Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has distributed garbage collection skips in all major towns to improve solid waste management.
The governor has said that her administration is committed to improving hygiene in towns, especially in the major markets.
Speaking while launching the 13 skips at Kagio market on Tuesday, Waiguru said the county government has invested heavily in modern solid waste management equipment.
She said the skips will complement 16 others that the county government had distributed earlier.
Waiguru said the efforts are geared towards ensuring all residents and traders dwell and transact in a clean and safe environment.
“My administration is always listening to the needs of the people. Numerous traders had asked to be provided with the skips to ease waste collection in markets,” she said.
Waiguru said the skips will be placed in Kagio, Kutus, Kerugoya, Kagumo market, Kibingoti, Sagana, Wang’uru and Mururi.
The county government also purchased a garbage truck and one skip loader in the last financial year, which the governor said has helped improve solid waste management and boost hygiene standards in towns.
“We do not want to see garbage being dumped openly in the streets and estates, so we will continue to instal more skips,” she added.
Waiguru, however, urged residents to make good use of the skips to dispose of waste to avoid littering their towns.
She said the county has employed 345 casual workers to keep towns clean.
The governor also commissioned Mahiga-ini Bridge that connects Murinduko and Gathigiriri wards.
Residents of the two wards were previously forced to use a makeshift bridge across the vast Nyamindi river, risking their lives.
Residents were also forced to travel 14km to Wang’uru Market as Ngurubani market which is only seven kilometres away was cut off by the river.
Waiguru said the bridge will spur economic growth by easing the transportation of agricultural produce to the market.
Boda boda operators who often slide into the river while using the makeshift bridge will also benefit, she said.
In one year, the governor noted, the county government has also constructed Kiamanyeki-Ciagini, Kaimiri-Gakarara, Kibukure and ongoing Gachiria Moyo bridges.
She said her administration plans to upgrade 1,500 kilometres of roads out of which 250 kilometres will be murramed while 1,250 will be graded.
“We have embarked on a massive road improvement programme that will open up the interior parts of the county for sustained social and economic development,” she said.
The county improved 21 roads during the last financial year, murraming 201 kilometres and grading 900 kilometres.
The governor said better roads have led to improved household incomes in the highly agricultural county as farmers can easily transport their farm produce to the market.
The county has since purchased five graders, 10 (20 tonnes) trucks, two excavators, one loader, one backhoe, two roller-compactors and one water bowser for the road improvement program.
