Kakamega reaps big from President two-day tour

President William Ruto landed in Kakamega on Thursday afternoon and immediately commissioned the Kakamega airstrip.

Later while addressing residents at the Kakamega State Lodge the President said the landing charges will be waived for a while until the operations fully pick up.

“I have asked the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Kenya Airports Authority to remove the landing fees for a while for this airstrip,” Ruto said.

He was received by the area MP Fred Ikana among other leaders from the region including Kakamega Governor Fernandez Barasa and his deputy Ayub Savula and his Vihiga and Trans Nzoia counterparts Willber Ottichilo and George Natembeya respectively.

Ruto said Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will oversee the inaugural flight flag-off next week on Wednesday.

He also promised to build a new apron for the airstrip to have enough space for passengers.

"I have also talked to Governor Barasa who will organise how we can get more land to expand the airstrip to enable larger aeroplanes to land here so that people don't have to go to Eldoret or Kisumu to catch a flight,” Ruto said

The President also said he intends to solve the perennial water shortage in the region by constructing several dams.

The Head of State also promised to complete the stalled road projects in the region before beginning new ones.

He mentioned the Lurambi–Navakholo-Misikoma road, Kimang’eti – Samitsi road, Soyi–Seregea-Turbo road, Indangalasi-Malha Shianda road, Majengo-Shamakhoho-Muhudu-Museno road among others lined up for completion.

He also committed to fully equipping the new Kakamega Teaching and Referral Hospital.

“We have had a discussion with the governor about the hospital and agreed that I will help to equip it so that together with the Eldoret Referral it can help serve the many ailing people from this region," he said.

On collapsed sugar industry the President asserted that the problem of the sugar mill will be sorted out once and for all.

“We have had many problems within the sugar industry but I promise you that we shall sort it out. I want to have a meeting with leaders from this region both from the national and county governments so that we can chat about the way forward. We want to do things differently. First, the government will pay all the debts owed by Mumias and Nzoia Sugar companies,” he said

The President said he was going to get a new investor to run Mumias Sugar Company and restore thousands of jobs.

"The investor who will be tasked with running the operations of this Mumias Sugar Company should be ready to give Sh100 million every month to assist local development in Kakamega like road construction, hospitals, or scholarships of students," Ruto said. 

He further said he will ensure that the nucleus land owned by Mumias Sugar is well utilised for the benefit of residents.

He also said he was going to launch a programme on affordable housing to make residents homeowners and create employment by putting up 20,000 houses.

"The only thing you will provide is the land and I will do the rest, I will look for the funds to build, I will get the investor and I will hand over the houses to you when they are ready,” Ruto said.

He also promised to set up a gold refinery in Ikolomani and a granite factory in Vihiga.

“I will send the Mining CS to check these out so that we can add value to the product we have in this region,” he said.

The President also promised to continue working with leaders from the region and give more positions in government.

He promised jobs to former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, former chief whip Benjamin Washiali and former Sports CS Rashid Echesa among other leaders and professionals from the Western region.

The head of state was accompanied by Mudavadi, Sports CS Ababu Namwamba, Health CS Susan Wafula, Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala and Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale.

All the twelve Kakamega MPs, Woman Rep Elsie Muhanda and MCAs were also present.