Kitui municipality to receive Sh800 million for upgrade

Kitui Municipality will benefit from projects yet to be implemented by the sustainable Urban Economic Development Program (SUED).
Speaking while attending a meeting with a technical team from SUED, earlier in his office Thursday, Kitui County Deputy Governor, Dr. Wathe Nzau has expressed optimism that the program will impact and uplift the lives of Kitui Municipality residents and the entire County in general.
“This plan will boost many aspects of the private sector and ultimately the lives of everyone. This is the way to go,” Dr. Nzau said.
Further, he expressed the County Government’s commitment towards upgrades in infrastructure not only within the Municipality but also across the county.
In this phase, Kitui municipality will receive funding to the tune of Sh800 million intended to foster and upgrade the operations of the private sector with bee farming and building, constructions materials highlighted as the identified projects set to benefit.
This major boost comes barely 6 months after Kitui County Governor, Charity Ngilu unveiled major roads and market upgrade projects within the municipality, funded by the World Bank.
The visit by the technical team will play ground for their formal agreements on the grant and identify the structures under which this grant will be managed.
Farmers in Kitui are benefitting from the county ploughing subsidy programme aimed at improving food production and generating income to the residents.
During the launch of the programme early March, Governor Charity Ngilu said the initiative targeted farmers countywide noting the need to increase acreage and food production.
The plan was informed by the increased demand for tractor services, citing the changing dynamics that have seen farmers invest in commercialized agriculture than farming to cater for.
The increased access to farm mechanization services by the county government will increase area of land under cultivation, foster farm power, reduce production costs, increase food productivity, alleviate poverty and boost the economy among residents.
The County Chief Officer for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries James Songolo says the plan will carry on as scheduled to ensure maximum number of beneficiaries in the county.
“We want the programme to last as premeditated to ensure maximum number of residents benefit in the first phase and afterwards,” he said.
By Yobesh Onwong’a