The National government has planned to fast track implementation of stalled projects in Kirinyaga County.
The Interior Principal Secretary (PS), Dr. Karanja Kibicho said the envisaged implementation programme, includes making sure the initial capital of Sh.500 million the government provided for buying of rice from farmers is smoothly worked out.
Dr. Kibicho who was in Mwea on Wednesday with other 12 Principal Secretaries said already the directive by the President that institutions like the military, the police and schools start consuming rice from Mwea is being implemented.
“We are here as a way of operationalizing the support to create a revolving fund that will ensure farmers are able to get their money every month when they sell their rice,” he said.
Dr. Kibicho said work has also started to rehabilitate Wang’uru Stadium which is expected to be ready in the next one year.
The PS said another project that has been given special consideration includes the stalled Sh.15 billion KEMRI land the President said must be sorted out.
“We are hoping the County government will hasten the process of the issuance of the tittle deed for the 100 acres of land allocated to KEMRI so that the project can start in the shortest time possible.
“I am here with my colleague, the PS for lands who should make sure the issue of the tittle deed is sorted out so that the project can go on, this issue of the memorandum of understanding can be sorted out later with the project going on,” Dr. Kibicho said.
He said they were in the County as a follow up on the directives the president made to assist the people of Kirinyaga after the issues were raised to him on his recent visit to Kirinyaga late last month.
“We are here to have our meeting as accounting officers of various state departments and explore on how to deal with the issues raised to the President,” he said
On Thiba Dam, the PS said the issue of exemption of tax for the equipment required for use at Thiba dam has already been addressed and the contractor was now able to proceed with the work.
He said the president has insisted that the completion of the dam must remain as scheduled at January 2022 and therefore the need to increase the effort by those involved in the work.
“This is why we are visiting these institutions to identify any teething problem that may hinder the implementations of the projects,” he said.
He said the public will witness a lot of activities in the next three months which, includes tarmacking of over 40 kilometres of the roads covering Wang’uru town.
“I am sure the Mwea rice growers’ cooperative are already feeling the warmth of the purchase of their rice by the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) which was affected immediately after the government gave the directive,” he said.
Dr. Kibicho said plans were also underway to revive the Mwea Rice Mills to cater for the extra 10,000 acres of farming to be brought about by the increased irrigation water from the Thiba dam.
“If the government is not ready and is not prepared on how to handle that rice which will come, it will all go to waste and therefore we are here with the PS responsible for industry to ensure that by the time the first grain from the 10,00 comes out, we are ready for processing,” he said.
The Kirinyaga Deputy governor, Peter Ndambiri said Kirinyaga people are happy with the follow up programme and the sending of the technical team to ensure whatever they had asked from the president is achieved.
By Irungu Mwangi
