Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Allasow has called on county heads of departments to take an active role in promoting and explaining the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) to citizens, saying effective communication is key to ensuring the public understands government programmes.
Speaking during the opening of a sensitisation retreat that brought together officers from the Government Delivery Unit (GDU) and county departmental heads, Allasow challenged participants to thoroughly familiarise themselves with the government manifesto and its implementation strategies.
He urged the officers to become reliable sources of information on government policies and projects, noting that citizens frequently seek clarification from public servants on national development initiatives.
“Learn the government manifesto and disseminate it to the public. You should be able to explain the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda clearly at any time,” Allasow said.
The County Commissioner acknowledged the progress made by the government in stabilising the economy, attributing recent gains to deliberate policy interventions.
He cited the stabilisation of the Kenyan shilling against the dollar as a positive indicator, alongside the provision of subsidised fertiliser, which he said has significantly contributed to reduced food production costs and lower food prices.
Allasow also highlighted reforms in the health sector, pointing to the rollout of universal health coverage under the Social Health Authority (SHA) as a major milestone in improving access to healthcare services for Kenyans.
Turning to development projects within Kirinyaga County, the Commissioner singled out the government’s housing programme as a key driver of socio-economic transformation.
He noted that the initiative has improved access to dignified and affordable housing for residents while creating employment opportunities for local communities.
According to Allasow, the housing projects in the county have so far created jobs for more than 1,000 unskilled workers and over 400 skilled workers.
He added that the programme is also supporting skills development, with at least 80 interns currently attached to housing projects and the ongoing construction of ESP markets.
“The housing programme has not only provided decent housing but has also created meaningful employment opportunities, especially for the youth,” he said.
The County Commissioner expressed concern that some individuals continue to misrepresent or undermine government programmes for political or personal reasons.
He emphasised that it is the responsibility of public officers and departmental heads to counter misinformation by providing factual and accurate information to the public.
He called on officers to engage communities more proactively and ensure citizens understand the intent and benefits of government initiatives under the BETA framework.
Allasow further noted that the installation of public Wi-Fi hotspots and the establishment of Jitume Labs across the county have expanded access to digital services.
He said the initiatives have enabled more young people to access online job opportunities and participate in the digital economy.
The sensitisation retreat is aimed at equipping county leadership with a deeper understanding of the pillars of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, enabling them to align service delivery with national development priorities and effectively communicate government achievements at the grassroots level.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
