Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi has renewed calls for the revival of the Sh 2.3 billion Kavinyalalo irrigation scheme in the constituency.
The MP said the scheme will address the problem of food insecurity not only in the constituency but the entire Kilifi county.
The legislator said the project was initiated during the late regime of the late President Mwai Kibaki, but is yet to officially kick off.
Mnyazi who chose to celebrate a party with orphans and people living with disabilities at Goshi in Kakuyuni ward, said her administration will ensure their welfare.
She donated to them Sh200,000 to start a project.
Area MCA Morris Dadu who was also present gave out Sh100,000.
During the celebrations, the MP organized food for all the orphans and people living with disabilities who were present.
She gave the children cakes, snacks and refreshments for them to enjoy the Christmas.
She said she raised the issue of the irrigation scheme when she made her maiden speech in Parliament and is still following up on the project to ensure once the supplementary budget is passed next year funds are allocated.
“We have already written a letter to the National Irrigation Board (NIB) asking how the funds were diverted elsewhere instead of implementing the project,” she said.
The MP said during the August 8 general election thousands of people including those living with disability turned out in large numbers to vote.
Most of them, she said, spent the whole day without food just to cast their votes for her.
Mnyazi said plans are in top gear to ensure that once the NG-CDF money is released next year, they begin issuing bursaries.
“We want to begin a new format of issuance of bursary in Malindi the MCA will not do it alone, the same way I will not do it alone,” she said.
The MP advised parents to take care of their children during this long holiday to prevent them from engaging in unlawful activities or bad behaviour.
Kakuyuni Ward MCA Morris Dadu said the people living with disability had been sidelined by the previous regime.
He said he will soon come up with a bill in the county assembly to ensure all the people living with disability get paid like the elderly.
He said already they have passed a supplementary budget in the assembly and they would get two kilometers of tarmac up to Goshi junction to Kavinyalalo.
“We have also agreed with the MP to ensure bursaries are given together because the people are the same and we should cooperate to ensure they benefit more from the elected leadership,” she said.
On her part Kakuyuni Ward Administrator Amina Said said people living with disabilities should not be sidelined because they are just enabled differently and deserved better treatment like the others.
She said there was also need for legislators both at the county and the national assembly to enact laws so that people with disability can be given sufficient.
Area chief Naftali Birya thanked the MP and the MCA for organizing the party for the orphans and people with disability.
He also called on the leaders to push for the revival of the Kavinyalalo irrigation scheme as it will help the locals produce food since the area was fertile.
Thomas Mwakombo the representative of the People living with disability said they need support to start a Sacco and set up a workshop to make tricycle s in the county and to be sold to other counties
