President Uhuru Kenyatta has demonstrated that he is both a man of the people and a man of action, Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia has said.
He said the directives issued by the President on Tuesday during the State of the Nation address will go a long way in changing the economy of this country.
“I urge all Kenyans to continue supporting the President now that he has demonstrated that he has the interest of the smallest person in this country,” Kimemia said on Tuesday evening.
He said during a meeting in Sagana last year, Mt Kenya leaders appealed to the President to support local industries, most of which are agriculture-based, and Uhuru has heeded their request.
Kimemia, the chairman of the Central Kenya Economic Bloc, said the Sh575 million that the President directed be issued to the New-KCC in Nyeri and Nyahururu branches will help rejuvenate the dairy sector in the region. The bloc has 10 counties.
With the money, he said, the excess milk from the counties will be moped up and in the end the price of milk per litre will increase. The tariff introduced on imported milk, he said, will also cushion farmers from unhealthy competition.
The President also directed that Sh300 million be given to Meru, Nyandarua and Kisii counties. Nyandarua will receive Sh100 million which will be utilised in the construction of a potato processing plant and cold storage to benefit farmers.
“I want to thank the President on behalf of the 10 governors for responding to our request. He is a man of the people. Those who thought he cannot do anything now have witnessed what he is capable of,” he said
On the cabinet reshuffle, Kimemia said it is the prerogative of the President to reorganise his government as he dims fit for the interest of the nation.
Kimemia said the Central leaders should stop unproductive politics and concentrate on development.
“The onus is on us as leaders in the bloc to reduce dirty politics and start delving into social-economic development," he said
The Nyandarua county chief spoke in Kasuku township, Ol Joro Orok, during the launch of Sh113.4 million bursary fund for this year.
Some 18,592 students benefited from the first tranche of Sh47,227,500.
Of this number, 100 who are joining Form 1 were issued with cheques while the rest was transferred to various institutions' bank accounts through the automation process.
“To start with, this year the bursary funds will be transferred to the institution bank accounts and not through cheques. This will save parents and students the trouble and cost of travelling all the way to pick cheques. It will also curb the change of beneficiaries along the chain," he said
