Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru declared that the county is on an upward development trajectory, as it continues to witness significant growth across all sectors. The governor highlighted numerous accomplishments and ambitious plans, emphasizing the deliberate efforts of her administration in transforming Kirinyaga into a model of development.
Governor Waiguru noted that the county’s recognition by the Office of the Controller of Budget for topping the counties with the highest development budget absorption was a testament to the effective reforms undertaken by her administration. This achievement, she explained, reflects a focused effort to prioritize development projects, driven by prudent management and strategic planning. The governor credited the reforms in the management of the County’s finances, particularly in revenue collection, for the significant increase in Own Source Revenue from Ksh.374.7 million in the financial year 2019/2020 to Ksh. 619 million in 2023/24. This growth, she said, was bolstered by the digitization of revenue collection systems, which had secured and streamlined processes, making it easier for citizens to pay taxes, licenses, and fees.
The speech highlighted key developments in agriculture and health as areas where the county had made remarkable progress. In agriculture, Waiguru revealed that her administration had invested heavily through the Wezesha Kirinyaga program, which supports farmers in enhancing production, as well as in value addition and marketing. This initiative has led to a notable increase in the production of various agricultural products, including tomatoes, avocados, macadamia, dairy, poultry, and fish farming. The County Fish Aggregation Center in Kiaga is a prime example of this success, serving as a market, input center, and value addition hub for the region’s fish farmers. Waiguru also announced the completion of the County Seedling’s Propagation Center in Kangai, which is set to provide farmers with affordable high-quality seedlings, thereby reducing the cost of production and increasing yields.
In the health sector, Waiguru emphasized her administration’s commitment to enhancing healthcare access and quality for all Kirinyaga residents. The governor highlighted the recent upgrades to Kerugoya County and Referral Hospital, which now serves over 600 outpatients and 400 inpatients daily. This development marked a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage, making healthcare more accessible and sustainable for the county’s residents. To further boost healthcare delivery, Waiguru announced the recruitment of 48 additional health workers across different cadres, as well as the ongoing upgrade of Kianyaga and Kimbimbi level 3 hospitals to level 4. This expansion aims to ease pressure on the Kerugoya hospital, allowing it to focus on more complex cases while the other facilities handle routine medical procedures.
Waiguru also underscored the importance of grassroots healthcare delivery through the onboarding of 1,205 Community Health Promoters. These health promoters have played a crucial role in enhancing access to healthcare at the community level, providing health education and services directly to residents in their localities. Additionally, she urged residents to register with the improved Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to further enhance access to quality healthcare services.
A major highlight of the address was the announcement of the upcoming Sagana Agro Industrial City. Waiguru described this project as a game-changer for Kirinyaga’s agricultural sector, addressing post-harvest losses and providing better prices for farmers during high production seasons. The Agro-Industrial City, which is now a reality rather than a distant dream, is expected to significantly boost the county’s economy by creating over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs upon completion. The development at the County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) and Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is already 37% complete, with the focus on setting up agro-processing factories that will add value to locally produced crops, including tomato, avocado, and macadamia processing.
Waiguru’s address also highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects across the county, including the construction of cabro car parks in key towns, and the completion of a Gender Violence Recovery Center at Kerugoya Hospital. The county has also partnered with the national government on several projects, such as the Bulk Water and Sewerage project and affordable housing initiatives. She commended the collaboration with the national government and the County Assembly, noting that it had been instrumental in achieving these milestones.
In conclusion, Governor Waiguru reiterated her administration’s commitment to Kirinyaga’s socio-political and economic prosperity, emphasizing the role of collaborative efforts in providing better services to the county’s residents. Her address was a call to action for continued partnership between the county government, the residents, and other stakeholders to ensure sustained development and growth. Waiguru expressed confidence that with ongoing reforms and strategic planning, Kirinyaga is well-positioned to maintain its upward trajectory in development and become a model county in Kenya.
