Nakuru County Governor Launches USAID-Supported Governance Programs

Written by Ruth Magak

H.E. Governor Susan Kihika alongside the USAID Mission Director, Mr David Gosney spearheaded the launch of three transformative governance programs supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The three programs; USAID Ubora Mashinani, USAID Usawa and USAID Closing Gaps in Devolved Health Services aim to revolutionize service delivery and create meaningful citizen engagement in Nakuru and another eleven counties.

Governor Susan Kihika expressed profound gratitude for the great support of the US Government and USAID, emphasizing their role in promoting devolution and prioritizing citizen involvement.

USAID and a consortium of local development organizations will implement the three programs at a cost of Kshs. 3.5 in 11 counties selected by USAID. Governor Kihika is committed to ensuring that quality public services are inclusive and accessible to all in Nakuru County.

The event witnessed active participation from key stakeholders, including the Council of Governors, the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), and the Auditor General’s office with a collaborative approach towards program design and execution.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Kihika affirmed her commitment to enhancing robust citizen engagement and service delivery.

She highlighted the significant strides made in Nakuru County through various USAID-supported programs including USAID-supported programs, including TUJENGE JAMII (UTJ) for comprehensive healthcare services, Health Information Technology (IT) for successful EMR implementation, USAID Afya Ugavi for supply chain enhancement, USAID HERO for improved health financing, and USAID Private Sector Engagement for governance strengthening.

She also elucidated on Nakuru County’s steadfast dedication to inclusive development, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts between the County Assembly and Executive.

“We have a meticulous planning process that ensures citizen representation and ownership in project implementation, utilizing tools like performance contracts and community scorecards to drive accountability and transparency,” she said.

The launch of the three USAID-supported programs gives a foresight of a great era of governance in Nakuru County, promising to identify and address service delivery gaps, fortify legislative and social accountability mechanisms, and facilitate citizen-led development projects.

Governor Kihika pledged her commitment to the seamless execution of these initiatives, assuring stakeholders of her dedication to a people-focused and results-driven approach.

With a resolute vision and steadfast determination, Governor Susan Kihika and her team now embark on a transformative collaboration and proactive leadership in driving positive change for Nakuru residents.

Present were Deputy Governors H E David Kones(Nakuru), H E Lucy Mulili (Makueni), Chief of Staff Peter Ketienya, CECs Roselyne Mungai (Health), Jackie Osoro (Public Service), Nelson Maara (Environment), John Kihagi (Lands), Leonard Bor (Agriculture), County Attorney Caleb Nyamwange, Chief Officers John Murima, Dr.Michael Cheruiyot, Joyce Ncece, Martin Kagai, Joseph Malinda, and Evelyne Kakai.