The United States (US) and Laikipia County will cooperate to improve health care, job creation and open the international market for local traders, US Ambassador to Kenya Ms. Meg Whitman has said.
Whitman speaking in Nanyuki town during a tour of the county Monday, revealed that the US government’s top priority was to support health care and economic growth for Kenyans.
“One of my priorities in addition to health and other things is economic growth and development. So, we had a lot to talk about in terms of economic growth development and how to not only benefit Kenyans but also the US,” the Ambassador told journalists at a press briefing in Nanyuki.
Whitman noted that the US is Kenya’s largest export market which she revealed, with the cooperation both Kenya and US will benefit.
“Agriculture products are important exports, so we look forward to a lot of cooperation on things we can do together that will employ people, create new industries and benefit both Kenya and the United States,” she said.
Laikipia county governor Joshua Irungu reiterated that the partnership will target health care systems.
“We have explored areas of partnership and we have agreed on health. Health is our first pillar we want to deliver because without good health, we can’t have any other meaningful development. We will equip our hospitals and ensure nobody walks for more than three kilometres in search of health services,” said Irungu.
As the county faces severe drought, Irungu said, the partnership will also address water shortage to boost food security and nutrition through irrigation. He noted that about 50,000 households will be provided with water tanks for water storage.
By Muturi Mwangi
