Kirinyaga County Governor Ann Waiguru said her administration has been steering efforts toward achieving the big four agenda set by the national government.
Speaking at Mashujaa day celebrations at Wang’uru stadium, the host governor said the county has made several achievements in all sectors of development.
On Universal Health Care, Ms. Waiguru said that the county has undertaken massive infrastructural and service delivery reforms in the health facilities.
“Our medical complex in Kerugoya town is just about to be completed. The 342 bed capacity five-storey complex will elevate the Kerugoya Level Four Hospital to a Level Five facility, offering the specialized medical services for which residents are currently referred to other hospitals,” she said.
The ultra-modern hospital, which has an ICU, a HDU, an oncology center and a burns unit among other state-of-the-art amenities.
Waiguru also said the county has offered support towards diversification of agricultural activities.
“We have so far supported more than 500 farmers’ groups and close to 50,000 households to undertake various projects under our Wezesha Economic Empowerment program,” she noted.
“Each of the supported households are able to make an extra Sh. 1,000 per day under various value chains which include production of 1 million eggs a month under poultry keeping, tomato, avocado, dairy and fish farming, bee keeping as well as pig rearing,”
The governor also said the county is providing a conducive environment for our traders, most of whom deal in fresh produce.
“We have so far constructed 16 modern markets in various towns,” she told the gathering which included President Uhuru Kenyatta and Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera.
She also acknowledged that Kirinyaga County produces around 62,000 tonnes of tomatoes each year a lot of which goes to waste and the county is in the final stages of setting up a tomato processing plant.
She said the devolved government repossessed 254 acres of grabbed land along the Sagana railway line which will be used to build an industrial park.
The governor further said that the Wang’uru stadium was just a muddy field that required one to wear gumboots in order to walk in but through the promise by the national government, the transformation in the stadium was witnessed as it hosts a national event.
“Among other impacts, it will greatly enhance sports talent development as well as the county’s economic growth,” she concluded.
By Mutai Kipngetich
