The government is set to operationalize newly gazetted administrative units across the country to bring services closer to members of the public.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr. Raymond Omollo said the government was finalizing plans to make the new units functional and urged communities to support the recruitment of chiefs and assistant chiefs by identifying individuals of integrity and patriotism.
“We have gazetted a number of administrative units across the country, including Homa Bay County. We are in the process of operationalizing all those administrative units so that our people can have government services closer to them,” said Omollo.
The PS made these remarks at Asumbi Girls National School in Rangwe Constituency, during a women empowerment program attended by National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo, Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, Woman Representative Joyce Bensuda and other leaders.
At the event, the leaders supported the women’s program with around Sh20 million to help them either start a business, or advance what they already have.
Omollo encouraged the women beneficiaries of government support to invest the funds prudently to improve their livelihoods and grow their businesses.
“We have come here to support women who play a big role in our society. We want to encourage the women of Rangwe Constituency that the support we are giving them today should help them start or expand businesses that will add value to their lives and communities,” he said.
The PS further praised the Kenya Kwanza administration’s development record, citing progress in infrastructure, healthcare, education and service delivery under President William Ruto’s leadership.
He said stalled road projects had resumed across the country, while the government’s Universal Health Coverage programme was improving access to healthcare services.
Omollo further called for support for President William Ruto’s development agenda, saying ongoing projects were transforming lives across the country.
On the planned June 25 public demonstrations, he said the government respected constitutional freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly and picketing, but warned against disruption of public services and economic activities.
“As a government, we respect the rights and liberties of every Kenyan as enshrined in the Constitution. We will protect the rights of those who choose to demonstrate peacefully, but we will also protect the rights of those going about their businesses,” he said.
On his part, Mbadi defended the government’s economic performance, saying President Ruto inherited a struggling economy that was still recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and global economic disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Mbadi said Kenya had overcome fears of a possible debt default when Ruto took over power in 2022, and was now recording significant gains in key sectors of the economy.
“President Ruto took over when the economy was in a difficult state, but despite the challenges, we have revitalized agriculture, improved infrastructure, expanded education and strengthened healthcare services,” he said.
According to the CS, production in key sectors such as coffee, sugar and cotton had increased significantly under the current administration, adding that efforts to revive the edible oils industry were also underway.
Mbadi highlighted achievements in education, noting that 116,000 teachers had been employed, while the education budget had increased to Sh785 billion.
He also pointed to ongoing affordable housing projects and market construction programmes across the country.
In Homa Bay County, he said, 18 markets were being constructed through a partnership between the national and county governments.
Mbadi further cited compensation of victims of past election-related violence as a major achievement of the current administration, saying previous governments had not addressed the matter comprehensively.
He added that the government had allocated Sh3.9 billion for stipends to village elders across the country’s 290 constituencies.
In the 2026/27 budget, approximately 110,000 village elders across the country will be receiving a stipends of Sh3000 each on a monthly basis to facilitate their administrative and security duties.
The leaders urged residents to continue supporting government development programmes, saying the initiatives were aimed at improving livelihoods, creating economic opportunities and accelerating growth across the country.
By Sitna Omar
