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Fellow Kenyans and residents of Nandi County, I am greatly honoured to join you as we celebrate and commemorate Mashujaa day. This day reminds us of the struggles and efforts made by our fellow countrymen, who sacrificed their lives and efforts for the prosperity of this nation. It is indeed a great honour to our great forefathers who fought tirelessly and fearlessly to liberate us from the yoke of colonialism namely; Jomo Kenyatta and patriotic contemporaries and later Bishop Alexander Muge, Jean Marie Seroney and Jelagat Mutai who kept the torch of freedom burning.
For Nandi County, it is special day since we are privileged to be part of the history of the liberation struggle in our Country. It is through our renowned and great Nandi leader Koitalel arap Samoei that our County lives to be remembered in the annals of history. Nandi people suffered in the hands of the British colonialist, many were tortured, deported, maimed and killed, their property destroyed, all for the sake of our freedom. It is in this regard, that my Administration is pursuing to address the issue of historical injustices meted on them. As we speak the process has kicked off and we have hired the best legal minds to pursue this issue to the best of its conclusion. We are optimistic that in the end justice will be served for these heinous atrocities and injustices that our people underwent.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we mark this day, I cannot forget to mention our modern day heroes and heroines; our sportsmen and sportswomen who continue to put our Country and County in the global map. First, I take this opportunity to congratulate all our athletes who performed well in recent Rio Olympics 2016 and Chicago Marathon, namely Jemimah Sumgong, Eliud Kipchoge, Consenslus Kipruto, You tube athlete Julius Yego and Abel Kirui, Dickson Chumba respectively, among many others. We are extremely proud of your achievements and for hoisting our national flag high. Their achievements are indeed a testimony to the fact that Nandi County is the Source of Champions. Similarly, we are greatful to be home of world famous champions, like Kipchoge Keino, Pamela Jelimo, Wilfred Bungei, Janet Jepkosgei, Wilson Kipketer, Naftali Bon, Teclar Chemwabai, Priscah Jeptoo among others; congratulations all for keeping our County’s glory as the Source of Champions, you will always remain our mashujaas.
And to all our unsung heroes and heroines, our parents who struggle to meet schools fees for their children, our great businessmen and businesswomen who struggle to sustain our economy, to our farmers who feed us, doctors who save our lives, our gallant soldiers and police officers who have put their lives in the fore to protect this country, and all Kenyans who struggle everyday to make ends meet, we salute you all!
My fellow Citizens
As we mark four years since the inception of devolution, may I express my gratitude to you, the residents of this great County for your prayers and continued support to the entire leadership. Despite the challenges which have always stood on our way, we have remained steadfast and determined to accomplish our goals. I am happy to report that devolution in Nandi County is in the right direction. My Government has been on a steady and meaningful transformative agenda to change and improve the lives of our residents. As you are aware, two months ago a team from Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) led by its Chair Mr Micah Cheserem, visited our County on a fact – finding mission and to check on the progress of devolution. The report by the commission did underscore the great developments and the positive impact that our great County is undergoing. I share the findings of the report and I assure Nandi County residents that the report captures the real situation of our County. Moving forward, I have no doubt that we are going to implement all our pre- election pledges and goals as contained in Nandi County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) before the next general election.
Ladies and gentlemen,
May I now highlight my Administration achievement for the past three and half years,
On agriculture which is the backbone of our economy and source of livelihood, My Government has committed to ensure that the sector remains a top priority. To this far, we have renovated and revived several cattle dips across the County as part of our measures to keep livestock diseases at bay. Through the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, a routine vaccination and diseases surveillance is being conducted to prevent and control the spread of these diseases. Further, in an effort to improve our breeds and increase milk production we have rolled out subsidized AI services for our farmers. We have purchased 10 Doper rams to upgrade the breed of the local sheep. To commercialize poultry, we have purchased 10 incubators which have since been distributed to various groups including Women, Youth and People Living with Disabilities in the County. And to ensure food security in our County, we have embarked on boosting the production of other crops like bananas, macadamia, potatoes and avocados.
Additionally, we are reviving the coffee sector by distributing over 140, 000 seedlings of coffee to various coffee cooperatives in the County. This initiative is geared towards increasing the production of coffee berries, as a foundation for setting up coffee milling plant in the County.
Further, we have devoted resources to revamp Kaimosi Agricultural Training Centre to transform the institution into a modern centre for training for our farmers in the latest agri –business technology and practises. Moreover, we have also operationalized the four ShoMap markets namely; Kibyok, Labuiywo, Kaptumo and Serem. I urge our farmers to utilize these facilities to market their agricultural produce.
Provision of good and quality Health services to the residents have tremendously improved. So far, we have managed to accommodate atleast 40 staff members within Kapsabet County Referral Hospital after the completion of the construction of staff housing units. Additionally, our response to emergencies has greatly been boosted after we acquired state – of – the – art ambulances. Consequently, there has been remarkable reduction in maternal and child mortality rates. At this, juncture may I extend my appreciation to the First Lady Mama Margaret Kenyatta for her campaign to end child mortality and to ensure safe delivery by expectant mothers in this Country. Nandi is greatful to be a beneficiary of one of the beyond Zero mobile clinics.
Further, My Government has undertaken an initiative to construct 20 maternity wings across the County. These maternity units are in various stages of completion and soon they will be operational. With the collaboration of National government Medical Equipment Scheme (MES) we have acquired specialized medical equipment like MRI, Digital X – Rays, Medical Imaging and Ultra Sound, Which are being installed at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital and Nandi Hills County hospital. Together with this intervention, we have ensured that medical drugs are availed in all our 148 health facilities across the County.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Education remains a key and integral requisite for our socio – economic transformation and development. It is for this reason that My Government has been keen to ensure the sector got all the necessary support. It is worth mentioning that we have constructed 20 vocational training centres, six twin workshops and 118 Early Childhood Development and Education centres (ECDE). In addition, we have employed over 824 ECDE caregivers and 33 polytechnic instructors. We are in the process of employing more caregivers so that all our children can have a good foundation in their learning.
Following the enactment of the Nandi County Education Fund (NACEF), disbursement of bursaries to needy students is set to begin. Already, the disbursement committee has been identified and I urge all the residents of Nandi County to fully participate in the identification of the beneficiaries of the Fund.
I am also happy to report that Nandi County will finally have its first public University, Koitalel Samoei University of Nandi. Already, a tender advertisement inviting bidders for the construction of the infrastructural facilities for the University at Nandi Hills has been issued. A precise date for the laying of the foundation stone by President Uhuru Kenyatta will be communicated soon. I urge the residents of Nandi to grab the opportunities and potentials that the institution will provide.
Fellow Residents,
Provision of clean and safe water remains the top priority of My Administration. So far we have successfully completed 80 out of 150 water projects we are undertaking across the County. We have also installed a new technology of Ramp Pump at Kimaren and Mosoriot. The technology is imported from New Zealand and is the only one in our County and Africa. It is cost effective since it is not powered by electricity or fuel. We are making arrangements to avail more of these Ramp Pumps to many areas of our County to boost water supply to our homes.
Land is an important asset and more importantly a basic need that we all require to invest. It is for this reason that My Government in conjunction with the National government have issued tittle deeds to our residents who have been searching for these valid documents in vain for long. We are not going to relent in this endeavour until all our residents get land ownership documents.
In addition, we are now finalizing on establishing a major dumpsite in Kapsabet town. This will go a long way in easing the perennial drainage issues that have bedevilled the town. Plans are underway to modernize the water supply and sanitation for Kapsabet and its environs.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you are aware, proper infrastructural development is an ingredient for any meaningful development in promoting economic growth. My Administration has purchased road construction and maintenance machinery. We have opened up and graded over 2000km of feeder roads, of these 1500km have been gravelled.
Further, we have also purchased two state -of – the -art fire fighting engines, which have significantly enhanced our response to fire accidents and reduced possible damages to our properties and losses to the business community.
We are glad to report the increase in investor confidence in Kapsabet and Nandi Hills towns in the past three and half years. This positive development is witnessed through the mushrooming of many high – rise commercial buildings and the booming enterprises. These, my fellow residents are the fruits of devolution. I assure the entrepreneurs in this County of my total support in their endeavours.
To enhance and promote the business community, we are soon integrating technology to tap into the vast growing global village market. In this regard, the two major towns of Nandi Hills and Kapsabet have been connected to the fibre – optic cable. We are also collaborating with the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology to install Local Area Networks (LAN) in other parts of our County.
For efficiency and effectiveness in our revenue collection, we have adopted an automated revenue system, thus becoming one of the few Counties to embrace the technology. In addition, we have also automated acquisition of trading licenses. These are the great measures we have bolstered to enhance and make our County an investment destination hub for our investors.
Nandi County continue to dominate the world sphere of sports, both in the field and track competition courtesy of our sons and daughters, who have never disappointed us. As earlier mentioned, we pride ourselves in their achievements and for making our County to be known in the world. Our efforts to position and brand Nandi County as the top Sports Tourism destination in the global map, has been made easier by our athletes who continue to market us abroad.
We are proud to be naturally endowed with the best altitudes for athletics training and environment, and I welcome athletes from other parts of this Country and abroad who wish to come and train here. As a government, we are committed in supporting our athletes. My Administration is constructing two training facilities to nurture and support our sportsmen and sportswomen namely; Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Kapsabet which is at its second phase of construction and Nandi Hills Stadium. Upon completion, we expect that the stadia will be equipped with the modern training facilities.
At this juncture, allow me to recognize and extend my sincere appreciation to our esteemed partners in the sector, who have always been supportive to our athletes through organizing of annual marathons. Notably, Sameer Group of Companies (Nandi Tea Limited), KASS Media Group and Ndalat Gaa Cross Country organizers. I invite other partners to emulate them and join us in this journey to position and cement our County’s tittle as the SOURCE OF CHAMPIONS.
As I conclude, I take this opportunity on behalf of the County leadership, the residents and all the education stakeholders in our County to wish all our form four and standard eight candidates’ success in their forthcoming exams!
THANK YOU
MAY GOD BLESS YOU
MAY GOD BLESS NANDI COUNTY
AND HAPPY MASHUJAA DAY