Garissa Governor Ali Korane has assured area residents that he will deliver on his election pledges despite being behind schedule.
In a speech read on his behalf by the County Secretary, Abdi Muhumed, during 2018’s Madaraka day celebrations held at Garissa Primary School Friday, Korane said that not much has been achieved for the past nine months because of the delays in the release of funds from the national government.
Korane assured the residents that all the programmes he had lined up in his manifesto will be implemented to the letter despite the delays.
“We are unable to carry out any meaningful development with the limited funds we have received from the National Treasury. But all our programmes remain on course,” said Korane.
“As a matter of fact we have not received any significant funding since we came into office nine months ago. This situation has made it difficult for us to finance activities that would have impacted positively on our people,” he added.
Korane who used the occasion to outline some of his successes, since he took over leadership said that he had signed an agreement with HITECH roads of the Netherlands for the construction of 2,000 kms of tamarack roads for the next three years.
The governor also announced a new program dubbed kazi mashinani, which will kick off in July and will see 100 women, youth and vulnerable people from each of 7 Sub-counties who will be involved in carrying out environmental cleaning.
“This will go along way as a safety net and alleviating poverty among all the people. But before the programme kicks off, we shall seek the endorsement of the County assembly to actualize this policy.
On the recent floods which rendered thousands of residents homeless and left property worth millions of shillings destroyed, Korane said the county has liaised with humanitarian agencies in extending assistance to victims.
This he said, will be done in a structured manner and will also involve the national government to avoid duplication of roles and ensure that only deserving cases are assisted.
Area County Commissioner, Joshua Chepchieng’ said post flood programmes to assist residents and farmers affected by floods are underway.
“Farmers will receive farm tools, seeds among other assistance to enable them go back to their farms. We shall also reconstruct roads to the farms that were damaged by floods. We shall also see how to assist other individuals and groups,” he said.
He added the ministry of livestock headquarters in Nairobi will provide vaccines and other drugs, as all indications point to possible outbreaks of animal diseases.
Chepchieng’ said department of health and other aid agencies are also on high alert to contain possible outbreak of waterborne diseases.
By Jacob Songok
