Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has disclosed that the Sh1.6 billion allocation for the rural electrification project will spur economic development in Migori County.
Prof. Kindiki, who spoke during an empowerment programme in Onge’r-Nyatike Constituency, said that the Sh1.6 billion under the last mile programme managed by Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) will connect 17,000 households in the county.
Out of the Sh1.6 billion, Sh300 million has been allocated to the Nyakite constituency to connect 3,000 households in all three sub-counties of Nyakite.
The DP also disclosed that an additional Sh500 million will be added to the Sh1.6 billion to ensure more Migori residents are connected to the national grid.
Nyatike Constituency will also benefit from an additional Sh 200 million to boost the number of households connected to the national grid in the semi-arid sub-county.
On the issue of affordable housing, the DP said that the programme will engage in the construction of hostels at Rongo University, County-Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTC) and County Technical and Vocational Educational Training Centres (TVETs) to give students a conducive environment to rest as well as concentrate more on their educational careers.
Kindiki also revealed that already 400 markets across the country are being built to give the traders a conducive environment to do business.
Migori County has so far benefited from 26 markets that are being constructed in all eight constituencies, making it among the top four counties countrywide with the highest number of ongoing market projects, which are set to promote economic development.
“The government is doing a lot of developmental projects and the empowerment programmes across the country to empower our people economically as well as uplift their living standards,” said Prof. Kindiki.
The DP also confirmed that the government, in partnership with Migori county, will improve landing sites in Muhuru and Sori bays with one additional new landing site in Nyatike to elevate the fishing activities in Lake Victoria.
On matters of health care, he explained that Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) have been empowered skill-wise through basic health models and provided with digital gadgets-smartphones to aid household registration, patient screening, treatment and referrals.
Kindiki also divulged that the national government, through the Ministry of Health, was paying half of the CHVs’ salaries to appreciate their hard, dedicated work as well as empower them economically.
He said that already 25 million Kenyans have enrolled in the Social Health Authority (SHA), a milestone achievement as compared to the previous eight million that were registered in the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The DP also elaborated that the government is targeting to enrol 55 million Kenyans in the SHA scheme to enable Kenyans to access better and quality health care services and reduce the burden of many Kenyans seeking medical attention.
The government is also bringing back the Kazi Mtaani-Climate Work Programme this July, and according to Kindiki, the programme is set to create jobs for the youth across the country.
Other government achievements emphasised by Kindiki included the hiring of 76,000 teachers, with an additional 24,000 that are set to be absorbed in December this year.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for National Treasury and Economic Planning, John Mbadi, said that he will engage with parliament to avail more funds in the education sector to enhance the budget for capitation.
The CS disclosed that the government has been under-budgeting capitation for schools, less than the Sh 22,000 that every child is budgeted for.
Mbadi, who accompanied the DP in the empowerment drive in Nyatike, disclosed that the underfunding of the capitation has led to accrued debts, causing jitters among the school heads.
“Parents should not panic because they are not supposed to pay school fees for their children. We will ensure that the capitation money is availed through the set policies to ensure that we operate within our means and the law,” said Mbadi.
In attendance were Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Minority Leader of the National Assembly (NA) Junet Mohamed, Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Muhammed, and Nyatike Member of Parliament Tom Odege, among others.
The leaders called for unity and urged the locals to support the broad-based government to deliver on its promises.
By Makokha Khaoya
