Taita Taveta County is on a new development path, with more than 60 national government priority projects and programmes valued at over Sh49 billion, either completed, under implementation or in the pipeline across its four constituencies.
The projects span roads and transport, affordable housing, markets, agriculture and irrigation, health, education, electricity, ICT and social protection, signaling a broad push to strengthen infrastructure, while creating new opportunities for communities and businesses.
President Dr. William Ruto, during his recent four-day working visit to the county, said the projects were part of his commitment to fulfil promises made to Kenyans and residents of Taita Taveta.
“I am committed to delivering every promise I made to Kenyans and you people of Taita Taveta. These multibillion-shilling projects demonstrate my commitment to you, and they shall be delivered for the betterment of each one of you,” President Ruto said.
He reiterated that the government is committed to ensuring development is spread across the country, with an emphasis on marginalised communities.
“I have a duty to ensure every part of this country is developed. No county, sub-county, or community will be left behind in our development agenda,” he said.
Road infrastructure forms a major component of the programme, with the 54-kilometre Mto Mwagodi-Dawida-Mbale-Wundanyi-Bura road being upgraded to bitumen standards at Sh2.1 billion.
The Sh2 billion Cess (Nghonji)-Rekeke-Lake Jipe Phase One road and the Sh646.5 million Taita Taveta Package One and Package Two roads are all substantially complete.
The road works are complemented by Last-Mile electricity connections, with 10,679 new connections expanding the county’s electricity customer base to 78,655.
Housing and urban development is another major component of the programme. The Taveta Affordable Housing Project at KCB Estate comprises 831 units in eight blocks at a cost of Sh2.3 billion, while the Voi Affordable Housing Project includes 446 units and associated infrastructure at Sh1.2 billion.
The Government is also developing student accommodation, including the 1,680-bed Taita Taveta University Students’ Village, valued at Sh736 million, as well as student facilities at the Kenya Medical Training College campuses in Taveta and Voi.
Markets are being developed to strengthen local commerce, with the Sh278.5 million Voi Modern Market among the projects under implementation. Mwatunge, Wundanyi and Maungu are also benefiting from markets under the Economic Stimulus Programme.
The county’s agricultural economy is receiving investment aimed at moving production beyond the farm gate and increasing value addition.
A Sh130 million banana processing plant in Taveta is also being developed to provide receiving, sorting, processing and cold-storage facilities, while the Sh115 million Taveta Rice Milling Plant has been completed.
A further Sh500 million Voi County Aggregation and Industrial Park is planned to support agro-processing, storage and logistics.
Irrigation projects are also being implemented in Buruma, Tuhire Challa, Njukini and the Lower River Lumi/Afrika Kusini area to improve water management and strengthen agricultural production.
Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime welcomed the projects, saying cooperation between the national and county governments was helping address longstanding development gaps.
“We thank you, Mr. President, and the national government for the ongoing projects in this county. We’ve been neglected before, but now we’re reaping the fruits of collaboration,” Mwadime said.
He said the county government would continue working with the national government to ensure the projects translate into better livelihoods for residents.
“We embrace these projects and work with you to ensure that our people have dignity and ways to make a decent living from the many resources in our land,” he said.
The development programme also extends to health and human capital. Moi County Referral Hospital-Voi, Taveta Sub-County Hospital and Wesu Sub-County Hospital are among the facilities receiving equipment and improvements, while Mwatate Sub-County Hospital is benefiting from laboratory improvements.
The county is also benefiting from ICT investments, including a Jitume Lab in Mwatate, a completed Digital Hub at Taveta Technical and Vocational College and another at Taita Taveta National Polytechnic.
Additionally, sports infrastructure is being expanded through the ongoing Vindo Stadium project at Voi, which is designed to accommodate 10,000 spectators and includes an athletics track, pavilion and other amenities. The project is valued at between Sh760 million and Sh950 million, according to the Government Delivery Unit report.
Social protection and economic empowerment programmes are also part of the wider development portfolio.
The Inua Jamii programme has channelled Sh863.6 million in cash transfers to 7,240 beneficiaries in the county, while the Hustler Fund has provided Sh614 million in digital micro-credit and matched savings for micro, small and medium enterprises.
The NYOTA programme has allocated Sh61 million for skills development, apprenticeships, start-up capital and job placements, benefiting 1,355 people.
More than 245,000 residents are registered under the Social Health Authority, further widening access to government-supported social and health services.
At the Coast regional level, Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Ali Hassan Joho said the projects represented a major shift in development across the region.
“You’ve restored the dignity of the people of Coast through these investments on a scale that was never seen before,” Joho said.
For Taita Taveta, the development agenda is increasingly centred on a network of projects, aimed at improving connectivity, stimulating economic activity, strengthening public services and creating opportunities from the county’s agricultural and natural-resource base.
By Arnold Linga Masila
