Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki has said that his government is keen on boosting projects in key areas especially in the agriculture and health sector.
Speaking at his Kathwana office during a thanksgiving prayer ceremony, the governor said that they are working on permanently solving the food insecurity that has hit the county in recent times, adding that lack of a ready market for farmers produce has also posed a lot of challenges in the agricultural sector.
“The county has very hardworking farmers even with the constant weather fluctuations and low markets they plant their farms with zeal. We want to create more opportunities for them through creating markets abroad for our farm produce,” said Njuki.
The governor disclosed that through creating the Special Economic Zones, the county government will be able to reach markets abroad with increased value addition on the products bought from local farmers.
“This is because the Special Economic Zones will act like factories and warehouses that farmers can take their produce for export,” he said.
He encouraged farmers to embrace use of natural gases such as Ethylene to ripen bananas and avocados faster.
He added that they will focus on dried products which will be sold to the markets abroad.
“Dried packed mangoes, vegetables and cassavas will be sold to markets such as UK from the factory in Kathwana which will be bought from farmers and sold in form of starch and in powder form then later transported abroad,” he said.
On the health sector, the governor revealed that County Health Management will inspect all health centers in the region, adding that in the past they have mainly focused on major hospitals in Chuka and Marimanti.
Njuki further revealed that the president will soon launch Chuka level 4 hospital to a level 5 in order to improve services delivery in the county. During the visit, the governor noted that the hospital will witness an upgrade of medical equipment and better services.
Deputy governor Wilson Nyaga alias Muisrael, Former Tharaka Nithi governor Samuel Mbae Ragwa, County Executive Directors (CEC’s), County CEO’s, county staff members among other leaders were among the people present at Tharaka Nithi headquarters in Kathwana.
By Beatrice Mwende and Sharon Gitau
