We have achieved democratic maturity, Ruto says

NAIROB, KENYA, DEC 12 – President William Ruto lead Kenyans to mark their 60^th year of independence at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi. He says Kenya has grown leaps and bounds in its democratic pursuits.

In his speech, Ruto said that his administration has given independent offices and commission to execute its mandates without influence from the executive. He said judiciary is the pillar for the rule of law.

The judiciary

“Without the rule of law, our democracy falls short of serving us as a people. The judiciary which serves as the foremost anchor of the rule of law continues to grow in its capacity to authoritatively discharge its  constitutional mandate and make justice a right to every Kenyan,” the Head of State said.

“To provide efficient and effective service to people, we have enhance resources available to judiciary, promoted its independence and submitted to its authority in order to deepen our credentials as a nation guided by the rule of law,” Ruto added.

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Independent offices and commissions

The head of state that the constitutional commissions and and independent offices have evolved to discharge their mandate in accordance with the constitution. He highlighted Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Commission of Revenue Allocation and Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which he said they are vital for the delivery of good governance.

“Our constitutional commissions and independent offices have evolved to discharge their mandate in accordance with the constitution and in the most constructive manner in support of good governance,” the President said.

Economy and learning from the best

Speaking about the economic progress, Ruto said the country is still not doing quite fine in comparison to its peers including Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea. However, he state that the country has progressed immensely in democratic maturity.

“Sixty years ago, we are certainly were far from where we are today. The progress we have made is undeniable. Our peers at that times, nations like Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia have similarly made immense progress in democratic and institutional maturity. They have however, made much more economic progress than us and consequently they are much more advance today than we are,”Ruto pointed out.

His words pointed out to his strategies and policies that borrows a leaf or two from the nations he mentioned above. For instance, Kenya Kwanza’s Housing model mimics Singaporean model. Singapore, in 1960s, through its Housing and Development Board revolutionized housing in Singapore to the extend that more than 80% of its citizens own homes.