Nakuru,Kenya Jan 28- Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika attends Christian Leaders Platform and Nakuru County Government Prayer Breakfast with CECMs, CCOs ,and Directors at Sarova Woodlands Hotel.
Religious leaders and clergy drawn from various religious institutions in the County led by Apostle Ngahu and Apostle Kimani graced the thanksgiving prayers event.
Read NAKURU: Feeding the Future programme Launched in Subukia
In his preaching, Apostle William Kimani of Kingdom Seekers Fellowship asked those who have been given a chance to serve to do so devoid of bias, selfishness and corruption.
The Governor thanked the clergy for their prayers and for standing with her during trying times promising to make this meeting a quarterly occasion.
Kihika urged her cabinet to serve the people of Nakuru County with selflessness regardless of their status in society.
“I assure all of you gathered here that I’m committed to the service of the people of great county of Nakuru, from the farmers, teachers ,civil servants, mama mboga, family ,artisans, traders, entrepreneurs, business people, and generally everybody in this county”, Kihika said
The County boss also said her mission is to add value to her people through the implementation of manifesto pledges she had made to Nakuru people during the campaign trails.
Governor Kihika recounted how the court case gave her hard times in setting up full cabinet.
“ Despite of the challenges that I faced at the beginning of setting up my administration and with God’s blessings we have overcome…the petitioners wanted bribed”, Kihika said.
The implementation of the promises on clean water ,medicine in hospitals, good roads, and functional market is now a work on progress.
County Ministers and Chief Officers Cases
Governor Susan Kihika narrated how some individuals frustrated her through a number of court cases,challenging the appointment of County Executive Committee Members and Chief County Officers.
“ They reached out to me saying if i give them ksh 10 million, they will withdraw the cases”, The Governor said.
Further, the Governor said that she had the capacity to give them the amount of money quoted but she felt its not the right thing to do.
“I could find a million somewhere to give them but I felt I will be starting off the leadership of this county in a wrong trajectory “, Kihika noted.
During the prayer breakfast meeting ,it came out that Governor signed a 2 and half years contract with her Cabinet members. She will assess their performance and extend or terminate contract accordingly.
For the first few months in office, the Governor said she is convinced her cabinet will deliver.
“After Christmas I left for a little bit because I felt like I needed a break and I can tell you I don’t think anybody missed me. My absence was not noticed because the Cabinet executed their duties perfectly “, Kihika added.
The UDA Governor urged her cabinet to execute their mandate diligently.
Agriculture
The Governor reiterated her plans of reviving agriculture in the county.
She noted that reviving agriculture is the key driver for income generation and meeting nutrition targets in the county.
“We are now focused on pyrethrum farming as well as commercial agriculture and we are now reviving that in partnership with local and international partners”, Kihika said.
Last month, Governor Susan Kihika hosted Excellency Meg Whitman who is the United States Ambassador.
Similarly, the Governor is working with the South Korean government who put up a dryer to improve pyrethrum farming.
“In my manifesto i had promised to transform the county into an industrial and business hub, to attain this the administration has laid ground by enacting policies to give it a competitive edge in attracting and retaining local and international investors”, Kihika said
In the next few weeks, the County Government will roll out a new licencing regime that provides for one licence to open a business and the application will be granted within less than 48 hours.
Consequently, the Governor is expediting applications of change of user for lands and rezoning some areas for commercial use to attract investors.
The Governor noted that her administration has set aside land in areas such as Naivasha and Salgaa for commercial investments.
Kihika said her good working relationship with President William Ruto is an added advantage in terms of resource mobilization.
She noted that the President is helping in identifying investors for the Naivasha industrial park that has been talked about for years.
“We are going to put up industries there and he has even gotten commitments from ssome investor who are promoting the country “ Kihika said.
The fruits of the negotiations according to the Governor will be felt in the coming few months.
The Governor envisions a county with unlimited opportunities, where people can open up factories, creating jobs and in the end adding value to agricultural produce.
The Olkaria Geothermal powerplant according to the Governor is boost to the industrial park as they will offer cheap power to any manufacturers.
Health
The Governor recounted how the health sector had nearly collapsed before her intervention.
However, the Governor noted that without good administration, the Medicine may not be utilised for intended purposes.
“In two months after assuming office I did bring to an end the perennial problem of shortage of medicines and related accessories in our hospitals and health centre”, Kihika said.
A consignment of medicine and kits worth Ksh 48 million was flagged off to all hospitals and health centres across the county.
The Governor also said they are working on another consignment of Ksh 100 million that will be dispatched to health facilities.
“ I need credible project management people because we need to make sure those medicines are not leaving our hospitals and being sold”, Governor Susan Kihika expressed.
Education
Governor Susan Kihika highlighted her plans of elevating the Education status in the County.
For instance, the County with other partners launched the Feeding the Future programme at Sidai Primary School in Subukia sub-county.
The programme which is funded by Feeding Futures Organisation seeks to address needy cases of hunger from local communities by incorporating nutrition and will benefit 300 pupils in pre-primary and primary levels from Munanda Community.
Residents are advised to pick the county bursaries forms from their respective area MCAs.
Water
Governor Susan Kihika said her administration has embarked on projects meant to provide adequate water to residents of Nakuru.
Sinking of boreholes in Waterstones regions and completion of dams such as Itare Dam.
The Governor is in talks with the president to ensure the project is back on track this year.
Digital Economy
The Governor has expressed her plans of increasing the number of digital centres from the current 6 to make sure that each constituency has a digital center to give our children competitive edge in ICT.
“We are soon embarking on digitisation of services provided by the county to avoid residents travelling long distances to receive services”, Susan Kihika said.
Discussion about this post