President William Ruto has continued his tour of the Mt Kenya region, launching a series of development projects to transform Nyandarua County.
On the visit, an extension of his wider engagement of the region, the head of state made some significant infrastructure, energy, and education project announcements.
Among the major promises the president made was that the national government would take up the completion of J.M. Kariuki Hospital.
Building of the hospital had stalled at 48% because of cash issues at the county level.
The government vowed to bring an additional Sh800 million to the government coffers in an effort to have the hospital completed this year.
Besides, the President ordered the building of roads valued at Sh958 million in Nyandarua to boost transport links in the county.
To further open access to electricity, he launched a Sh1.6 billion last-mile connectivity programme targeting 14,000 homes.
Further, he directed Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi to provide for an additional Sh400 million to enable connection to electricity for another 6,000 homes.
In a major boost for education in the region, Ruto made plans to open a public university in Nyandarua County.
The new university, to be overseen under the University of Nairobi, will take in students as of September.
The president also touched on issues of alleged land grabbing in Nyandarua.
He instructed the county commissioner to look into allegations that a quarry belonging to the county was seized by private developers and report back within two weeks.
Ruto’s promises of development against the background of vote consolidation in the Mt Kenya region, a key voting bloc.
His administration is still keen to maintain election promises in the form of tangible projects that are felt immediately by residents in their day-to-day lives.
By Nairobi