The County Government of Bomet has committed Sh. 30 million towards County education revolving fund to boost university education in the region.
Governor Hillary Barchok said that a total of 2,774 university students who are the beneficiaries of the fund have accessed the fund in the first phase of 2019/2020 financial year.
Addressing the County Assembly during the state of the County address for the first time after the demise of the second governor Dr Joyce Laboso seven months ago, Governor Barchok said that education was one of his predecessor’s manifestos for the people of Bomet the reason as to why he was giving it a priority.
“Early childhood education is a priority area for my government. With the current gross enrolment of 65,859 pupils, we want to increase access of Early Childhood education even more,” he said, adding that “my government through the department of education has constructed over 75 ECDEs across all the 25 wards in the county.”
He said that, in a bid to improve access to healthcare in line with the National Government’s Big Four (4) agenda, the county government has already rolled out the county subsidy universal health coverage programme where 10,000 vulnerable households have already benefited.
“Our referral hospital, sub-county hospitals and health centres are now equipped with essential drugs. On October 23rd 2019, we received Sh. 63 million worth of medical supplies from KEMSA that are currently been distributed to 150 public health facilities in the county,” the Governor said.
Dr Barchok pointed out that his administration in conjunction with the national government had launched Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine meant to be administered to 13,554 ten – 12 year- old girls in the county.
“On other issues of health which is in our manifesto, Cancer centre and The Oncology and Chemotherapy Unit at Longisa County Referral hospital is now operational, which serves patients from Bomet, Kericho, Narok, Kisii, Nyamira and parts of Nakuru County,” he stated .
On agriculture, Dr Barchok pointed out that his government will recruit more extension workers who will assist the farmer to improve on food production, marketing and value addition to enable farmer get value for their products.
He said that over 63,000 animals in the region have been vaccinated against major diseases such as Foot and Mouth, Lump Skin disease, rabies, East Coast Fever among other vaccinable diseases.
The governor at the same time warned contractors doing shoddy jobs that their days were numbered as they will be blacklisted.
By Joseph Obwocha
