Kenya commits to public private partnerships for development
President Uhuru Kenyatta has said Kenya is keen on promoting more partnerships between the public and private sectors in order to spur more growth in the country.
The President made the remarks during a meeting with General Electric Global top leadership who paid him a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi. “I am keener on us gearing towards more public-private partnership approach to meet Kenya’s development needs,” said President Kenyatta at the meeting with the GE bosses who were accompanied by US Ambassador Robert Godec.
GE has worked in Kenya’s health sector and played a major role in the implementation of the Managed Equipment Service (MES) which the Jubilee Government launched in 2015 and has revolutionalised Kenya’s health sector.
The MES has been successful in bringing down the cost of health care in the country as well as build capacity through training of skilled labour in the health sector. "I am keen in pursing the MES in the primary level as it resonates with the universal health care pillar of my Big 4 Agenda, " stated President Kenyatta.
Speaking during the meeting, the incoming chief executive officer for General Africa Farid Fezoua lauded the MES program noting that its full implementation is key for the American company. "The implementation of MES is key for us and we are currently running a pilot project in Kisumu," said Farid Fezoua.
The US company is behind a PET cyclotron scanner to be installed at the The Aga Khan Hospital. The unique equipment will contribute immensely in the treatment of cancer in the country and cut out the need for cancer patients to travel out of the country for the specialized service.
Alex Dimitrief, the Chief Executive Officer of General Electric's Global Growth Organisation, said the soon to be inaugurated direct flights between Kenya and the United States will boost trade between the two nations.
He said GE is already in a position to take advantage of more trade volumes noting that GE is glad to be a longstanding aviation partner of Kenya Airways. General Electric has also been greatly involved in the energy sector and assured President Uhuru Kenyatta of the company's continued partnership with Kenya even as the company restructures to deliver more value to its clients.
The President thanked GE for believing in Kenya and expressed his expectations on greater partnerships and investments that will benefit Kenya and strengthen the ties between Kenya and the US.
Mr Dimitrief was also accompanied by the outing GE Africa CEO Jay Ireland to the meeting attended by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua and Chief of Staff and Head of the President's Delivery Unit Nzioka Waita.
