By S, KNA
Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament (MP) John Kaguchia has termed the construction of the first Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in the area as a welcome gift that will transform the fortunes of residents for the better.
The Sh.303 million medical training facility located at Maganjo town started admitting its first batch of students last week.
The college, which is the second of its kind in Nyeri, is currently offering certificate courses in Health Care assistants and Orthopedic and Trauma medicine.
Kaguchia says the plan by the Government to construct the premier training center is a welcome gesture in the area not only to those intending to pursue health care related services but also to entrepreneurs who will benefit through offering services to the school including providing housing facilities to the students.
“This medical training school will be the largest of its kind in the entire Mount Kenya region once it is fully complete. It was designed to be constructed in three phases and we are currently in the third one. Last week the institution admitted its first batch of 20 students with the process expected to continue. Once complete, the institution is expected to accommodate a total of 3,000 students at a time, pursuing various medical courses,” remarked Kaguchia while speaking on Inooro TV on Monday.
On leadership, Kaguchia alleged the county still has a long way to go before getting people who have the interest of the electorate at heart.
The MP who at one time served as the Speaker at the County Assembly of Nyeri also told off those criticizing impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for claiming the region was in dire lack of competent leaders who can champion the interest of the Central Region.
In a statement that stirred heated debate from leaders from Mount Kenya, Rigathi had opined that the area lacked competent leaders who can articulate the issues affecting the people since most of those elected into political offices were inept in terms of legislation compared to their counterparts from Nyanza and Western.
“What we are lacking in Mount Kenya region are men and women whose commitment is to first serve the people who put them into office Our people want leaders who can offer solutions to the challenges confronting them on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, most of the leaders who were voted into office rode on the back of the party euphoria but had little leadership acumen on how to execute their roles as legislators,” said the lawmaker.
He also stressed on the need to have a single party for the region drawing from lessons learnt from the way former Prime Minister Raila Odinga retained his supporters under the Orange Democratic Party.
He said while tribal politics have no place in the country, the survival of any organized democracy thrives on how well leaders nurture grassroot support.
“Mount Kenya region needs a solid party just as the saying goes that a divided house can never stand. We must remain united as leaders from this region if we have any chance of being listened to in future political arrangements. We also need to focus on serving our people instead of spending all our time hurling insults at each other. This is the very thing former President Uhuru Kenyatta singled out as one of the death knells to our unity as leaders from this region. We cannot be respected while we are a disjoined lot,” he pointed out.