By R, KNA
President William Ruto on Monday launched seven national government flagship projects worth over Sh7.4 billion in Samburu County during a two-days official tour of the region.
While addressing Maralal residents, the president noted that Samburu County has been marginalized by previous administrations saying that his government is committed to pumping in funds for development projects on infrastructure, education, water, sanitation and economic empowerment.
He expressed optimism that Samburu county will continue developing at par with the rest of the country and lauded local leaders for putting their political differences aside and working together towards developing the county.
Among the projects that the President launched are the Maralal water supply project phase one at the already completed Yamo dam in the outskirts of Maralal town which holds 1.2 million cubic meters of water.
“Once the piping is completed in April 2026, over 70,000 residents of Maralal town and its environs will be provided with a consistent and reliable water supply,” President Ruto said.
Other projects included the laying the foundation stone of Archers post Affordable Housing Project, upgrading to bitumen standards of the 20kilometer Kisima Sura Adoru road section, laying the foundation stone for Samburu West Technical and Vocational college hostels and Maralal affordable housing project phase II.
Ruto also launched the upgrading to bitumen standards of 30 kilometer section of the Maralal-Baragoi road and as well led an inspection tour of the Kenya Medical Training College-Maralal campus.
At the same time, the president urged parents to enroll their children to school emphasizing that education is a constitutional right for every child. He noted that some parents fail to take their children to school and send them to graze the family’s livestock.
“The government has invested heavily in education including the hiring of teachers, building classes, establishing Technical Training Institutes across the country and Samburu children should be beneficiaries of these initiatives to enable the county move forward,” he said.
The president was accompanied by several Samburu county and national leaders led by Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit, Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda, Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and irrigation Eric Muuga, and Cabinet Secretary for Lands Alice Wahome among others.
