CONTINUED NEXT PAGE a) Agriculture Economic mainstay of our County Injected Ksh. 50 billion to our local and national economy. Over 70% residents derive their livelihood from agriculture. We have adopted two strategies: I. To increase productivity, commercialization and competitiveness of agricultural commodities and enterprises. II. To develop and manage the key factors of production. Our County produces some of the best cofee in the world. In 2013/14 farmers produced 32 million Kgs of cherry valued at Ksh. 3.6 billion. This fgure is way below our potential. We will work with key stakeholders, particularly the cofee cooperatives, to implement a strategy that will see an increase in production and improve on quality. We are working on strategies to cut out brokers who have feeced this sector for many years. Tea Farming is an important crop in three of our sub-counties. In 2013/14, the farmers produced 85,540 MT of green leaf which earned them Ksh. 4.3 billion. The tea sub sector is faced with several challenges such as low bonuses that need to be addressed to improve farmers earnings. We are calling for reforms in this sector to empower the farmers to have greater control of the crop. Fresh produce- our fagship crops are bananas, French beans and tomatoes. Our County produces over 60% of the French beans exported to the EU from Kenya. Mr Joseph Ndathi Governor COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF KIRINYAGA ONE YEAR LATER KEY DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS Message from the Governor T oday, we mark an important milestone in the develop- ment of our county as we launch the construction of an ultra-modern County Headquarters. Once completed this will be a game-changer in terms of service delivery to the people. Currently, our our staf are scattered around the county due to lack of ofce space. The HQs will bring all key decision makers under one roof making coordination of development activities faster and more efcient. It will be a one-stop shop. Below are highlights of some of our key achievements. In 2013/14 the County produced 285,395 Metric tons of assorted fresh produce valued at Ksh. 4.3 billion. There is still more potential for increased production. Rice is grown by small scale farmers in Mwea irrigation scheme which covers an area of 9,000 ha. In 2013/14 the scheme produced 48,925 Metric tons which earned the farmers Kshs. 2.58 billion. The County government will continue to collaborate with the national government to increase productivity and proftability in rice growing. Quelea birds are a threat to the rice crop. Surveillance is ongoing and we shall strike at the most appropriate time to remove the menace. Key to increasing productivity is use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. This year, we facilitated 15 groups and 14 Co-operative Societies to access the subsidized fertilizer. A total of 72,000 bags of assorted fertilizers (worth about kshs.140 Million) were purchased through these groups and the Co-operative Societies. We have availed fertilizer for this planting season at a cost of Ksh.2,000 per 50kg bag. I advise farmers to liaise with their ward Agricultural Ofcers who will guide them on how to purchase the fertilizers from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) Stores.
A.I .Services Currently studying the options available with a view of lowering the cost of A.I. We have set aside funds to purchase liquid nitrogen containers so that we can bulk semen in our county. Dairy Farming In 2013/14 fnancial year the county produced 7.3 million liters of milk which earned the farmers Ksh. 2.3 billion, however the marketing is not streamlined. Only 30 - 40% of the milk produced in the County is marketed formally through existing Dairy Cooperatives and Dairy Marketing groups and the rest is informally hawked. We are urging our farmers to unite and form one giant Cooperative or Federation that will market and also add value to our milk. b) Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Water Sector 63 Water projects were implemented and are at various stages of completion. Completed Projects Include: Kenera water project, Nguka -Witeithie water project, Rukenya-Kutus water project, Rukanga water laboratory, Riamiatu, Kibaratani water project, Kukikiri irrigation project, Ndiikio water project, Mumako irrigation project, Kirunda water tank, Migiioini water project, Riagicheru water project, Wakigo and Ngando water projects, Kagioini-Kanyokora water project, Kiamuchuku water tank, Mukia water project, Kariria- Umbui, Nginduri, Mikimaini, Mithuthiini, Kamuchege, Kiamuguongo, Gathigiriri borehole, Mithuthiini borehole, Marurumo, Rurumi and Gategi boreholes. Energy Sector, 5 high-mast security lights to serve Kagio, Mutithi, Kandongu, Wanguru and Kianyaga have been constructed and are waiting commissioning. Support green energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emission in the County, procurement is underway for 55 biogas trappers which are intended to beneft households and institutions across the wards on a cost-sharing basis. The County Government is collaborating with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Kirinyaga University College and the NIB in piloting and implementing a new ultra low head (ULH) hydropower generation technology in Mwea. Thirteen sites with a potential of 10 kW have so far been identifed on the main Mwea irrigation water supply canal and many other suitable sites exist in our rivers. Lucy Wangechi frst runners-up Miss Kenya school community in center infrastructure development and capacity building of teachers. By next year the model ECDE centers which will act as resource centres for the wards will be operational. f) Youth Developing strategies on how to make sure they are fully engaged and maximize their full potential. Sensitizing them on anti-social behavior like drug and alcohol abuse. Upgrading of playgrounds in all wards and training football referees. Supporting Bethany home for elderly. Face-lifting Kianyaga children home. Encouraging them to participate in extra curriculum activities such as participating in Miss World Kenya. In the process of constructing a youth hay storage Centre in Mwea. This will promote the youth and community doing hay business. g) Finance In the process of automating our revenue collection to improve on efciency and to seal all leakages. The proposed system will utilize the latest forms of technology in revenue collection such as mobile money (MPESA) and direct deposits through agents spread across the county. These payment options amongst others, will give you the county citizens various convenient ways to pay fees and charges right at the comfort of your house or businesses. h) Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development Through the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development we will endeavor to regularize ownership and use of all public land within the county. Addressing historical land injustices, resolve disputes and Forestry Sector, we have so far planted 25,000 seedlings in schools, 50,000 seedlings on the roadside, 50,000 for river line rehabilitation and 3,000 ornamental trees in our major urban centres. In order to promote tree nursery investment among our youth and women groups, 80,000 seedlings were procured from these groups and tree nursery management training done in all our sub-counties. To rehabilitate the Kerugoya urban forest. forest, we have over the last one year replanted 3,000 indigenous seedlings and constructed a 1km fence to ward-of encroachment. d) Health Initiated various development projects in the health sector- construction of 8 new dispensaries is ongoing Constructing laboratories, X-ray units, and maternity and inpatient wards in various health facilities in the county to expand the range of health services ofered to the residents. Medical equipment has been procured and distributed to many health facilities in the county to enhance health service delivery. In the process of upgrading Sagana health centre to become level 4 hospital and 10 dispensaries to become health centres. Hired more than 260 health workers with diferent professionalism. Experiencing lack of drugs and re-agents necessary to conduct laboratory tests to determine certain sicknesses especially in Kirinyaga County Hospital. e) Education We appreciate eforts by all stakeholders in ensuring our children access quality and relevant education. Committed to improving education standards to desirable levels. Improved ECDE programmes are yielding good results with enrollment in public ECDE centres having risen by 35% (from 10,000 pupils to currently 16,000 pupils) since the launch of free pre-primary education (FPPE). Ensure supply of teaching/ learning resources, disbursement of centre operational grants, involvement of process public land tranfers through the physical planning, lands and housing committee. We have undertaken to secure back land acquired from individuals for expansion of towns and they were compensated but never surrendered the land. This afects towns like Kianyaga, Kutus, Kerugoya, Baricho, Sagana amongst others. Restoration of such lands to enable us plan, provide and develop amenities to Kirinyaga residents. All these activities have been taking place with great collaboration and participation of the Kirinyaga county land management board. We have managed to secure land at Kutus for the development of the new and modern county headquarters whose construction will commence soon. Development plans for Kutus, Wanguru, Kianyaga, Kagio, Sagana and Kerugoya on progress. These were identifed as the fastest growing urban centres that call for urgent development control. The plan will avert the many boundary disputes being experienced in our towns, improve county revenue through property rating and ensure controlled urban development. Through the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, in conjuction with the National Irrigation Board,we have ensured smooth compensation and re-settlement of persons being displaced by the construction of Thiba dam in Kabare area and the lower parts of Mwea. We are working with the Housing Department in developing incentives to attract private investors towards the housing sector and push for public private partneships to increase the housing stock for our staf and the public. There is high demand for quality housing in Kirinyaga for example the high population being generated by the growth of Kirinyaga University college. We are also looking for appropriate land to develop a modern medical training and reseach centre in collaboration with interested parties like KEMRI. Mau Mau War Heroes My government is committed to working with our heroes to explore ways of honouring and recognizing them. It is unacceptable that our heroes who fought for our freedom should be living in abject poverty. We also celebrate our modern day heroes. We shall help them document their experiences for posterity. Text compiled by Evalyne Githinji COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF KIRINYAGA ONE YEAR LATER KEY DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS Contacts P.O.Box 260 10304 Kutus Email; kirinyagacounty2013@gmail.com Tel: 0208010181 Facebook: Governor Joseph K Ndathi, Twitter: @governor Ndathi FROM PREVIOUS PAGE