There was immense joy in Mwea, Kirinyaga County on Wednesday, February 19 when Governor Anne Waiguru toured the area in support of community empowerment initiatives.
During the visit, Waiguru distributed assorted items including tents, chairs, cooking and catering utensils to 38 self-help and welfare groups comprised of over 1,000 members in Tebere and Thiba wards. She said that the items will be of great use to members whenever they had social events such as weddings thus saving them the cost of hiring them.
She also distributed 177 high density UPVC water pipes and fittings for Kiamanyeki water project that is set to benefit 5,000 households in Thiba and 173 pipes and fittings for Nguka Witeithie, Kamugambo, Gicando and Kihuruko and Kanjema water projects that will serve 12,800 households in Tebere.
The governor said that the initiatives are part of ongoing efforts to promote equitable socio-economic development across the region.
She enumerated key development projects in the area including the upgrading of Kimbimbi Hospital from Level 3 to Level 4 status, which is 80% complete to be opened by end of this financial year, and the ongoing construction of Ndindiruku Dispensary, reiterating her administration’s commitment to provision of accessible and affordable healthcare services to all the residents.
To boost education in the area, Waiguru noted that her administration has this financial year allocated Ksh. 6.5 million for Tebere and Ksh. 6.3 million for Thiba as bursaries in aid of needy students in the wards. She also noted that the Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) sector has also been boosted through infrastructural development and provision of free school uniforms and learning materials.
Waiguru also noted that Mwea has also received substantive support in the agricultural sector including mechanization of rice farming, funding of groups to undertake agricultural projects and access to subsidized fertilizer through cooperatives. She added that the county government is also carrying out research on biological control of snails through integrated catfish farming in the rice plantations.
To provide a conducive environment for farmers and traders, the governor said that ongoing construction of Kimbimbi market and phase II of Wang’uru market will complement the existing markets and increase investments in Mwea.
She noted that all the development projects and programs in the county were geared towards fostering sustainable development whose benefits reach every corner of the county honoring her election pledges to uplift the livelihoods of the county residents.
