Murang'a seeks to deepen partnership with Nebraska state

Nebraska's secretary of state Robert Evnen, receives a gift from business magnate Peter Munga and Murang'a governor Irungu Kang'ata on September 6, 2025

The Murang’a county government has partnered with the state of Nebraska in America to undertake joint programmes on agriculture and export of labour.

The two regions will explore how they can use maize to make animal feed on an industrial scale as both are agricultural regions.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata on Saturday met a delegation from the state led by the secretary of state Robert Evnen at his office in Murang’a town.

The county runs a subsidy programme through which farmers are provided with cards that are loaded with funds they can redeem in local agrovets and get farm inputs.

Kang’ata invited American investors to invest in the county on the 1,300 acres ceded by multi-national fruits processing company Delmonte.

"Farming is a shared economic activity for both Murang’a and Nebraska. We want to deepen that," he said.

Evnen commended the governor for undertaking development programmes that have uplifted the lives of residents.

He said the high education standards implemented have made it easy for Kenyans to work abroad.

Evnen recently signed a deal with the national government on labour mobility.

“The healthcare programme targeting the vulnerable households is of phenomenal benefit to the people of Murang’a,” he said.

“The broad availability of healthcare and even the mobile dialysis treatment system are impressive.

“I’m acutely aware of the need for jobs in the country and the importance of good education to acquire them. It’s, however, remarkable what Murang’a has been able to accomplish.”  

Evnen was accompanied by investors and academics from the state.

Murang’a Economic and Budget Council chairperson Peter Munga said governments should learn from each other to boost service delivery.

The business magnate also called for increased incentives for the private sector to invest in industries and consequently boost the economy and create jobs.

The county government organised a three-day investment forum in June in which it exposed both foreign and local investors on the investment opportunities available.

The Kang’ata administration has been keen to position the county, famed for its tea, coffee and avocado production, as an industrial hub to unlock economic and employment opportunities for residents.

He highlighted the achievements made by his administration, including the implementation of Kang’ata Care programme that provides free health insurance to more than 42,000 vulnerable households.

He also explained the milestones achieved in digitising the county’s operations, including the revenue collection system that has seen the administration collect more revenue.

“By digitising our systems, we have effectively reduced the paperwork and made delivery of services more efficient,” he told the delegation.

Other automation systems adopted by the county include a fleet management system, a land system that allows locals to digitally get construction approvals, and a revenue mapping system that helps to map revenue streams.

Digitisation of all 160 health facilities has made it possible for the county to monitor the number of patients visiting facilities, the diseases they are treated for, the uptake of drugs and the money collected.

About 80 health centres and dispensaries have been installed with solar panels for an undisrupted supply of power, as well as 38 community boreholes.

The governor told the team that his administration has also managed to upgrade about 500 out of the 700 Early Childhood Development Education centres, while providing free porridge to 42,000 learners.

“We have also identified markets that are instrumental in bringing in revenue and upgraded them through cabro works, tarmacking streets, improving the drainage and lighting to create a more conducive environment for business activities,” he said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

Governor Irungu Kang’ata on Saturday met a delegation from the state led by the secretary of state Robert Evnen in his office in Murang’a town. Evnen was accompanied by investors and academics from the state. He said the two regions will explore how they can use maize to make animal feed on an industrial scale as both are agricultural regions.