- The troubled Ol Moran division in Laikipia has begun getting a new lease of life as both the national and the county governments start to carry out development projects in the area.
- This comes even as the government struggles to restore peace and order in the war-torn areas of Laikipia county.
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@Waithaka06
The national and Laikipia county governments have initiated development projects in the volatile Ol Moran area.
The two levels of government have started multiple projects with the aim of finding a lasting solution to the region that has been experiencing banditry attacks.
The projects are being implemented by a team of officers from the Kenya Defence Forces, those from the Ministry of Interior and the Laikipia government.
Governor Ndiritu Muriithi said the facelift mainly involves road rehabilitation, cabro-paving, drainage, modern markets, eco-toilets improvement and upgrading of health facilities.
“Other projects being done aer construction of the headquarters at the newly created Kirima subcounty, water projects and building of schools,” he said.
At Mirigwit Primary School, KDF officers are constructing a classroom.
The county administration is also setting up another classroom and has already repaired one that was set ablaze by bandits in September.
"We are making efforts to ensure that we have opened up major roads in the area to ease movement and transportation of farm produce and other goods. We are also engaging with the Kenya Rural Roads Authority to mend and open more secure roads for residents and security personnel," Muriithi said.
He said the county government and the national government have partnered to construct a police divisional headquarters in Ol Moran.
“As the county administration, we had set aside Sh20 million for this project. It is expected to expand police presence and improve security. We expect it to be completed on time,” Ndiritu said.
He spoke at Ol Moran town during a joint meeting with other key players.
The construction of the police division headquarters was launched after the gazettement of Kirima subcounty two months ago to end runaway insecurity in the area.
Ol Moran division was hived off from Laikipia West subcounty, while Kirima subcounty was carved from Nyahururu subcounty.
Ol Moran township was also gazetted as the headquarters of Kirima subcounty by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
Governor Muriithi said his administration is also funding the upgrade of Lonyiek and Survey police posts to full police stations.
Kirima deputy county commissioner John Orata said more police officers, including two OCS, will be sent to the two stations.
Orata said the projects were meant to ease and boost service delivery.
Already, the Ol Moran Health Centre is being upgraded into a subcounty hospital.
Laikipia Health Services chief officer Donald Mugoi said rehabilitation and upgrading of the facility was underway.
He said major activities being undertaken included renovation and expansion of the out-patient department and the opening of a new laboratory and a pharmacy.
"We are also expanding the in-patient department to enable the facility to accommodate more patients. This will help the health facility receive more clients who would otherwise be forced to travel long distances to Nyahururu and Rumuruti to seek services," Mugoi said.
Governor Muriithi, however, cited lack of housing, especially for newly deployed government officers, as a major challenge.
"The newly deployed officers are forced to commute daily to the nearby Sipili and Rumuruti townships. Investors should look at new emerging investment opportunities to reap big from them," he said.
Businessman Dan Mugo said the projects will help bring sustainable peace in the area. He called on the government to ensure all the projects were completed on time.
Meanwhile, a multi-agency security team is carrying out a security operation to flush out armed bandits and herders from the Laikipia Nature Conservancy.