SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF

KIRINYAGA COUNTY HON. JOSEPH K. NDATHI ON THE

OCCASION TO MARK THE 51ST JAMHURI DAY AT THE
KERUGOYA STADIUM ON 12TH DECEMBER 2014

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER

OUR WOMEN REP
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
HON SPEAKER, KIRINYAGA COUNTY ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY ASSEMBLY
MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
FELLOW CITIZENS OF KIRINYAGA COUNTY
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

TODAY, I AM GLAD TO BE HERE AT THE KERUGOYA STADIUM TO

COMMEMORATE THIS IMPORTANT DAY IN THE HISTORY OF OUR
COUNTRY. JAMHURI DAY IS A SPECIAL DAY FOR US BECAUSE IT IS
THE DAY KENYA BECAME A REPUBLIC AFTER WE GAINED
INDEPENDENCE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM. IT IS ON THIS DAY
THAT WE BECAME A SOVEREIGN NATION AND JOINED THE
COMMUNITY OF NATIONS AS EQUAL PARTNERS. AS FOR US THE
PEOPLE OF KIRINYAGA COUNTY, JAMHURI DAY IS A MORE SPECIAL
OCCASION BECAUSE OUR FOREFATHERS WERE DEEPLY INVOLVED
IN THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE THAT FREED OUR COUNTRY LEADING
TO THE BIRTH OF OUR REPUBLIC. WE SHALL FOREVER REMAIN
GRATEFUL TO THESE GALLANT HEROES WHO GAVE UP THEIR
FREEDOMS AND LIVES SO THAT ONE DAY WE CAN BE WHERE WE
ARE TODAY MANAGING OUR OWN AFFAIRS. THIS IS A DAY THAT
KENYANS HAD WAITED FOR MANY FOR MANY YEARS FOLLOWING
DECADES OF COLONIALISM.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
THIS OCCASION IS ALSO COMING AT A TIME WHEN OUR COUNTRY
IS IMPLEMENTING THE DEVOLVED SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
WHICH IS NOW IN THE SECOND YEAR IN LINE WITH THE
CONSTITUTION OF KENYA 2010. THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT AND
HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR OUR REPUBLIC AS WE BRING
GOVERNANCE DOWN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE CONSUMERS
OF THE SERVICES THROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.
THIS IS THEREFORE A DAY FOR US TO REFLECT ON WHERE WE
HAVE COME FROM AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO BOTH AS
COUNTRY AND A COUNTY. ON MY PART AND AS THE FIRST
GOVERNOR OF THIS GREAT COUNTY, I WANT TO STATE HERE THAT
MY VISION REMAINS VERY CLEAR. I AM FOCUSED ON THE
DELIVERY OF THE PROMISES THAT I MADE AND AGAINST WHICH
YOU VOTED FOR ME. I WILL CONCENTRATE ON MY
TRANSFORMATIVE AGENDA FOR THIS COUNTY SO THAT THE
RESIDENTS CAN ACHIEVE AND ENJOY QUALITY LIVELIHOODS. TO

ACHIEVE THIS, IT CALLS FOR ELABORATE PLANNING WHICH TAKES

TIME.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT MANY OF THE THINGS THAT I
PROMISED HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED, MANY MORE ARE AT VARIOUS
STAGES OF COMPLETION AND MANY MORE ARE ON THE WAY. I
WANT TO BE JUDGED ON PERFORMANCE NOT ON EMPTY TALK. MY
POLICY IS WORK MORE, LISTEN MORE AND TALK LESS.
TODAY, THERE ARE MANY RESIDENTS WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE WE BECAME A REPUBLIC ARE ENJOYING PIPED WATER BOTH
FOR DOMESTIC AND FARMING PURPOSES. THESE INTERVENTIONS
BY MY GOVERNMENT ARE DELIBERATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
THAT ARE AIMED AT TURNING AROUND THE FORTUNES OF OUR
FARMERS. ON WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK, WE SIGNED AN MOU WITH
TANA WATER SERVICES BOARD (TWSB) TO OPERATE A WORLD
BANK WATER PROJECT WORTH KSHS 100 MILLION. THIS PROJECT
WILL SERVE MWEA-MAKIMA AREAS, INCLUDING PI, KUTUS AND
THE SORROUNDINGS.
AS WE WALK THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER I WILL CONTINUE TO
UPDATE YOU ON OUR WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS. I ALSO INVITE
FEEDBACK ON THE WORK WE ARE DOING AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY I URGE YOU TO ATTEND AND GET ACTIVELY
ENGAGED WHEN WE CALL OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FORUMS.
THESE ARE PERFECT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO MAKE
SUGGESTIONS, CONTRIBUTE IDEAS AND TO INFLUENCE
DEVELOPMENT AT YOUR WARDS, TOWNS OR VILLAGES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

MY GOVERNMENT TAKES THE HEALTHCARE OF THE RESIDENTS

VERY SERIOUSLY. IN THIS REGARDS I HAVE SET ASIDE 40 PER CENT
OF OUR BUDGET OR AN EQUIVALENT OF KSHS 1.2 BILLION FOR

MATTERS HEALTH. CURRENTLY WE HAVE 28 PROJECTS LOCATED

IN ALL WARDS VALUED AT KSHS 256 MILLION. WE HAVE HIRED 472
NEW STAFF WITH 260 OF THEM BEING TECHNICAL. THESE
INCLUDE NURSES, CLINICAL OFFICERS AND LABORATORY
TECHNICIANS. WE HAVE ALSO SET ASIDE KSHS 30 MILLION OR LAB
EQUIPMENT AND FOR MATERNITY AND KSHS 15 MILLION FOR
MODERN DIGITAL X-RAY MACHINE FOR KERUGOYA HOSPITAL.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

AGRICULTURE REMAINS THE BACKBONE OF THE COUNTYS
ECONOMY. MY GOVERNMENT HAS PUT A SPECIAL FOCUS ON THIS
SECTOR BECAUSE OF BIG ROLE IT PLAYS IN PROVIDING THE
LIVELIHOODS OF THE RESIDENTS. AS A GOVERNMENT WE HAVE
CONTINUED TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO CUSHION OUR FARMERS FROM
THE VAGARIES OF PRICE FLUCTUATIONS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

MY

GOVERNMENT

REMAINS

FOCUSED

ON

ENSURING

AGRICULTURE IS TAKEN AS A BUSINESS AND ONE WHICH IS

ATTRACTIVE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE. WE WILL FACILITATE THIS
SHIFT BY PROMOTING PROCESSING OF OUR AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS TO ADD THEIR VALUE BEFORE THEY REACH THE
MARKETS THUS RAISING INCOMES IN THIS SECTOR. THIS WILL
INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SECTOR AND
ALSO TRANSFORM AGRICULTURE FROM BEING NOT ONLY A
SOURCE OF PRIMARY RAW MATERIALS FOR EXPORT BUT ALSO A
MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE REALIZATION OF OUR VISION OF

BEING A NEWLY INDUSTRIALIZED, MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRY

PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY LIFE FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS BY THE
YEAR 2030.
OVER THE LAST ONE AND HALF YEARS THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR
HAS

MADE

TREMENDOUS

GAINS

IN

VARIOUS

FRONTS

PARTICULARLY IN THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS. FOR

INSTANCE, POLICIES HAVE BEEN FORMULATED IN THE DAIRY,
COFFEE, AND HORTICULTURE, MACADAMIA, TEA AND COTTON
SUB-SECTORS. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICIES HAS BEGUN TO
BEAR GOOD RESULTS AND I AM SURE FARMERS IN THIS COUNTY
WILL

BENEFIT

FULLY

FROM

THE

IMPROVED

POLICY

ENVIRONMENT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
HORTICULTURE HAS CONTINUED TO BE THE MAJOR INCOME
EARNER TO MANY SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN THIS COUNTY
PARTICULARLY THROUGH IRRIGATION. LAST FINANCIAL YEAR,
OVER 9,000 HA OF LAND WAS PUT UNDER HORTICULTURAL CROPS.
THE PRODUCTION WAS OVER 285,000 METRIC TONS OF FRESH
PRODUCE WHICH EARNED THE FARMERS KSHS.4.33 BILLION.
OUR FLAGSHIP HORTICULTURAL CROPS ARE BANANAS AND
FRENCH BEANS. WE HAVE INITIATED A SPRAY SERVICE PROVIDERS
PROGRAMME TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE MAXIMUM RESIDUE
LEVELS IN FRENCH BEANS. AS A RESULT OF THIS WE HAVE HAD
MANY ENQUIRIES FROM EXPORTERS WHO WANT TO DO BUSINESS
WITH US.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

AS A GOVERNMENT WE INTEND TO WORK WITH THE TEA
FACTORIES

IN

OUR

COUNTY

TO

PROMOTE

VIBRANT,

COMPETITIVE AND PROSPEROUS TEA INDUSTRY. MY GOVERNMENT

WILL FURTHER EMPLOY A MULTI-FACETED STRATEGY WILL
INCLUDES VALUE ADDITION OF OUR TEA. THE GOVERNMENT HAS
CALLED THE DIRECTORS OF THE TEA FACTORIES NEXT WEEK FOR
A CONSULTATIVE MEETING TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER ON THESE STRATEGIES. AS WE TAKE INITIATIVES TO
EXPAND OUR MARKET I WOULD WISH TO CHALLENGE OUR
FARMERS, TO IMPROVE ON THE HUSBANDRY PRACTICES.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

RICE IS A MAJOR FOOD CROP GROWN IN OUR COUNTY. MORE THAN
80% OF THE RICE THAT IS PRODUCED IN KENYA COMES FROM
MWEA SUB COUNTY. IN 2013/14 WE PRODUCED 49,000 TONS
WORTH 2.58 BILLION. DURING THE CURRENT GROWING SEASON
MY GOVERNMENT MOBILIZED RESOURCES TO CONTAIN THE
QUELEA BIRDS MENACE. I AM SURE OUR FARMERS IN MWEA WILL
GET A GOOD HARVEST THIS TIME ROUND. DUE TO THE STRATEGIC
IMPORTANCE OF MWEA AS THE HOME OF PISHORI RICE, THE
COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ARE
DISCUSSING IMPLEMENTATION OF A KSH. 30 MILLION RICE
PRODUCTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT WILL LEAD TO
INCREASED EARNING BY OUR RICE FARMERS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THE DAIRY SUB-SECTOR HAS CONTINUED TO BE ONE OF THE
LEADING EMPLOYERS AND INCOME EARNER AMONG MANY SMALL
SCALE FARMERS IN THE REGION AND HAS RECORDED IMPRESSIVE
GAINS. IN 2013/14 DAIRY FARMERS IN THIS COUNTY PRODUCED
77,265,818 LITRES OF MILK VALUED AT KSHS. 2.3 BILLION. I AM
HAPPY TO NOTE THAT PAYMENTS TO FARMERS HAVE CONTINUED
TO IMPROVE FROM AS LOW AS KSHS 7 PER LITRE IN 2002, TO OVER
30 SHILLINGS PER LITRE. TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THIS
INDUSTRY, FARMERS HAVE COME TOGETHER AND FORMED
KIRINYAGA DAIRY FARMERS ASSOCIATION TO ADDRESS KEY
CHALLENGES IN THE SECTOR. I WANT TO URGE ALL DAIRY
FARMERS TO SUPPORT THIS ASSOCIATION SO THAT THE DAIRY
FARMER CAN IMPROVE HIS BARGAINING POWER IN THIS
LUCRATIVE

SECTOR.

THE

SUB-SECTOR

PROVIDES

GREAT

POTENTIAL FOR RAISING

THE RURAL

INCOMES

AND

THE

GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE OPERATING

ENVIRONMENT SO THAT IMPROVED PRODUCTION AND EARNINGS
ARE REALIZED.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
DISEASE CONTROL IS A VITAL COMPONENT IN THE LIVESTOCK
SUB-SECTOR. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS OUR COUNTY HAS
WITNESSED LOSS OF LIVESTOCK DUE TO DISEASES. EARLY THIS
YEAR WE WITNESSED AN OUTBREAK OF FOOT AND MOUTH
DISEASE. MY GOVERNMENT MOBILIZED RESOURCES AND 10,000

HEAD OF CATTLE WERE VACCINATED AGAINST FOOT AND MOUTH

DISEASE. A FEW MONTHS BACK WE WITNESSED OUTBREAK OF
LUMPY SKIN DISEASE WHICH LED TO DEATH OF SCORES OF
CATTLE. MY GOVERNMENT ONCE AGAIN MOBILIZED RESOURCES
TO CARRY OUT A MAJOR VACCINATION CAMPAIGN THAT COVERED
EVERY PART OF OUR COUNTY. IN THE PROCESS OVER 40,000 HEAD
OF CATTLE WERE VACCINATED.
ON COFFEE WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE NEW MARKETS FOR THE
PRODUCE SO THAT WE CAN CUT OFF BROKERS WHO HAVE BEEN
FLEECING FARMERS MAKING THEM ABANDON THE CROP. WE WILL
ALSO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND
TRANSPARENCY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COOPERATIVES TO
ENSURE FARMERS MONEY IS NOT LOST THROUGH INEFFICIENT
PROCESSES AND STRUCTURES.
TOUCHING OF SECURITY, I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THIS YEAR
THE COUNTY HAS ENJOYED A RELATIVE CALM. THIS IS DUE TO
COLLABORATION WE HAVE HAD WITH THE SECURITY AGENCIES.
WE HAVE ALSO MADE EFFORTS TO LIGHT UP OUR TOWNS TO
IMPROVE SECURITY AND BOOST BUSINESS. ONLY LAST WEEK I
COMMISSIONED THE SECOND PHASE OF FLOODLIGHTS
CONSTRUCTED BY MY GOVERNMENT IN ALL OUR SUB-COUNTIES.
THE FLOODLIGHTS HAVE COST US ABOUT KSHS 20 MILLION. I AM
ALREADY RECEIVING GOOD REPORTS FROM THESE TOWNS. THE
TRADERS HAVE INCREASED THE HOURS OF THEIR BUSINESSES
AND CASES OF THEFT HAVE REDUCED DRASTICALLY. THE MOOD
OF THE PEOPLE HAS ALSO IMPROVED AND I AM SURE THIS WILL
RESULT TO MORE PRODUCTIVITY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
ONLY OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT WILL GUARANTEE THE SECURITY
OF OUR NATION WHICH CANNOT BE LEFT TO THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
ALONE.
IT
WILL
TAKE
COOPERATION,
COLLABORATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY CONSULTATIONS
BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS.

WE URGE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT THE NATIONAL

GOVERNMENT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 54(6) OF THE
COUNTY GOVERNMENT ACT TO ENGAGE OUR LEADERSHIP
THROUGH FORMALIZED AND CONSULTATIVE FORUMS THAT WILL
ENABLE THE TWO LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO SHARE SECURITY
BRIEF REGULARLY AND CONSISTENTLY IF WE ARE TO SAFEGUARD
OUR BORDERS AND THE RIGHT OF OUR PEOPLE TO A SECURE
ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE AND WORK IN.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

MY GOVERNMENT HAS EMBARKED ON THE PREPARATION OF THE
COUNTY SPATIAL PLAN AND PLANNING FOR OUR MAJOR TOWNS
INCLUDING KERUGOYA, KUTUS, SAGANA, WANGURU AND KAGIO.
THIS PROCESS WILL GET RID OF THE NUMEROUS LAND DISPUTES
BEING EXPERIENCED IN THESE TOWNS AND ALSO ENSURE EVERY
PROPERTY OWNER IS ABLE TO OWN A TITLE DEED WITHIN THE
SHORTEST TIME POSSIBLE.
ZONING OF LAND USES IN THESE TOWNS SHOULD GIVE OUR
PEOPLE THE CONFIDENCE TO UNDERTAKE HUGE DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS AND THOUGH THE GUIDANCE OF THE MINISTRY OF
LANDS, WE SHALL ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS TO INVEST IN
GUIDED
MODERN
HIGH-RISE
DEVELOPMENTS,
TOURIST
FACILITIES AND AGRI-PROCESSING.
ALL THESE SHALL ENSURE SUSTAINABLE USE OF OUR SCARCE
URBAN LAND, REDUCE THE RATE OF CONVERSION OF OUR
AGRICULTURAL LAND INTO OTHER USES AND CREATE
EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR YOUTH MAJORITY OF WHO HAVE HEAVILY
RELIED ON RAIN- FED AGRICULTURE WHICH IS HIGHLY
UNPREDICTABLE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE AUTOMATED REVENUE

SYSTEM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY PROCURED AND THE SYSTEM
WILL GO LIVE IN PHASES EFFECTIVE 1ST JANUARY 2015.THIS WILL
GREATLY IMPROVE REVENUE COLLECTION. EFFECTIVE 1ST
JANUARY 2015, PAYMENT FOR COUNTY FEES, LEVIES WILL BE
POSSIBLE VIA MPESA PAYBILL AND ALL FORTUNE SACCO
BRANCHES.
THE COUNTY HAS UNDERTAKEN MANY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
LIKE DEVELOPMENT OF MARKETS, HEALTH CENTRES, STREET
LIGHTING AND ROAD IMPROVEMENTS WHICH ARE ALREADY
COMPLETE AND IN USE. DESIGNS FOR A MODERN MARKET AT
KAGIO ARE ONGOING AND CONSTRUCTION WILL START IN
FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE SET ASIDE KSHS 260MILLION FOR
INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS.
MY GOVERNMENT MADE A NUMBER OF PLEDGES IN THAT ARE
MEANT TO ENSURE QUALITY TRAINING IN OUT COUNTY
INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING. IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR ECDE
CENTER CHILD FRIENDLY, MY GOVERNMENT HAD EMBARKED ON
INFRASTRUCTURES IMPROVEMENT THAT WILL SEE THE
MODERNIZATION,
REFURBISHMENT,
ENVIRONMENT
CONSERVATION AND EXPANSION OF THE CENTER.
MORE THAN 350 TEACHERS FROM PUBLIC ECDE CENTRES HAVE
RECEIVED TRAINING IN GUIDANCE COUNSELING OF CHILDREN.
THE TRAINING WAS AIMED AT BRIDGING THE PARENTAL GAP THAT
IS LIKELY TO AFFECT THE CHILDREN DEVELOPMENT
IN ORDER ENHANCE SERVICES AND REFORM AGENDA ON
TECHNICAL EDUCATION MY GOVERNMENT HAS ABSORBED 107
TECHNICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS WHO WERE FORMALLY
SERVING IN YOUTH POLYTECHNICS. THE INSTRUCTORS WILL BE
DEPLOYED IN THE SAME INSTITUTIONS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY
BEING REBRANDED INTO COUNTY POLYTECHNICS

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

IT IS THE COMMITMENT OF MY GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE
SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY SHINE IN NATIONAL
EXAMINATIONS JUST LIKE THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. IT IS FOR THIS
REASON THAT MY GOVERNMENT HAS RECOGNIZED THE
IMPORTANCE OF RETAINING THESE STUDENTS IN CLASS AT ALL
THE TIME. TO ACHIEVE MY GOVERNMENT WILL RELEASE BURSARY
AMOUNTING TO KSH 63 MILLION FOR NEEDY STUDENTS IN
SECONDARY SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
AS I CONCLUDE I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS DAY CALLS FOR DOUBLE
CELEBRATION FOR OUR COUNTRY FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF
THE FABRICATED CASE OF PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTAS AT THE
INTERNATIONAL
CRIMINAL
COURT
AT
THE
HAGUE,
NETHERLANDS.
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR COUNTRY AND THE DIGNITY OF OUR
PRESIDENT WAS ON TRIAL AT THE HAGUE AND THIS WAS A DIRECT
AFFRONT ON KENYA AS A REPUBLIC. WE THANK GOD THAT IS NOW
BEHIND US AND THAT THE PRESIDENT IS FREE TO SERVE KENYANS
WITHOUT UNDUE DISTRACTION.
WE ARE ALSO PRAYING THAT THE CASE FACING HIS DEPUTY H. E
HON WILLIAM RUTO IS ALSO WITHDRAWN BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS
THOSE TWO CASES WERE BROUGHT FOR POLITICAL REASONS
WITH THE AIM OF BLOCKING THEM FROM CONTESTING THE
LEADERSHIP ON THIS COUNTRY.

FINALLY,
I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH YOU
A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND
A HAPPY NEW YEAR