Wajir County wins World Bank praise on development

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi welcomes World Bank officials when they visited the county. PHOTO | KENNEDY KIMANTHI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The team visited Wajir County Referral Hospital, Wajir Referral Laboratory, Abattoir, Wajir Kenya Medical Training College, Market stalls, the ongoing energy plant construction, County Headquarter and County Assembly that are under construction.
  • The President was especially happy with the infrastructural projects initiated by the county including a Sh1.6 billion, 28 kilometre tarmac road which is the first in the vast county.

The World Bank has praised Wajir County's success in devolution and accelerating growth in previously neglected areas.

The World Bank said it was happy that the devolved unit in the formerly marginalised northern Kenya has allocated more than 58 per cent of its budget to development unlike other counties.

World Bank Country Director Diarietou Gaye said projects undertaken by the county government will meet infrastructural needs of the region.

Ms Gaye, who led a team of other WB departmental heads, made the remarks in Wajir town on Tuesday during a visit to the county.

The team visited Wajir County Referral Hospital, Wajir Referral Laboratory, Abattoir, Wajir Kenya Medical Training College, Market stalls, the ongoing energy plant construction, County Headquarter and County Assembly that are under construction.

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi welcomed the World Bank’s support to the counties.

Mr Abdullahi said assistance in the water, renewable energy, infrastructure, and agriculture and livestock sectors would help spur development at the grassroots.

“With the inception of devolution it was a breather for my people. Development was from scratch which prompted my administration to spend heavily on infrastructure by building offices for almost all departments.

“We have also drilled over 126 boreholes, built and staffed 42 maternity wards to stem mortality deaths,” Mr Abdullahi said.

Donors in the country have continued to demand that governors ensure funds given to county governments are not embezzled but used prudently.

In 2015, a World Bank report said that most counties spent 21 per cent on development, 46 per cent on salaries and 30 per cent on administration. The report added that donors will not compromise on accountability and the proper use of public resources.

Wajir County also won accolades from President Uhuru Kenyatta in a recent visit to the county "for being an example of success of devolution."

The President was especially happy with the infrastructural projects initiated by the county including a Sh1.6 billion, 28 kilometre tarmac road which is the first in the vast county.

Wajir occupies 10pc of Kenya's land mass and is the third biggest after Marsabit and Turkana counties.