Waiguru to finalise pending projects, initiate new ones

Kirinyaga governor-elect Anne Waiguru has pledged to finalise pending projects while initiating new ones.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, Waiguru said among the projects she intends to finalise is the Kerugoya Level 5 which when complete, will offer specialised services.

The facility will be equipped with an intensive care unit, high dependency unit, an out-patient wing, theatre, emergency and casualty departments, pediatric, surgical, counselling, and pharmacy among other services.

Waiguru’s administration intends to complete and upgrade Kianyaga and Kimbimbi hospitals from Level 3 to Level 4.

In the agriculture sector, Waiguru said her administration will construct a tomato factory in Kangai that will provide a ready market to help in curbing post-harvest losses particularly when there is a glut.

With an annual production of about 63,000 tons annually which in turn earns farmers about Sh.1.5 billion annually, Kirinyaga is one of the mega tomato producers in the country.

Under the Wezesha empowerment programme, the county government has supported about 60 groups to establish greenhouses which they use to propagate tomato seedlings for sale to growers.

In her in tray, Waiguru highlighted the construction of a rice husk factory that will among other things help in producing furniture and husk boards.

The county government will construct an industrial park in Sagana and put in place structures for the construction of a hydropower generating facility.

Waiguru thrashed her eight competitors amongst them her closest political rival Wangui Ngirici.

She garnered 113,088 votes against Ngirici’s 105,677 votes.

The governor who was accompanied by her husband Kamotho Waiganjo, her running mate David Githanda and some of her supporters thanked the residents for having confidence in her leadership.

“This is a miracle! I’m standing here because of the strength that has come from our faith. This gave us the resilience to endure the intimidation from the system and my competitors,” she said.

Waiguru praised her husband whom she termed a towering pillar and a great source of her strength and comfort.

“I want to sincerely thank the very best husband one can have, Kamotho! He is a pillar in my life, he is the reason why most of you tell me I am calm. He carries the load,” she said.

Waiguru commended Kenyans for believing in women's leadership by electing an encouraging number into various elective positions.

She said it is an encouraging move that will help bridge the gender parity gap in the representation of women in political offices  

“It is encouraging to see the number of women increase especially in the council of governors. This will inspire many more to come out from their cocoons and vie for leadership positions,” Waiguru said.

The outgoing assembly majority leader  Kamau Murango was also declared as the duly elected senator.

Murango thrashed six competitors with 196,141 votes.

He pledged to represent the county with utmost diligence and transparency.

Njeri Maina will represent the county in the position of a woman representative to the national assembly.

At only 28, Maina managed to thrash big names in the political realm and managed 175,001 votes.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris