8/2/2019 International Workers Day - Moving on.

1/2

International Workers Day

Moving On.

Today, the world over, we celebrate the industriousness of working men andwomen. We celebrate the steady resilience of citizens who juggle their manyobligations and responsibilities with their dreams. We celebrate citizens likeyou who faithfully perform their respective duties and who strive to performthem with the greatest degree of excellence. We celebrate the virtues thatmake for an effective workforce and for a great nation. Tenacity. Diligence.Focus.

Today leaders from a great many nations will arise to recognize that ournational economies ride on the backs of working men and women and that theattainment of our mutual hopes, and common vision depend on securing thebest environment for all our citizens because our collective dreams are boundup in our individual lives.

We celebrate this day because it recognizes the gratitude we owe to thosewhose daily toil serves to make nations great.

Yet within the last year several countries around the world have been facedwith some pervasive threats to national security and many working men andwomen experienced great challenges. These trials have seen a lot of peopledownsize their dreams; hang up hope; grow restless and agitated with anenvironment that wasnt allowing for their progress.

The happenings of the last year have time and time again demanded ourunwavering attention and dared us to do something. Issues such asunemployment, particularly youth unemployment; rising oil prices and generalfood inflation have merited worldwide attention.

The impact has been global. Working class citizens everywhere have felt thepinch.

Kenya has been no exception.

When maize and sugar reached record highs: who felt the impact? The very

workforce we celebrate today. When oil prices surged upwards who felt theimpact? The admirable men and women who through their toil have alwaysdone our country proud. When drought struck within our nation- it is ourcitizens who felt the impact, and it is our citizens who, though they wereexperiencing hardship, rallied to ensure that food was made available to thoseregions of the nation that were so terribly affected.

Today as we recognize the role working men and women play within our nation-

8/2/2019 International Workers Day - Moving on.

2/2

we must also emphasis the need to protect these men and women. As leaderswithin this nation we must unanimously declare that it is our responsibility toensure that citizens can secure a better future for themselves. We mustcontinue to invest in policies that will enhance economic growth so that we canreclaim our citizens from the grip of cynicism and from the deadly hand of

disillusion that has captured the lives of millions around the world.

As many recall, last year was also a year in which we experienced a number ofstrikes. During the Teachers strike I personally had the great privilege ofintervening during negotiations that saw Teachers return to schools. Thestrikes however point to bigger issues that workers in many fields- especiallyeducation and medicine, are voicing. The need for us to steadily invest inensuring that all the right facilities are available within some of these crucialsectors.

We must ensure that the working conditions of those who are employed in

these fields are not just tolerable but exemplary. That we voice our gratitudeto these men and women not by our speech but by striving to afford them withan environment that allows them to perform. The next administration mustshow them, by our actions, that that it appreciates the great service that theycontribute to this country.

Of course this kind of environment will only exist where there is opportunityfor investment and where investment increases. We cannot afford the kind ofinsecurity that we have recently felt within this nation, we cannot afford thepolitical instability that leads to calamity. We must be decidedly resolved that,for the sake of this nation, we will uphold peace and do everything within our

power to ensure that peace prevails within our nation.

Yet despite the issues that have stalked us this past year there is no doubt thatthere is hope within the horizon. The steps we are making towards vision 2030though initially tentative are becoming increasingly evident. As a nation wehave resolved and we must resolve again that

So, have a restful labor day and continue to strive to attain your dreamsbecause only then will we, as a nation, attain ours.

Have a great day!

Yours Sincerely,

Deputy Prime MinisterUhuru Kenyatta.