By David Kimani
Nakuru, Kenya 4th March, 2016 – Governor Kinuthia Mbugua has asked residents of Njoro Sub-County and the entire county in general to shun politicians peddling cheap politics at a time when all leaders should dedicated their time to serve the people as it is not yet election time and there are no vacant elective posts in the county.
Speaking in Njoro’s People Park yesterday during a two-day outreach program in the sub-county, the Nakuru Governor expressed confidence that his government has made substantial achievements. Adding that his government places peoples welfare above baseless noisemaking and its score card is sufficient proof.
‘We have put all our efforts in serving the people of Nakuru, what we have achieved in three years is commendable and we will not waiver from this course or be deflected by those jumping the gun before the right time to campaign for the 2017 elections comes’.
He further said the County Government of Nakuru has tried to grapple with a huge wage bill and still through responsible stewardship of resources is able to undertake program that for the last three years have improved the welfare of the people.
For example information from the department of water indicates that its initiatives on the first year of devolution such as sinking of boreholes, pumps installations, construction of tanks and building of water piped supply networks increased water supply to the people of Nakuru by 16%.
During the two-day outreach program in Njoro, Governor Mbugua launched the construction of the Kiwanja Ndege water project which has been funded by the County Government to the tune of Ksh 20 million. The project encompasses a 7 km water pipe, 60m3 elevated steel tank, a three tap water kiosk to be located at Ndege Secondary and 30 yard taps to be installed in homes. This project targets 10, 000 people.
Besides the Kiwanja Ndege water project, the County Government of Nakuru has sunk and built a number of boreholes and water pans in various wards in Njoro sub-county. For instance in Mauche Ward, Ksh 10 million has been used for the construction of Kapkembu, Kapmaasai, Hema, Singol, Meta and Ewat water pans. In the coming budgets piping and treatment facilities will be installed.
The Nakuru County Governor also commissioned the construction of Njoro bus terminus which will be located at the junction of the road heading to Njoro town and Egerton University and is envisaged to enhance the transport activity in the sub county.
Governor Mbugua also handed over a grader for rehabilitation of roads in Njoro sub-county as many of the people and groups he served from the six wards in Njoro wanted roads in their wards rehabilitated to improve connectivity and access, although they noted laudable progress has been made on feeder roads maintenance.
Roads such as Muchoruwe-Sigotik-Kwa Right have been rehabilitated, and routine maintenance will continue. In this financial year, there are allocations for murraming of Njokerio-Sigotik. Roads such as Mau-Elementaiata, Mazaini-Gatimu, Ikindu in Mau Narok Ward as well as Naishi-Game, Mbagaria-Kilo, Mbagaria-Milimani and Mbagaria-Kappyanet roads in Lare Ward among other feeder roads will be rehabilitated.
Also during the outreach program Governor Mbugua presided over the groundbreaking of the building of 20 lock up shops. The shops are funded through a Ksh 38 million commercial infrastructure MoU between the County Government of Nakuru and Youth Enterprise Development Fund.
A total of 150 stalls will be built through this cooperation. Apart from Njoro, other sub-counties to benefit with these enterprise facilities include Naivasha (30), Gilgil (20), Nakuru Town (70 for both East and West), and Kuresoi (10).
Besides this intervention to enhance the welfare of the youth, in this outreach program in Njoro Sub-County, Governor Kinuthia Mbugua met with nine youth groups from Njoro and Mauche wards to address various concerns of the youth.
Among those groups are Erithia, Mauche for Change, Njoro All Stars, Kilimo, Njoro Youth Sports Association, Kabianga Neema, Njoro Boda Boda and Piave Youth Groups.
Governor Mbugua encouraged the youth to take up initiatives for socio-economic growth, promising that the County Government of Nakuru will support such ventures. For instance he noted that Jawatho field will be graded and fenced to empower Njoro Youth Sports Association.
Moreover, Njoro home craft and other social facilities will be rehabilitated for the benefit of youth activities.
All the youth leaders after having a one-on-one encounter with the Governor unanimously agreed that the Governor has the interest of the youth and all the people of Nakuru closer to his heart.
‘The Nakuru County Governor Kinuthia Mbugua is a dealer in hope, our encounter with him has established that he is trying his best to improve livelihoods of the people of Nakuru. Nonetheless, all things cannot be done at once so far so good, we are hopeful that much more will be achieved under the leadership of Governor Mbugua’, said John Njoroge of Njoro All Stars.
The president of Nakuru Youth Bunge Forum Philip Ng’ok lauded the County Government of Nakuru for support initiatives for the youth.
He said the Nakuru Youth Bill and Policy as well as the sports bill once in place will help streamline programs for youth engagement and empowerment in the count.
Governor Kinuthia Mbugua also met 27 women group leaders (Tugutuke, Tumaini, Isaiah, Koyumi, Kopkogo, Mwihoko, Umoja, Beror, Peaknan, Kifunama, Njoro and Kikwata Umoja among other women groups).
The agenda for these groups touched on socio-economic support for the women. The groups wanted support in farming, table banking and company formation.
Governor Kinuthia Mbugua donated to Kikwata Umoja Women Group a 10, 000 litre water tank in support of their horticultural farming venture.
Governor Mbugua noted that farmers in Njoro will benefit with the County Government of Nakuru crop development support on crops such as avocado and pyrethrum among others.
He further said that Mau Narok Rural Farmers Sacco will get a milk cooler from the department of Trade, while Kinjoya dairy farmers will benefit with the same facility from the department of agriculture.
Governor Mbugua assured that his government continues to partner with other agricultural stakeholders such as KALRO and ADC among others to improve agriculture in the county as many people depend on it as a source of income.
At the same function, Njoro hospital received an ambulance that was unveiled by Governor Mbugua. The Nakuru County Governor categorically dispelled rumors that Njoro Hospital has no drugs stock.
After inspecting the facility together with Health Chief Officer Dr. Samuel Mwaura, Njoro MCA Hon. Ezekiel Kung’u and his counterparts for Lare Hon. Newton Kabuu (also a member of the health committee Nakuru County Assembly) and Peninah Sortum nominated MCA Njoro established that the facility has adequate drugs supply.
Last month, the County Government of Nakuru supplied drugs and other medical supplies worth Ksh 71 million to all the health facilities in the county.
Njoro hospital has been upgraded, this health facility now has a ward for patient admission and has been earmarked for installation of an x-ray machine and a dental unit. Nesiut Health Centre maternity wing will be equipped, and other health facilities such as Lare, Mau Narok, Kihingo health Centres, Nesuit and Sossiot dispensaries will also receive equipment and staff boosts.
Apart from construction and rehabilitation of ECDE Classrooms and polytechnics, the County Government of Nakuru continues to support education through bursary provisions.
Yesterday, at the close of the outreach program in Njoro two children, Faith Nyambura and Brian Nyakundi received bursaries for secondary education. Faith will join form one in Njoro girls, while Brian now has an opportunity to complete his secondary education at Kilobon high school.
A school feeding program is going to be considered for Lare ward as the area is semi-arid and the County Government of Nakuru is running a school feeding program in arid and semi-arid areas of Nakuru in which 10, 000 pupils from 151 schools are benefiting from.
The Njoro outreach program was a success with many people saying they have witnessed developments by the county government and were optimistic with the spirit and pace things are done much more will be achieved.
The aim of the program is to offer practical solutions to the people and offer them a firsthand feel of how their government works.
‘Wananchi have employed us, thus we need to make ourselves accessible to them for mutual understanding and objective appraisal. This is the rationale through this outreach program we are bringing services of the County Government of Nakuru closer to the people, said Governor Mbugua.
Next week on the 9th and 10th of March the Outreach Program will head to Rongai Sub County.
