Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta CGH (born 26 October 1961) is the former and the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. He is the son of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president...
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta CGH (born 26 October 1961) is the former and the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. He is the son of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president.
Notable Achievements:
At the African level Kenyatta has pushed more intra-Africa trade and economic independence of African nations. In November 2014, he launched consultations to reform the United Nations Security Council to expand the voice of Africa in the council.
His government had close ties with China which was funding most of his infrastructure projects.
Summary of Uhuru Kenyatta’s infrastructure projects for FY 2019/20
1. Naivasha to Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway - Sh55.8 billion
It is part of the Chinese-funded modern railway project that is supposed to link Kenya to Uganda and other East Africa countries.
2. Kenya Urban Housing Programme (KenUP) - Sh11.9 billion
Financed by the World Bank, the programme is supposed to help Kenya improve urban management, urban infrastructure, and urban service delivery. It is overseen by Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development.
3. LAPSSET Project - Sh11 billion
A Sh2.5 trillion project will link Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia with railways, waterways, airspace and highways. It is supposed to open up the Northern Corridor which has been economically inactive since independence.
4. Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children - Sh6.2 billion
Launched in 2004, the programme is aimed at meeting the needs of the country’s increasing number of children made vulnerable by poverty and HIV/AIDS
5. Kenya Electricity Modernisation Project- Sh5. 4 billion
A World Bank funded project with three-pronged function: increase access to electricity, improve reliability of electricity service and strengthen Kenya Power and Lighting Company’s financial situation
Education:
Uhuru Kenyatta completed his secondary school education at St Mary’s, Nairobi, in 1979. He then joined Amherst College, a prestigious private liberal arts college in Massachusetts, US, from 1981 to 1985 and graduated with a degree in political science and economics.
Other Achievements:
Kenyatta led and negotiated peace agreements in South Sudan and in Democratic Republic of Congo.
At the East African level, he developed a close relationship with the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Rwanda President Paul Kagame, creating the Coalition of the Willing, a caucus within the EAC that has signed on to more joint development and economic agreements than the other EAC partners, including a joint tourist visa.
He successfully rallied the AU against the ICC culminating in an Extraordinary Summit of the African Heads of State which resolved that sitting African Heads of State should not appear before the ICC.
The AU further asked the Security Council to suspend his trial at the ICC; for the first time ever, the Security Council resolution was defeated by abstention with 9 members of the Council abstaining rather than voting against so as not to offend Kenyatta.
On 28 June 2018, Kenyatta declared a major crackdown on corruption and stated that no one was immune from corruption charges in Kenya. Kenyatta also stated his own brother, a director in a company that had been accused in parliament of importing contraband sugar, should be charged if there is clear evidence against him.
On 28 May 2020 40 civil servants and 14 private sector officials, were arrested on charges related to the National Youth Service scandal.