities for further training and education, accessible to a wider population with emphasis on skills and technological training relevant to faster economic growth.

▪ Seek to eliminate all forms of corruption by encouraging ethical business and work practices that are devoid of corruption.

▪ Require corporations to report on their social and environmental performance as a way of enhancing stakeholder’s rights

▪ Strengthen the institutional capacity of the Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) and that of similar organizations to enable them provide credit and services to small enterprises for accelerated growth of the informal sector.

▪ Ensure sustainable use of our natural resources by putting in place sound economic policies that do not deplete our natural resource to the detriment of the future generations.

▪ Work towards the realisation of an environment of peace and stability that would boost investor confidence.

▪ Improve the infrastructure of all regions while giving local authorities greater powers to borrow and invest for local development.

▪ Strengthen consumer protection by introducing tougher penalties against counterfeits and substandard goods in order to protect the public from dangerous and shoddy goods as well as protecting the rights of legitimate producers.

▪ Introduce legislation to control monopolies and cartels with a presumption against a high concentration of ownership as even in apparently competitive markets.