United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Kitui County government will jointly fund and co-implement development projects worth Sh1.1 billion across the county.
USAID’s Resilience Learning Activity (RLA)’s Chief of Party James Flock and Kitui Governor Dr Julius Malombe signed a Memorandum of Understanding Tuesday to kick off implementation of projects set to be undertaken for one year.
Under the shared development projects deal, the two development partners will implement multi-sectoral projects and programmes, with the county administration contributing Sh742 million besides USAID’s Sh368 million.
Addressing the press after the memorandum signing session in his office at Kitui County headquarters in Kitui town, Governor Malombe termed the partnership as an invaluable boost towards the actualization of his development agenda for the people of Kitui.
“Some of projects include purchase of seeds, mechanized agriculture support, water provision, promotive and preventive healthcare initiatives, school uniform support and menstrual kits support for adolescent girls,” said Dr Malombe.
The County Chief said the target projects fall under the departments of Agriculture, Water, Irrigation & Livestock; Health & Sanitation; Trade, Industry, MSMEs, Innovation & Cooperatives, and Education, Training & Skills Development.
Others are domiciled at the ministries of Finance, Revenue Management & Economic Planning, Governance and Culture, Gender, Youth, ICT, Sports & Social Services.
Kitui County government Special Programmes Director Redempta Matiti said the approach would eliminate duplication of programmes undertaken by the partners.
Mr James Flock affirmed that the agency would continue working closely with the county government towards realization of sustainable socioeconomic progress.
Flock noted that the joint projects would be done in conjunction with USAID implementing partners working in the country. The Partners include RLA, 4Better Health Program, USAID Advancing Nutrition, World Food Program (WFP), World Vision and Afya Ugavi.
By Denson Mututo
