Are 47 counties too many to be sustained by our economy?

In this interactive series, we invite our readers to send in questions to select public figures. Answers will be published in the next print and online editions.

This week, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru responds to your questions.

1. Having served as the first Cabinet Secretary for Devolution, what innovative ways can counties employ to mobilise resources for development given funding constraints?

Marcus Mambo, Nairobi

As Cabinet Secretary I worked with both national and county governments and as such I understand the challenges and opportunities presented on both fronts.

Counties can achieve their development agenda by looking at innovative ways of resource mobilisation.

These include utilisation of existing county resources such as labour and equipment as we are doing in our in-house all weather roads programme; public private partnerships such as our upcoming hospital and diagnostic centre still at deliberation stage; and the creation of an enabling environment that attracts private investors such as our proposed value addition interventions around the Thiba Dam among others.

I must however emphasise that a strong partnership between the national government and counties is a critical component for success as a lot of investments come through the national platform.

2. What plans do you have for the residents of Kagio Mwea side who are struggling to survive without water? Can the government sink bore holes for us or even provide farrow water to enable irrigation? The last time we harvested any food crop there is history. We don’t have cash crops for we are far away from Mwea irrigation scheme.

Alice Wangui, Mwea/Kagio

Agriculture is one of my government’s top priority areas.

There are several initiatives lined up to ensure provision of clean water for both irrigation and domestic use.

In my first week in office, I had a meeting with all water sector stakeholders who ensured the diversion of water from Mwea rice farms was corrected and water distribution for irrigation was optimised.

This largely contributed to this year’s bumper rice harvest.

In addition, the county government is working with a regional development authority to implement a water and sewerage system project that is set to benefit the residents of Kerugoya, Kutus, Kagio, and Sagana within the next two years.

All the households along the trunk line will be connected to clean and portable water.

The county government has also been working with various community water projects such as Mitooini community irrigation project and will continue to support such projects, and, assist the communities in boosting their own capacities so that they can expand their areas of coverage.

3. There are two issues touching on the development of the counties: Encouraging private investments and utilising well the funds received from the National Government and from the County itself towards defraying expenses and development. How well are you proceeding on the two fronts? What should we expect in terms of improvement in Kirinyaga say in ten years to come?

Githuku Mungai, Nairobi

As an economist, I strongly believe in planning and utilising existing resources for highest returns and impact.

We have developed a multipronged approach and classified the various projects that need to be done into different categories.

We have an ambitious six months to one-year target for every ministry, which are well underway, rehabilitation of markets and health centres in various towns and street lighting in partnership with the national government.

These form part of the short and medium term plans.

For the long term, we have set out to develop our sessional paper 2032 dubbed The Mountain Cities Blueprint; the first amongst the counties in Kenya.

This vision will see us brand Kirinyaga as the world’s Health, Wellness and Organic capital of the world. The sessional papaer will inform all investments made in the county moving forward.

As part of the development of the sessional paper, this past week was spent engaging residents in the four sub-counties through public participation to enable us capture their aspirations in the 15 year strategy, the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), and, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

4. There are those who opine the 47 Counties are too many almost diluting the good intention devolution was meant to foster. Judging by your experience both as a Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Devolution docket and currently as a Governor, would you support consolidation of counties so that devolution can achieve its original intended purpose?

Githuku Mungai, Nairobi

Kenya’s devolution system is considered the most ambitious in the world. Not because of the number of counties but because of its ideals as set out in the Constitution.

The intent of devolution was to bring government services closer to the people.

Having travelled across the country, and, having engaged closely with residents of Kirinyaga, I have seen the impact and transformation devolution has had so far in its foundational years.

I would encourage us to instead focus on how we can transform lives whatever the number of counties, because it is possible.

5. Madam Governor, it is not in doubt that land grabbing in the country has reached worrying levels and I would imagine Kirinyaga County has not been spared by this menace especially by unscrupulous people targeting county plots and houses. What plans do you have to repossess the grabbed land by individuals and do you have any timelines?

Daniel Kanyi, Bomet County

Land grabbing does indeed affect many counties and Kirinyaga is no exception. My government has put aggressive measures in place to repossess various parcels of land belonging to the county, including a 250 acre piece of land on which we intend to build our Industrial Park.

Efforts towards this have already seen some land repossessed by the county in the last 6 weeks with more underway. We will not spare any efforts until all land illegally acquired from the county is recovered.

6. I read somewhere that you were planning to lay gravel 200 kilometres of road without tendering. Do you think public works is the way to go as opposed to business outsourcing? 

Samuel Thuo Mwangi, Kiambu County

My government has set out an ambitious plan to lay 217.3 kilometres of murram roads across the county within the next 6 months to enable the movement of people and their farm produce to the markets.

Kirinyaga is fortunate to have, a large quarry, available equipment, qualified personnel and willing youth to do the work.

We have requested for the support of the National government in secondment of technical experts for quality assurance as well as additional equipment to enable us realise this.

Rather than outsource the work, we will utilise these existing resources within the county and provide employment to 1000 youth in the process.

7. You have launched in Kirinyaga County a no-tender 200 kilometre feeder road rehabilitation project at a cost of Sh400 million. Don’t you think an average of Sh2 million per kilometre is on the higher side for the kind of roads?

Dickson Nyaga, Kibirigwi Kirinyaga

The figures cited are highly incorrect. The estimate for 200km is about 100 million.

As mentioned earlier all resources being utilised in the project belong to the county save for additional equipment and some technical experts requested from national government for purposes of quality assurance.

8. Ngurubani town is no doubt the largest town in Kirinyaga County. It is also the undisputed economic hub of the county. What plans does the County Government have for its infrastructural development?

Jotham Muriithi, Mwea

The urban development model framework of the “Mountain cities blueprint” is anchored on The City concept.

Every community regardless of size has assets that can be part of building a resilient economy. These assets are key to unlocking the towns’ potential.

The town nicknamed Ngurubani is no exception. It falls within Wanguru, which is one of two municipalities, the other one being Kerugoya/Kutus under the Urban areas &Cities areas Act (amendment).

Through this the Municipalities will be funded for infrastructural development by World Bank (KUSP). This process is already underway.

9. As a governor of Kirinyaga, I understand we have many students who joined higher learning institutions but because of lack of fees, failed to complete their studies. As a county, what plans do you have to help these needy guys who are aspiring to be the driving force in the County and Nation at large?

Pamba Thomas, Kitengela

My government is working closely with the institutions to ensure the bursary programs reach the needy and deserving cases.

In institutions of higher learning in particular, I have instructed the county’s department of Education and Public Service to work with the various institutions to facilitate access to Helb for the students.

However, for the future, the “Mountain Cities Blueprint” will have five enablers, one of which is Human Capital Index.

This will focus on what number and skills we need to realise our vision and as such will inform the curriculum and training provided in our technical colleges and polytechnics.

For example, to enable us achieve our world class health and wellness status, we will work with Kirinyaga University to popularise and increase courses offered in health sciences.

10. Kirinyaga 2017/2018 total budget was Sh4.7 billion with only 30 per cent (Sh1.4 billion) set aside for development. As the governor, what measures will you take to increase this percentage of development budget? Even with this Sh1.4 billion what are your priority development projects?

Dickson Nyaga, Kibirigwi Kirinyaga

In the last one month, my government has taken initiative to review the 2017/2018 budget to ensure its alignment with low hanging fruits that we intend to achieve in the next 6 months.

Key among these are the improvement of our health centres to ensure optimal staffing and efficient delivery of services, rehabilitation of six markets, laying of 217.5KMs of  marram roads among others.

Moving forward, our CIDP and sessional paper 2032 will clearly spell out our strategic fiscal framework that enables partnership with private sector, governments and development partners in our County Development.

Our strategy is not to depend on the exchequer alone, but ensure the County is open for business and investment. 

11. There are numerous households without tap water in Kirinyaga both in the villages and our towns despite the rivers flowing from Mt Kenya. What plans do you have to solve the problem?

Walter Ireri, Kirinyaga

There are various ongoing projects that will ensure provision of clean tapped water to the households in Kirinyaga.

Examples include the Mwea-Makima water project, and the Rukenya-Kutus water project which will be rehabilitated to supply water in Kutus town and its environs among others. 

We are embarking on improving water provision in the entire County, and within the next two years, we will have significantly improved household water connections.

Our goal is to ensure every household has access to clean tap water in the next five years.

12. Youth unemployment, underemployment and low urbanisation are rampant in Kirinyaga. What Blue Ocean political economic solutions have you planned to ensure large scale absorption of Kirinyaga youths, majority of whom voted for you, into modern urban manufacturing jobs?

Migwi Nduku, Ngaru, Kiamwenja

Our “Mountain cities blueprint” is a comprehensive blue ocean initiative in itself.

By forecasting to 2032 and working our vision backwards we anticipate to pioneer unprecedented socio-economic growth in Kirinyaga County.

The sessional paper which is a the first County Sessional Paper addresses public policy, governance and economic strategies for development thus making it all encompassing and resulting to multi-dimensional development.

It will capture in details a youth empowerment programme aimed at ending unemployment in Kirinyaga as well as rapidly grow the urbanisation of the various towns around the future we aspire to see as a county.

13. One of the biggest problems in Kirinyaga’s political history is infighting. How do you hope to address it with other politicians?

Walter Ireri, Kirinyaga

The former President, His Excellency Daniel Toroitich arap Moi consistently reminded us the adverse effects of bad politics saying “Siasa mbaya, maisha mabaya”. There is profound wisdom in this that continues to apply in our day. 

My policy is always, and as admonished in the bible, - in as much as it depends on me to ensure we are at peace with everyone.

The Constitution is very clear on the roles of different offices of politicians, I am of the view that if we all stick to our lanes and seek to collaborate for the benefit of the Kirinyaga people who elected us, it shall be well.

14. Madam Governor, why is it that Kirinyaga County has below five per cent of staff from other counties working there? What is your agenda in embracing cohesion and integration?

 Mwabali J.

Yes Kirinyaga is facing this challenge which is a creation of the previous government.

However, in my team, of twenty five that I have been allowed to recruit in the current administration, I have members drawn from various counties including Machakos, Mombasa, Kisii, Nyeri and Mandera among others.

For the first time in the administration of Kirinyaga County a gender-sensitive, multi-ethnic and multi-religious staff from outside Kirinyaga County were appointed in 2017.

My first executive memorandum to the County Public Service Board (CPSB) urged them to be more deliberate in making Kirinyaga County an inclusive community by making sure that recruitments done capture the face of Kenya in Kirinyaga.

15. I believe Kirinyaga has a lot of untapped opportunities and will be the next ideal tourist destination.  How will you market and brand the various tourist attractions in Kirinyaga ranging from water sports adventure, agro-tourism, cultural, home stay tourism and so much more?

Venessa Micere, Kirinyaga County

Tourism has been identified as a key potential competitive advantage for Kirinyaga County.

This is what informed the selection of one of the sub-counties as “The Resort City” in our “Mountain Cities Blue Print 2032”. 

We have proposed that the area around the Thiba dam for example which was recently launched by His Excellency the President to have a five star hotel, luxury homes and an 18-hole golf course around it.

The tourist circuit currently under design will include white water rafting, dining at the Castle Forest lodge hotel and Mount Kenya climbing among others.