The outgoing Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago has commended the positive impact that devolution has brought into the county government and the nation at large.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony of the county’s leadership to his successor Jonathan Chelilim, the first Uasin Gishu’s governor who laid the foundation of devolution since its inception in 2013, pointed out that it has been an asset to the county government and the people.
Mandago promised to support the incoming governor and his administration to ensure that the residents fully reap and enjoy the fruits of devolution through implementation of key development projects in infrastructure, health, agriculture, and education.
“We are leaving behind a professional county public service with systems that are working and we believe the next administration will do better than what we achieved as we pioneered devolution. Our work will be to support and ensure that devolution continues to work,” said Mandago.
On his part, Uasin Gishu’s new governor Chelilim, expressed confidence in delivering to the Uasin Gishu residents through fast-tracking the completion of the development projects left behind by the previous government.
Chelilim assured Uasin Gishu people that he will work closely with the national government and in close collaboration with various stakeholders as well as local leaders to provide an enabling business environment stressing more on the jua kali sector through lobbying for local and international markets.
“The strategic areas are aimed at fulfilling the community and individual aspiration. I identify with our manifesto of improving the quality of life for our citizens. My team and I will work towards making Uasin Gishu a model county through economic transformation,” said Chelilim.
He further commended the key steps the outgoing administration had made in terms of development. Additionally, Chelilim said that his county public service will embrace equality and uniformity to facilitate equitable distribution of resources to achieve sustainable economic development.
“I will endeavour to grow our physical capital which include basic infrastructure that people need to make a living as well as the tools and equipment that they use including transport and communication systems, shelter, water and sanitation systems and more importantly create a strong financial system and regular inflow of cash,” he said.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to invest on and streamline key sectors of infrastructure, health, agriculture, education and youth and gender affairs among others.
Ten years down the line, since the inception of the devolved county governments in Kenya, its fruits have been realized by the government and the citizens at large as development projects moved closer to the people down to the grassroots level.
By Ekuwam Sylvester and Mercy Jemutai
