Trans Nzoia Governor, Patrick Khaemba, has drummed-up support as well as defended his development track record in the last 10 years, as he launch his legacy Report.
Governor Khaemba made the assessment on Monday, while addressing county workers and his supporters during the official launch of the County Ten Year Legacy Report, at Western Region Museum Headquarters in Kitale town.
The Report christened A Ten years Development Journey is contained in a 63 page booklet. It highlights some of the County government’s economic growth and development achievements in various sectors, since Khaemba was elected in 2013 as the County’s pioneer Governor and through his re-election period, 2017 to the present.
According to the Governor, his Administration boasts of key infrastructural developments in health, agriculture, education, transport and trade sectors within the period on review.
Khaemba singled out Trans Nzoia County Referral and Teaching Hospital and the ultra-modern Kitale Bus Park, as key infrastructural projects that his Administration would be remembered for generations to come.
“I want to state without fear of contradiction that once complete and operational, the County Referral Hospital will be the best in this region,” remarked Khaemba, adding the 400 beds facility will greatly improve living standards of area residents through quality and affordable health services provision.
The Governor disclosed that his Administration through the Department of Health was equipping the Hospital as well as installing necessary medical machines.
“We are outsourcing most of the equipment and machines from the United States of America (USA) and other countries known for best health practices,” said Khaemba who is serving his second and final term.
He announced a pre-launch ceremony for the Sh.1.5 billion health facility on August 1 as he prepares to vacate office after the forthcoming General Election.
The County Boss hailed the Kitale bus terminus, saying it was the second best in East Africa after one built by the late President Joseph Pombe Magufuli’s government in Dar Salaam.
The County Government spent a total of Sh.350 million on the ultramodern terminus which the governor officially launched last week.
“The ultra-modern bus terminus is going to ease and fasten transportation activities within Trans Nzoia and beyond Uasin Gishu, West Pokot and Uganda,” noted Khaemba, as he lauded his staff for prudent utilization of funds allocated to the devolved unit by the National Treasury.
He assured county residents of speedy completion of ongoing construction of the 4,000 stalls capacity Kitale Business Centre, which is adjacent to the bus terminus.
The outgoing Governor also highlighted several programmes and projects initiated by his administration, whose main objective was to boost the agriculture sector.
Some of these included introduction of subsidized Mavuno fertilizers, spirited campaign for crop diversification and soil acidity level improvement.
“When I took over in 2013, there was a general declining productivity in the agriculture sector,” observed Khaemba, who recalled farmers were at the time harvesting between 12 and 15 bags of maize from one acre.
Khaemba was delighted to Report maize farmers were now harvesting between 20 and 25 bags of the crop per acre adding, “Besides employing experts who recommended ways of addressing the acidity level of our soils, including brands of fertilizers, we embarked on a rigorous campaign which enlightened farmers on the significance of crop diversification to reduce overdependence on maize farming.”
He praised the Agriculture Department, noting with adequate support by the government, farmers in the County were steadily embracing coffee, avocado, macadamia and traditional leafy greens farming among other crops.
Khaemba used the occasion to lash out at his political critics for spreading what he termed as propaganda that was aimed at tainting his Administration.
“Even though we did not deliver 100 percent of our promises, those with sound memory and eyes will confirm Trans Nzoia County, in particular Kitale town, is not what we found as we took power,” he stated as he partly blamed challenges encountered to delayed release of devolved funds from the National Treasury.
“I urge my detractors to give me peace and allow me to walk within Kitale town and mingle freely with members of the public in my retirement,” appealed the outgoing Governor as he urged the local residents to support the next county boss after the August 9th polls.
By Maurice Aluda
