Nandi County has received Sh116 million Equalization Fund to unlock development in marginalized Sub Locations in the area.
The money allocated to Tinderet and Nandi Hills Sub Counties is earmarked for roads, water, electricity and dispensaries to bring the benefiting Sub Locations at par with the others in the County.
Nandi County Commissioner (CC) Caroline Nzuili said all the projects in the three sectors were identified through a thorough public participation process adding that once executed, they would open up the affected areas.
“We followed the law and engaged the residents through public participation to identify the projects,” she said.
Speaking at Tinderet Sub County headquarters during a handing over ceremony for the sites to contractors, Nzuili said the contractors have 21 days to complete the projects asking them to stick to the contractual agreements to ensure that the work is completed as scheduled.
She asked the contractors to deliver high quality work to ensure there is value for money adding that no variations would be allowed.
“What the president signed is what you will get. Therefore, there shall be no variations in the contracts,” she said.
Nandi County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Finance Hilary Serem said the projects would be supervised by a joint committee between the National and County governments.
He said the Committee chaired by the County Commissioner would ensure that the work is done to the specified standards for the benefit of the marginalized areas.
Project Implementation Committees have also been established in the respective Wards to oversight the contractors, he added.
Serem said the initial proposal to the Senate was to receive Sh157 million to roll out the projects but the House approved Sh116 million.
He said that in the 2024-2025 financial year budget, the 34 Counties benefitting from the Equalization Fund would receive Sh3.5 billion arrears and Sh7.6 billion fresh funding.
This, he said would see Nandi County receive the deficit to unlock more development projects in the area.
Tinderet Member of County Assembly (MCA) Paul Birech thanked the National government for considering Nandi County for the Equalisation Fund adding that the money was set to open up marginalized Sub Locations in the area.
Birech said for the first time since independence, Chepkurui Sub Location in Timderet Ward would get water to reduce the suffering locals go through in search of the commodity.
“For the first time, our marginalized areas are going to get development. I believe the status of these areas is going to change for the better,” he said.
By Kosuri Valarie
