Garissa governor candidate promises to take services to grassroots

Garissa UDA governor candidate Dekow Mohamed promised residents ease of access to services at the grassroots. 

He said he understands residents' reservations with campaign pledges and promised to do things differently and deliver his manifesto in totality.

Mohamed spoke on Tuesday while addressing members of the Rer Daud of the larger Abduwaq family during his campaigns.

“Our manifesto represents a new vision, approach and set of realistic and achievable programmes, which aim at rebuilding social trust, resetting devolution and shaping our future.

"Our people have experienced considerable difficulty in realising the promises of devolution and we are giving them a fresh hope,” he said.

Mohamed said he plans to improve the health, water, education, agriculture and livestock sectors.

“For decades, our hospitals have been facing acute shortage of medical supplies, scarcity of ambulances and lack of oxygen.

"Our infant and maternal mortality rate has been very high. Sadly, the same situation persists today. Our healthcare system has collapsed,” he said.

The candidate said if elected, he will give Garissa Referral Hospital a facelift, expand key facilities and build houses for medical staff.

“My administration will increase health personnel and streamline their scheme of service. We will also improve health facilities in subcounties to decongest the referral hospital.

"This will ensure the Garissa County Referral Hospital lives up to the national standards of a Level 5 hospital," he said.

Mohamed further said he will build a new water treatment plant and improve the piping system in Garissa town.

He said he will also restructure and improve the management of Gawasco, review employee contracts and streamline payment of salaries.

“Despite the massive resources pumped into the sector, our people are still trekking hundreds of kilometres in search of water. Our children and mothers are still pulling jerrycans.

"This means is there is serious mismanagement of resources meant for that sector,” Mohamed said.

The candidate said he will also drill at least 150 boreholes and dams in five years.

He said he will develop systems that can pump water to a 15-kilometre radius, for locations near the River Tana and improve management of rural water systems.

“I want to assure the community that once elected, I will lead and govern Garissa to their expectations in a transparent and accountable manner.

"I shall exercise equity and fairness. We must all make devolution work for the people,” Mohamed said.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)