Central Kenya to get Sh6bn for development

President Uhuru Kenyatta pledged more than Sh6 billion in projects and grants to central Kenya as he wound up his tour of the region Sunday.

He also addressed the thorny issues of coffee, tea and squatters.

Mr Kenyatta met leaders from Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Laikipia, Nyeri and Kiambu between Thursday and Sunday in closed-door meetings where he condemned constant quarrels among leaders.

He promised to form a task force in the next one week to revive the coffee sector.

The committee will have a month to table its report. After that, the President will convene a meeting with leaders to discuss the recommendations.

Mr Kenyatta said if the report recommended a change in laws and setting aside funds to revive the sector, it would be done before the end of the financial year.

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo told the President not to shy away from implementing projects in the region for fear of favouring central Kenya.

The leaders said central was part of the country and deserved development.

The President said he was not a coward.

“Siogopi kitu. Kama ni kitu kinafaa kufanyika, lazima kitafanyika.” (I do not fear anything. If something needs to be done, it will be done).
“We set aside money for sugar. If necessary, we shall do what is necessary to help coffee. People should stop portraying us as cowards. We have nothing to fear,” he said.

On infrastructure, the biggest beneficiaries were Nyeri, Murang’a and Kirinyaga counties.

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said more than Sh2.5 billion would be set aside to repair roads connecting Nyeri with other regions.

ROADS REVAMPING
The Mweiga-Endarasha-Narutia road in Kieni will receive Sh600 million while the access road to Karatina University has been allocated Sh300 million.

The Naromoru-Munyu-Karichen road will also be repaired at Sh2.1 billion.

Last week, the government announced that more than Sh13 billion would be set aside for dams in Kieni.

A road cutting through Ndima-ini to Sagana and Murang’a will be upgraded at a cost of Sh1.1 billion.

The Narumoru-Naitia road will be repaired at Sh 500 million. The ministry is also upgrading Nanyuki Airstrip at Sh400 million.

“We have began paying contractors who had not been paid, so work on other roads will continue” said Mr Macharia.

It was victory for Murang’a after Senator Kembi Gitura announced that construction of a dual carriageway from Kenol through Murang’a Town to parts of Nyeri would begin soon.

“It has been two years of struggle and now Murang’a economy will completely change,” Mr Gitura said on his Facebook page after meeting the President.

Three roads in Mukurweini will also be upgraded.

The President chided leaders from Kirinyaga and Nyandarua for letting their differences derail important projects.

Kirinyaga’s Sh13 billion dam, financed by the Japanese Government and the Nyandarua wind power project have been in limbo following unending conflicts among leaders.

“You should blame yourselves over the delay. You are so divided that major tangible development cannot take place,” the President told the leaders at the Sagana State Lodge.