Taita Taveta Governor-elect Andrew Mwadime has promised to bring together all elected leaders so residents benefit from development.
The independent winner on Monday said divisive leadership of the past government is to blame for the many stalled projects in the county.
Mwadime defeated 12 other candidates in the hotly contested race. He said he aims to leave a legacy of uniting the county and making it a better place.
He said he will tirelessly work with MCAs and legislators to implement flagship projects in water, agriculture and food security, education, healthcare, mining and mitigating the effects of climate change.
“We must improve from ranking at 46 out of 47 to be at least in the top 10," the governor-elect told journalists in Voi.
His administration, he said, will build on successes in agriculture, encourage other farming activities in horticulture, macadamia and banana farming, among others.
Mwadime said the proposed development projects will be implemented after countywide public participation.
He promised to diligently deal with corruption and include technocrats in his administration to streamline services.
“We promise visionary leadership and integrity in governance by eradicating corruption. We promise all-inclusive governance without discrimination,” he said.
Woman representative-elect Lydia Haika of UDA said elected leaders have committed to working together for completion of stalled national government projects. She successfully defended her seat.
She said they will draft a formula to attract more investors and development partners to put up new projects.
“We want to change the previous situation whereby no leader was involved in running the county. All of us are committed to ensure more funds come to the counties," Haika said.
She said they will push for completion of the Sh40 billion Mzima II water project that was to have been completed five years ago.
It will address the perennial water shortage in Voi, Wundanyi, Taveta and Mwatate subcounties; the surplus will go to Mombasa.
“Our county is in dire need of water and the project will provide enough water for the entire Coast region," she said.
Further, the region is awaiting completion of the 54-kilometre Mtomwangodi-Msau-Mbale-Werugha-Mghange- Bura road. Works on the Sh2 billion project are ongoing and completion is expected in three years.
The road is being upgraded to bitumen standard to connect agriculture-rich Taita subcounty with other parts of the county.
Haika said the leaders will also push for release of royalties from mining and entry to Tsavo National Park.
She said the royalties will bring additional own-source revenue to the county so it can implement more projects.
(Edited by V. Graham)
