Kirinyaga County registered a growth rate of 5 percent in a period of five years between 2013 and 2017.
Records from the State Department for Planning indicate that Elgeyo Marakwet recorded the most growth at 10%.
The Director of Planning, Benson Kimani speaking in Kirinyaga said during the period under review Kirinyaga contributed 1.4 percent to the overall national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“High contributors among counties to the GDP includes Nairobi, Nakuru, Machakos, Meru and Mombasa,” he said.
Kimani said it is now the responsibility of every individual to work towards the growth of the country.
“Let us not ask what the government is doing for us but rather what we are doing to make our economy grow” he said.
Kimani made the remarks at a Kerugoya hotel where he represented Dr. Julius Muia, Principal Secretary State Department for Planning during the County Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation system guidelines dissemination forum.
He said the focus on the guidelines is to assist the county governments to set up design, implement and sustain a
functional monitoring and evaluation system that tracks county development.
The planning director said the guide lines come at a time when the county governments have finalized the second county integrated developments plans (CIDPII) for the period 2018 -2022 and have as well mainstreamed the Big 4 Agenda with an aim of moving the economy to a higher economic growth by the end of the plan period.
“CIDPII prioritizes programmes and projects expected to generate broad based inclusive economic growth as well as faster job creation: food security, universal health, reduction of poverty, all which resonates with sustainable development goals (SDGs) .
He stated that such ambitious tenets require a framework for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of county goals to ensure achievements of the envisaged development results.
Kimani said the county governments will have to generate enough evidence to inform the implementation process and remove any bottlenecks that may impede the achievements of the targeted results.
He said the state department for planning has developed an innovative electronic system, housing both the National Integrated M&E system (e-NIMES) and electronic County Integrated M&E system which serves as an executive dash board for real time tracking of progress across the two levels of governments.
“The CIMES tool is at the roll out stage where various counties are uploading their strategic plans and work plans. Once operationalised, the system will provide real time evidence for decision making” he said.
He said the county monitoring and evaluation policy will strengthen efficiency in the utilization of resources and timely realization of development results.
The director said the Kenya Devolution Support Program (KDSP) funded through the World Bank has provided a grant to the tune of US dollars 200 equivalent to Sh 20 billion of which 80% is destined for the counties in terms of capacity grants.
The money he said will be shared equally in all the 47 counties.
“Performance grant which goes to the top performing counties and fulfill minimum conditions of the grant goes to support infrastructure development.
The key result area under the programme will result to improved county planning, progress reports and creating linkages between county governments planning and budget.
He said for improved monitoring and evaluation system in place, Nyandarua County received Sh. 600 million grant as compared to Kirinyaga which received Sh. 400 million for the World Bank funded project on Sustainable Economic Development Program (SUED).
He said many of the county governments though involved in huge development projects keep it to themselves thus scoring low in ranking.
“Kirinyaga was ranked at position six in the best performing counties indicating you are not doing very bad, but there is room for improvement” Kimani said.
The Kirinyaga Deputy County Commissioner Kirinyaga Central, Daniel Ndege addressing the participants during the one day forum said the national government planned together with the county government to avoid duplication of projects.
On county ranking, Ndege said it should be well informed and professional, reflecting the true status of the development at the grassroots.
By Mugucia Rugene
