The government has invested heavily in projects aimed at improving the lives of Kisii and Nyamira residents.
In an interview aired on Monday night, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the government is working closely with the Kisii and Nyamira county governments to boost the region’s economy.
The President, who recently visited Kisii and Nyamira, told Egesa FM that the government is undertaking priority interventions in both counties.
The Head of State pointed out that during his recent visit he launched key roads in Kisii and Nyamira.
These were the Sh1.9 billion Mogonga-Kenyenya-Riokindo-Magenche-Mariba-Nyagancha-Ebegere-Daraja road and the Marani road at a cost of Sh2 billion in Kisii.
In Nyamira, the President launched the Sh547.4 million Mosobeti-Kebirigo road.
“One of our major objectives of visiting the two counties was to launch these roads because infrastructure is a key ingredient to unlocking the economic potential,” Uhuru said.
He added that besides the roads he launched, the state plans to construct an additional 200 kilometres of road in the area.
The President revealed that the government will in the next two months issue tenders for the construction of more roads in the densely populated region.
“These are very productive counties and the roads will improve the transportation of people and farm produce to the markets,” Uhuru said.
He said his visit also focused on the health sector, where the Jubilee administration has invested more than Sh1.45 billion through the Managed Equipment Service project in the two counties.
While in the South Nyanza region, the President commissioned the Managed Equipment Service project at Nyamira Level 5 and Kisii Level 6 Teaching and Referral hospitals valued at Sh700 million and Sh750 million, respectively.
“Working together with the county governments, we want to ensure that Kenyans have access to specialised medical services whenever they need them,” Uhuru said.
He affirmed that was the reasoning behind the Managed Equipment Service project where two hospitals in every county are being equipped with MRI, theatre, renal dialysis, radiology and Intensive Care Unit facilities.
On electricity, the President said that the government has connected 750 primary schools to electricity in Kisii and 410 in Nyamira in the last three years.
“The beauty of this project is that homesteads within a radius of 600 metres from the connected primary schools will get supplied with electricity at an affordable cost,” the President said.
On education, Uhuru said he commissioned the Ekerubo Gietai Technical Training Institute in Nyamira – constructed at a cost of Sh500 million – as part of the state’s effort to equip the youth with skills to earn a living.
The Head of State disclosed that the government also plans to revive and boost tea and coffee farming in the two counties.
He said he got the opportunity to discuss with leaders and residents the challenges facing tea and coffee farmers during the visit.