GOVERNOR JOSEPH K.NDATHI SPEECH TO MARK THE 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF DEVOLUTION.

REMARKS BY THE GOVERNOR, COUNTY

GOVERNMENT OF KIRINYAGA H.E JOSEPH NDATHI

ON THE OCCASION TO MARK THE FIRST

ANNIVERSARY OF DEVOLUTION DELIVERED TO THE

KIRINYAGA COUNTY ASSEMBLY AT KERUGOYA TOWN

ON 27TH MARCH 2014.

THE HON SPEAKER,

COUNTY ASSEMBLY OF KIRINYAGA,

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER,

MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS,

THE HON MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY ASSEMBLY,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I ADDRESS THIS

DIGNIFIED ASSEMBLY AS WE REFLECT ON OUR

SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES AND ISSUES THAT WE

HAVE FACED A YEAR SINCE WE TOOK LEADERSHIP OF

THIS COUNTY. THE COUNTY ASSEMBLY IS AN

IMPORTANT ARM OF THE KIRINYAGA COUNTY

GOVERNMENT WITHOUT WHICH OUR SERVICES

WOULD GRIND TO A HALT.

THOUGH A YEAR IS A SHORT TIME TO JUDGE THE

PERFORMANCE OF A GOVERNMENT OR AN ASSEMBLY,

WE HAVE NEVERTHELESS A SHARE OF EXPERIENCES

AND CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE MET SO FAR,

WE HAVE A GOOD SHARE OF SUCCESSES AND WE

HAVE ALSO LEARNT IMPORTANT LESSONS ALONG THE

WAY.

HON SPEAKER, YOU AGREE WITH ME WHEN WERE

SWORN IN TO OFFICE, WE BEG AN FROM THE

SCRATCH. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, WE WERE

ABLE TO ESTABLISH OFFICES AND SYSTEMS THAT

HAVE ENABLED US TO OPERATE AS A GOVERNMENT.

THESE INCLUDE, SECURING OFFICES, ESTABLISHING

STATUTORY BODIES AND DEPARTMENTS, BUYING

OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES , RECRUITING

STAFF SO AS TO OPERATIONALISE THE COUNTY

GOVERNMENT. THIS STILL REMAINS WORK IN

PROGRESS.

THE HON SPEAKER, I WILL BEGIN BY HIGHLIGHTING

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ISSUES FACED BY EACH

MINISTRY.

I WILL START WITH THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT,

WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES. THIS MINISTRY

COMPRISES THE WATER SECTOR AND IRRIGATION,

FORESTRY, ENERGY AND CLEANSING. OVER THE PAST

ONE YEAR THE MINISTRY HAS REMARKABLE

MILESTONES IN BOTH CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT AND

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION.

THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND

IRRIGATION HAS 28

PROJECTS VALUED AT KSHS 95MILLION.

THREE PROJECTS VALUED AT KSHS 10.5MILLION HAVE

BEEN COMPLETED. THESE ARE KENERA WATER

PROJECT IN MURINDUKO WARD VALUED AT KSHS 7

MILLION, RUKANGA WATER PROJECT IN MUTITHI WARD

VALUED AT KSHS 1 MILLION AND RIAMIATU WATER

PROJECT IN KABARE WARD AT A COST OF KSHS 2.5

MILLION. THERE ARE 13 PROJECTS THAT ARE

ONGOING WHILE 12 OTHER ARE UNDERGOING THE

PROCUREMENT PROCESS. ONE OF THE KEY

CHALLENGE FACING THIS SECTOR IS THE LENGTHY

PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND FURTHER

CONSTRAINED BY THE QUARTERLY MODE OF

DEVELOPMENT FUNDS DISBURSEMENT.

THE HON SPEAKER, THE FORESTRY DEPARTMENT HAS

A DEVELOPMENT BUDGET OF KSHS 14.7 MILLION BUT

HAS RECEIVED KSHS 10 MILLION WHICH HAS BEEN

DISTRIBUTED TO 18 PROJECTS ACROSS ALL THE

WARDS IN

THE COUNTY. THESE PROJECTS ARE: TREE

PLANTING, PURCHASE OF SEEDLINGS, AND

ESTABLISHMENT OF FARM FORESTRY

DEMONSTRATION PLOTS AMONG OTHERS. A KEY

CHALLENGE IN THIS DEPARTMENT IS THAT MOST OF

THE FOREST ACTIVITIES ARE RAINFALL DEPENDENT

AND FAIL TO TAKE OFF WHEN RAINS FAIL.

THE HON SPEAKER, THE ENERGY SECTOR HAS A

BUDGET OF KSHS 25 MILLION AND ONLY KSHS 9

MILLION HAS BEEN RELEASED SO FAR. THIS AMOUNT

HAS BEEN CHANNELED TO CONSTRUCTION OF SIX

HIGH MAST SECURITY LIGHTS AT KUTUS, MUTITHI,

NGURUBANI, KAGIO, KIAN YAGA AND KANDONGU AND

WHOSE PROCUREMENT IS UNDERWAY. A KEY

CHALLENGE IN THIS SECTOR IS LACK OF TECHNICAL

OFFICERS.

THE CLEANSING SECTOR WHICH IS STILL PART OF THIS

MINISTRY WAS ALLOCATED KSHS 8 MILLION FOR THE

PURCHASE OF LAND FOR A DUMPSITE AND KSHS 6.3

MILLION FOR WASTE COLLECTION AND PURCHASE OF

AN EXHAUSTER. FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF A

DUMPSITE HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND THE

PROCUREMENT PROCESS IS UNDERWAY. THE

CHALLENGE IN THIS SECTOR HAS BEEN THAT DURING

THE BUDGETING PROCESS, CLEANSING WAS

OVERLOOKED AND

THIS HAS RESULTED TO SERIOUS

INEFFICIENCIES IN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN

THE COUNTY.

THE HON SPEAKER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES AND

RESPONSIBILITIES THAT GENERALLY RELATE TO THE

MINISTRY’S MANDATE BUT ARE HOWEVER LARGELY IN

THE HANDS OF NON-DEVOLVED INSTITUTIONS. THESE

INCLUDE MANAGEMENT OF GAZETTED FORESTS

(KENYA FOREST SERVICE), WATER RESOURCES

(WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY), ENVIRONMENT

ACTIVITIES, LICENSING AND REGULATION (NATIONAL

ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY).

THE HON SPEAKER, I WANT TO TURN TO THE MINISTRY

OF COOPERATIVES, TRADE, TOURISM, INDUSTRY AND

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS A MINISTRY WITH

A WIDE MANDATE. ON THE SIDE OF COOPERATIVE

DEVELOPMENT THE MINISTRY HAS SEEN THE

REGISTRATION OF SIX NEW SACCOS INCR EASING

TOTAL MEMBERSHIP TO COOPERATIVES TO 300,000

PEOPLE. THROUGH THE COOPERATIVES OVER KSHS 16

BILLION HAS BEEN DISBURSED IN THE LAST ONE YEAR

TO FINANCE VARIOUS ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.

IN THE RICE SUBSECTOR, THROUGH THE FARMER’S

COOPERATIVES OUR EXTENSION

SERVICES HAVE

SEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRONG BRAND OF

PISHORI-KENYA SELECT DEVELOPED AND READY TO

GO TO THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET. WE HAVE

HELPED OVER 1,200 FARMERS AS MEMBERS OF

COOPERATIVES TO PUT OVER 3,000 ACRES UNDER

IRRIGATION AT A COST OF KSHS 181

MILLION SO FAR

BEING A 50:50 COST SHARING BETWEEN THE

COOPERATIVES AND THE DONOR THROUGH

GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE WHICH THE COUNTY

GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER AS ONGOING PROJECT. WE

HAVE ALSO BUILT CAPACITY FOR THE 79 ACTIVE

COOPERATIVES WHICH HAVE ACTED AS

INTERMEDIARIES FOR DISBURSEMENT OF YOUTH AND

WOMEN FUNDS FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

HON SPEAKER THE REASON THAT FARMERS ARE

MAKING GOOD HARVEST IN RICE IS BECAUSE MY

GOVERNMENT WAS ABLE TO KILL ABOUT 10 MILLION

QUELEA QUELEA BIRDS THAT EAT RICE.

TURNING TO EDUCATION, KIRINYAGA HAS BECOME TO

BE KNOWN AS BEACON OF SUCCESS IN PRIMARY

EDUCATION THROUGH ITS CONTINUED EXEMPLARY

PERFORMANCE IN KCPE BUT THE SAME CANNOT BE

SAID FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION. WE HAVE PUT

MEASURES TO ADDRESS THIS AND OTHER

CHALLENGES FACING BASIC EDUCATION WHICH

INCLUDE ALLOCATION OF BURSARY FOR NEEDY

SECONDARY STUDENTS WORTH KSHS. 50 MILLION.

THREE

COMMITTEES

HAVE BEEN INDUCTED AND

OFFICIALLY APPOINTED IN READINESS FOR THE

DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS. IN MODERNIZATION OF

PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION, WE HAVE SINCE LAUNCHED

AN ELABORATE FREE PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION

PROGRAMME; THE PROGRAMME HAVE SEEN:

RECRUITMENT OF 359 TEACHERS, ROLLED-OUT

TEACHING /LEARNING MATERIAL SUPPLY PROGRAMME

WORTH KSHS.12MILLION AND FURNITURE

IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME WORTH

30 MILLION,

INITIATED PROCUREMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF

EXHAUSTIBLE TOILETS FOR 60 ECDE CENTERS AT A

COST OF KSHS. 59MILLION AND OUT-DOOR PLAY

FACILITIES WORTH KSHS 20 MILLION. ON OUR VILLAGE

POLYTECHNIC TOTAL OF INITIAL KSHS 20 MILLION

HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE FOR ITS TRANSFORMATION TO

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION

CENTRES. ABOVE ALL THIS WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE

INTERIM COUNTY EDUCATION POLICIES AND THE

DRAFT COUNTY EDUCATION BILL IS READY FOR STAKE

HOLDERS’ REVIEW. THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IS THE

LACK OF TECHNICAL STAFF DIRECTLY UNDER THE

AUTHORITY OF THIS DEPARTMENT.

COMING TO DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, ECONOMIC

PLANNING, MARKETING AND ICT, WE NOTE THAT WE

HAVE ACHIEVED QUITE A LOT DESPITE THE TEETHING

PROBLEMS. APART FROM MANAGING THE RESOURCES

ON BEHALF OF

THE COUNTY THROUGH THE

BUDGETARY PROCESS, THE MINISTRY HAS OTHER

ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF US

ENGAGING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR A

PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FORTUNE SACCO AND ABC

BANK HAS BEEN NURTURED WHERE MEMBERS WILL

NOW GET CHEQUE CLEARING SERVI CES AND A TRADE

FINANCE FACILITY OF KSHS 200M. THE COUNTY

GOVERNMENT SUCCESSFULLY HELD A THREE DAY

EXHIBITION AT THE KICC LAST YEAR AND AS A RESULT

OF THIS THE KENYA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION (KTDC) HAS IDENTIFIED INVESTORS

KEEN TO INVEST IN THE COUN TY AND ALSO AGREED

TO FUND LOCAL INVESTORS EXPAND THEIR TOURISM

RELATED BUSINESSES.

IN JANUARY, THE MINISTRY HOSTED A COUNTY

PROFESSIONALS FORUM TO DELIBERATE ON HOW TO

TAP THEIR POTENTIAL TOWARDS THE PREPARATIONS

FOR AN INVESTORS CONFERENCE LATER IN THE YEAR.

THE COUNTY HAS MET ALL REGULATORY DEADLINES

REQUIRED BY DIFFERENT LAWS. SOME OF THE

CHALLENGES ARE IN LATE DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

BY THE NATIONAL TREASURY AS WELL AS LEGAL AND

REGULATORY GAPS.

WE HAVE ALSO AUDITED THE FORMER LOCAL

AUTHORITIES LIABILI TIES AND TRANSFER OF THE

LIABILITIES TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THE

CABINET SECRETARY FOR DEVOLUTION TRANSFERRED

THE DEVOLVED STAFF PAYROLL BUT IT HAD VARIOUS

ANOMALIES, LIKE INCOMPLETE DATA, OMISSION STAFF

PAYROLL SCHEDULES AND INACCURATE PAYROLL

DATA. THE SE ISSUES HAVE LED TO DELAYS IN

DISBURSEMENT OF SALARIES TO STAFF. THE PAYROLL

DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO FACED OPERATIONAL AND

CAPACITY CHALLENGES IN ABSORBING THE TRANSFER

OF 1,294 STAFF FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.

HON SPEAKER IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THE TOTA L

WAGE BILL FOR THE STAFF IN THE DEVOLVED

FUNCTIONS AMOUNTS TO KSHS 864 MILLION WHICH

WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 2013/14 BUDGET. THE

COUNTY ASSEMBLY PROVIDED KSHS 216 MILLION

DURING THE SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET WHICH WAS

USED TO PAY SALARIES FOR THE MONTHS OF

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2014. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT

THIS ASSEMBLY APPROVES THE REMAINING KSHS 648

MILLION TO PAY SALARIES FOR THE REMAINING PART

OF THE YEAR TO ENSURE CONTINUITY IN PROVISION

OF SERVICES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF

PROGRAMMES.

IN ORDER TO STREAMLINE AN D INCREASE REVENUE

COLLECTION THE KIRINYAGA COUNTY FINANCE ACT

WAS GAZETTED ON FRIDAY 21/03/2014 AND IS NOW IN

FORCE AND THE MINISTRY HAS ALSO FINALIZED THE

PROCESS FOR RECOVERY OF KSHS 229 MILLION

ARREARS FOR RATES AND PLOTS RENTS DUE TO

DEFUNCT COUNCILS.

THE HON SPEAKER, THE MINISTRY OF GENDER,

CULTURE, SOCIAL SERVICES, CHILDREN AND SPORTS

IS CHARGED WITH

RESPONSIBILTY OF CAPACITY

BUILDING TO ENSURE

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. IT

HAS THUS TRAINED WOMEN, MEN, YOUTH AND PEOPLE

WITH DISABILITIES ON ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT,

FINANCIAL LITERATURE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, DRUG

ABUSE GENDER MAINSTREAMING AND CIVIC

EDUCATION. MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN

CONDUCTED TO YOUTH BETWEEN 13 AND 25 YEARS

ON BEHAVIOR CHANGE AND LIFE SKILLS

DEVELOPMENT. FORTY THREE (43) SCHOOLS WERE

COVERED AND 2,100 YOUTHS IN THE COUNTY

REACHED, TALENT ACADEMY LAND

HAS BEEN

IDENTIFIED AS WELL AS EQUIPPING TWO YOUTH

EMPOWERMENT CENTRES. YOUTH LINKED TO THE

INSURANCE INDUSTRY AND FORTY YOUTH SECURED

EMPLOYMENT. IN SPORT FOUR FIELDS HAVE BEEN

UPGRADED. DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPORTS HAVE BEEN

SUPPORTED FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT, ATHLETICS,

CROSS COUNTY AND MARATHON. PLANS UNDERWAY

TO BUY SPORTS EQUIPMENT. CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED IN THE COUNTY.

THE

ALCOHOL BILL HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO FIGHT

EXCESSIVE CONSU MPTION OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG

ABUSE.

TURNING TO THE MINISTRY OF LANDS, HOUSING AND

URBAN DEVELOPMENT, LAND REMAINS AN EMOTIVE

ISSUE AND IT REQUIRES TO BE HANDLED IN A

CAREFUL MANNER SO AS TO BRING HARMONY AND

PEACEFUL CO -EXISTENCE. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE

MINISTRY HAS UNDERTAKEN TO VERIFY THE ASSETS

THAT BELONGED TO THE DEFUNCT COUNTY COUNCIL

OF KIRINYAGA AND VARIOUS TOWN COUNCILS. THIS IS

IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY LAND WHICH WAS

IRREGULARLY AND ILLEGALLY ALLOCATED TO

INDIVIDUALS ON PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY LAN D. WE

HAVE PUT IN PLACE RELEVANT MECHANISMS FOR

DEVELOPMENT CONTROL. WE HAVE ALSO IDENTIFIED

KUTUS, WANGURU, KIANYAGA, KAGIO, SAGANA AND

KIBINGOTI AS THE FASTEST GROWING TOWNS IN

COUNTY AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING

DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THEM. REC ONNAISSANCE

SURVEYS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT.

THE MINISTRY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL

IRRIGATION BOARD WILL ENSURE THE RE-

SETTLEMENT OF PERSONS BEING DISPLACED BY THE

CONSTRUCTION OF THIBA DAM IN KABARE AREA. THE

MINISTRY HAS IDENTIFIED A PARCEL OF LAND MORE

THAN TWO ACRES THAT CAN BE USED FOR THE

CONSTRUCTION OF THE COUNTY HEADQUARTERS.

ISSUANCE OF TITLES REMAINS A THORNY ISSUE

ESPECIALLY IN MWEA. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO

ENGAGE ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TO FINALITY IN

ORDER TO SATISFY THE LAND OWNERS WHO HAVE

BEEN SQUATTERS AND TENANTS ON THE LAND THEY

OCCUPY. SOUTH NGARIAMA LAND IS ACTIVELY BEING

ADDRESSED AND WE HOPE IT WILL BE RESOLVED

AMICABLY.

IN ITS MISSION TO DEVELOP AN INNOVATIVE,

COMMERCIALLY ORIENTED AND MODERN

AGRICULTURE, THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ,

LIVESTOCK, VETERINARY AND FISHERIES HAS

DRAFTED SEVEN BILLS THAT WILL REVOLUTIONILISE

AGRICULTURE IN THE COUNTY.

THE HON SPEAKER I WANT TO INFORM OF THAT IN

TERMS OF AGRICULTURE WE ARE THE LEADING

COUNTY KENYA. WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN BANANA,

FRENCH BEANS,

RICE AND TOMATO PRODUCTION, WE

ARE NUMBER THREE IN COFFEE PRODUCTION AND

NUMBER FOUR IN TEA PRODUCTION.

THE MINISTRY HAS MADE SEVERAL INTERVENTIONS

TO HELP OUR FARMERS INCREASE CROP PRODUCTION

WHICH INCLUDE SUPPLY OF SUBSIDIZED FERTILIZER

AND HIGH QUALITY

SEEDS FOR PLANTING DURING

THIS RAINY SEASON. SO FAR FERTILIZER WORTH KSHS

50 MILLION HAS BEEN DISBURSED TO FARMERS AND

6,000KGS OF MAIZE SEEDS HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED

FROM KARI AND DISTRIBUTED TO FARMERS WHO

WERE AFFECTED BY THE FAILURE OF SHORT RAINS.

TO PROMOTE FISH PRODUCTION WE HAVE EXCAVATED

20 FISH PONDS AND STOCKED 14 OF THEM FREE OF

CHARGE AND ACQUIRED 18 FREEZERS AND MOUNTED

A FISH EATING CAMPAIGN. IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

WE HAVE CARRIED OUT A DISEASE CONTROL

CAMPAIGN THAT REACHED 100,000 ANIMALS.

TURNING TO THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, I WISH TO

ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE ACQUIRED TWO GRADERS

AT A COST OF KSHS 31 MILLION, THREE TRUCKS AT A

COST OF KSHS 17.1 MILLION AND REPAIR AND

MAINTENANCE OF VARIOUS VEHICLES AND

EQUIPMENT COST KSHS 3 MILLION. ON IMPROVEM ENT

OF ROADS, THE KUTUS -KIANYAGA, AND KAGUMO -

KANGAITA ROADS HAVE BEEN IMPROVED AT A COST

OF KSHS 18 MILLION EACH.

THE HON SPEAKER, WE HAVE ALSO DONE THREE

FOOT BRIDGES AT A COST OF KSHS 5.5 MILLION

AND

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF

INSTALLING

170

CULVERTS AT A COST OF KSHS 4.7 MILLION. WE ARE

ALSO IMPROVING KERUGOYA MARKET AT A COST OF

KSHS 6.5 MILLION FOR PHASE ONE BY INSTALLING

CABRO BLOCKS AND KIANYAGA AT A COST OF SHS 3

MILLION. THE MINISTRY IS ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF

INSTALLING FLOODLIGHTS IN KUTUS, KAGIO,

MAKUTANO AND KIANYAGA TOWNS AT A COST OF KSHS

6 MILLION.

THE HON SPEAKER, WE ARE ABOUT TO COMPLETE THE

CONSTRUCTION OF MODERN PUBLIC TOILETS IN

KAGIO, SAGANA, BARICHO AND KIANYAGA TOWNS AT A

COST OF KSHS 4.8 MILLION.

ON HEALTH SERVICES, WE ARE WORKING HARD TO

ENSURE THAT OUR HEALTH FACILITIES ARE FULLY

EQUIPPED WITH ENOUGH SUPPLIES OF DRUGS AND

MEDICINE. LAST WEEK I FLAGGED OFF THE

DISTRIBUTION OF DRUGS WORTH KSHS 19.3 MILLION

TO ALL HEALTH FACILITIES.

THE HEALTH SECTOR HAS DEVELOPED A FIVE -YEAR

STRATEGIC AND INVESTMENT PLAN, THE HEALTH BILL,

THE COUNTY HEALTH SECTOR PARTNERSHIP POLICY,

THE HEALTH SERVICES GUIDELINES AND HEALTH

REFERRAL STRATEGY POLICY WHICH WILL GUIDE THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEVOLVED FUNCTIONS IN

THE COUNTY.

YESTERDAY, I LAUNCHED A KSHS 165 MILLION HEALTH

SERVICES IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME COVERING 40

PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE ARE WORKING

TO ENSURE THAT SAGANA, KIMBIMBI, KIANYAGA ARE

UPGRADED TO LEVEL 4 HOSPITALS WHILE KERUGOYA

HOSPITAL IS UPGRADED TO LEVEL 5 TO BETTER

IMPROVE HEALTH SERVICES.

THE SECTOR AT THE

ADVANCED STAGES OF ACQUIRING ASSORTED

EQUIPMENT AND AMBULANCES AS A MEASURE TO

STRENGTHEN THEN REFERRAL SYSTEM. THE

CHALLENGES INCLUDE SHORTAGE OF STAFF, WEAK

REFERRAL SYSTEM, IN ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE

IN TERMS OF BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT.

THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES OF DELAY OF SALARIES

FOR HEALTH WORKERS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCASIONED

BY FAILURE OF THE INTEGRATED FINANCIAL

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IFMS) WHICH IS MANNED BY

THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. THE COUNTY

GOVERNMENT IS NOT TO BLAME.

HON SPEAKER, SECURITY HAS BEEN A BIG CONCERN

TO MY GOVERNMENT. THOUGH THIS IS NOT A

DEVOLVED FUNCTION, AS IT REMAINS UNDER THE

CONTROL OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE

NEVERTHELESS COME IN STRONGLY TO ASSIST THE

POLICE TO OPERATE MORE EFFECTIVELY. THIS

HAS

BEEN DONE THROUGH PROVISION OF TWO MOTOR

VEHICLES AND FUEL TO ENHANCE PATROLS. WE HAVE

ALSO ENGAGED CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY

SECURITY TEAM, THIS HAS HELPED REDUCE THE

INCIDENCE OF CRIME.

IN CONCLUSION

MADAM

SPEAKER, THE FACT THAT WE

ARE HERE TODAY MAR KING THIS DAY, IS IN ITSELF A

BIG ACHIEVEMENT. WE HAVE WALKED THIS

DEVOLUTION JOURNEY TOGETHER, EVEN THOUGH IT

IS A NEW THING TO ALL OF US. MY REQUEST IS THAT

WE REMAIN UNITED AS WE PROGRESS.

LONG LIVE KIRINYAGA, LONG LIVE DEVOLUTION.

THANK YOU, MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.