Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika on Wednesday boldly aired the needs of Nakuru residents before President William Ruto during a meeting for Nakuru grassroot leaders at Statehouse Nairobi.
When she took to the podium, Kihika did not miss her word in informing President Ruto on what Nakuru residents need from the National Government.
She affirmed to the President that Nakuru is firmly committed to collaboration with the National Government in the transformation of Nakuru County.
“We are ready to work with you, and assure you of our unequivocal and unwavering support in your journey to transform Kenya,” she stated.
Kihika who led the delegation from Nakuru, used the moment to appreciate President Ruto for what she termed is the immeasurable support extended to Nakuru, the County of Unlimited Opportunities.
According to Kihika, President Ruto has demonstrated in word and deed, that Nakuru occupy a special place in his heart.
“I am humbled by your focus and I want to assure you that we will work and cooperate with the National Government as we endeavour to grow our County,” she stated.
Kihika also used the opportunity to highlight some of the key issues that Nakuru County has achieved under her leadership with support from the National Government.
According to Kihika, since she assumed office, decisive steps have been taken to develop and upgrade the lives of the people of Nakuru.
“We have as a government endeavoured to socially and economically transform Nakuru at the same time as we work for politically stable and peaceful County. Many are the projects we have implemented, are implementing and will implement along the challenging task of transformation. When you see us come before you, we seek to demonstrate what we have achieved and most importantly, that we achieve much more with the resourceful intervention of your Government,” stated Kihika.
She reiterated that provision of quality, affordable and timely health services ranks top on her agenda for the people of Nakuru.
To achieve this goal, Governor Kihika informed the delegation that she has consistently committed 40 per cent of County’s budget towards health.
Arising from this intervention, she added that hospital visits have increased by seven per cent for outpatients and 11 per cent for in-patients compared to 2023.
“We operate 219 public health facilities, complemented by 16 primary care networks and 3,300 Community Health Promoters. We respectfully request for the onboarding of 800 additional CHPs and propose establishing of a unified county level stipend system to enhance efficiency. We are on course to ensure every Sub County is served with a Level 4 hospital,” she stated.
Construction of these facilities, Kihika added that is at various stages in Rongai, Kuresoi North, Subukia and in Bahati sub counties.
To operationalize these four facilities, the Governor was categorical that it requires at least Kshs 3 billion.
Additionally, Kshs1 billion will be needed each year to provide extra staff.
She pleaded with President Ruto to support in equipping these facilities adding that it will significantly aid Nakuru in achieving universal health coverage (UHC).
“At least Kshs 2 billion for equipping, possibly more, as these are entirely new facilities. An additional Kshs 1 billion would be needed for staffing. Your Excellency support in the form of equipment would be greatly appreciated,” she said.
In support of Social Health Insurance, the Nakuru County Governor revealed that her administration has registered a total of 742,000 people (43.4 per cent) out of a population of 2.4 million adding that so far, the Social Health Authority (SHA) reimbursement stand at Kshs671 million while pending reimbursement are Kshs 400 million,” she revealed.
Governor Kihika who had health at her heart added that her administration has ensured uninterrupted availability of medicines in all public hospitals throughout the year.
According to her, Nakuru is one of three hubs for regional cancer centres and that without any support, her administration has managed cancer treatment (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) over the years.
According to Kihika, the Centre currently serves at least 50 clients per day in radiotherapy on one Linac machine.
The Centre is progressing towards operating a second Linac machine, which will double the workload and alleviate congestion at the national hospital.
An additional 100 clients are treated per day with chemotherapy.
The governor requested for: Support for the cancer centre which would significantly ease the current burden.
The support includes secondment of specialized medical oncologists and service-level agreements to maintain the essential infrastructure would be ideal.
On matters Agriculture, Governor Kihika noted that Nakuru is primarily an agricultural County blessed with a rich arable hinterland.
She pointed out that her administration has taken deliberate steps to restore agriculture as the top income earner for Nakurians and are now gradually witnessing the fruits of focus on value chains.
Kihika revealed that this year, her administration is distributing a total of 7,857,141 pyrethrum seedlings to farmers; set aside Kshs 20,449,850 to support the Avocado value chain through distribution of seedlings with 91,710 seedling so far distributed to 9,548 farmers; distributed 20,000 bags of maize seeds amounting to 42 tonnes to farmers across the County two months ago; and continuing with last mile delivery of subsidized fertilizers to farmers.
This even as she expressed pride that Nakuru is the leading county in potato and dairy production and the second in food production in Kenya.
“To boost dairy farming, we have introduced subsidized Artificial Insemination which has so far benefitted 23 cooperatives.
To increase investments, enhance productivity, value addition, marketing and create jobs for sustainable development in our County, we are providing credit to our entrepreneurs and constructing markets for our farmers and traders,” she stated.
Kihika did not miss to mention on the recently launched Kshs100 million Wezesha Fund comprising the County Enterprise Fund and the County Cooperative Revolving Development Fund that aims to help entrepreneurs access affordable credit.
Already, Saccos such as Mwaki, Sokoro and cooperatives societies such as Olenguruone Farmers and Suka have borrowed from the fund.
To encourage self-help groups, Saccos and cooperatives to take advantage of low interests (8 per cent per annum for County Enterprise and 6 percent per annum for Cooperative Fund) to either initiate or grow their businesses.
In partnership with the National Government, her administration is constructing 18 ultra-modern markets in Dundori, Kabatini, Naivasha, Kuresoi North, Njoro, Rongai, Elburgon, Gilgil, and Nakuru City.
The new markets have cold rooms for storage, lactation rooms for breast feeding mothers, ICT hubs, eateries and social halls.
In addition, constructed 14 new markets across the County and refurbished tens of market shades.
“We have constructed six bus parks in Nakuru City, Naivasha (3) and one each in Gilgil and Molo. Your Excellency, we are beginning to see the phenomenal benefits of a working Special Economic Zone in Naivasha. Through the investmentsabout six investors are on the groundit is estimated that 100,000 jobs will be generated, absorbing hundreds of thousands of jobless youths in the County. We call for a renewed focus on promotion, marketing and actualization of the Naivasha SEZ as it will not only change the lives of residents of Nakuru County but countrywide,” she stated.
In the education sector, Kihika revealed that her administration is taking steps to ensure that children access quality education from the earliest age while youths who have completed secondary school get an opportunity to acquire life-changing skills.
Two weeks ago, she pointed out that she commissioned 498 ECDE teachers recently employed on permanent and pensionable terms and more will be hired until attained the teacher-student ratio of 1.25.
“We are implementing the Uji Program for the last one year which has seen the number of ECDE learners increase from 59,000 to 65,000 as the centres shot up from 1,003 to 1,068. So far, we have constructed 127 new classrooms, rehabilitated 16 classrooms, equipped 628 classrooms with age-appropriate furniture, constructed 10 kitchens as well as 69 modern toilets for our ECDE learners. We have integrated ICT in our ECDE learning and continue to provide instructional materials for both teachers and pupils,” she stated .
To promote Vocational Training Centres (VTCs), Kihika was categorical that her administration has increased the number of VTCs from 33 to 40, provided a capitation of Kshs30,000 for each learner and increased the enrolment to 6,217 learners.
Above all, her administration is providing bursaries for needy students at secondary, university, college and tertiary level.
This year, her administration set aside Kshs 452 million for bursaries.
On ICT, her administration has put up 8 ICT hubs where youth have access to free Internet and have a platform to acquire digital skills.
To actualize her vision of clean, safe and adequate drinking water for all residents, Kihika stated that her administration has drilled over 60 boreholes, solarized 45 boreholes, piped 102 projects covering 407 kilometres, constructed 23 water kiosks, and protected 13 water springs.
According to her, abled connected a total of 77, 500 people (15,500 households) to clean and safe drinking water increasing water access in Nakuru County to 62.3 per cent.
To increase water access percentage, early this year Kihika’s administration acquired a state- of- the- art water rig to upscale drilling of boreholes.
She noted that completion of Itare Dam in Kuresoi North is critical.
“I therefore call on you, Your Excellency, to take decisive steps and ensure the construction of this important dam begins and is completed for adequate water supply for the residents of Nakuru,” stated Kihika.
In collaboration with the National Government, Kihika’s administration is implementing a flagship Titling Program targeting approximately 30 trading centres and 5 Company and Cooperative farms.
According to Kihika, the initiative aims to issue an estimated 20,000 title deeds within the next six months, significantly enhancing land tenure security for residents.
Under the Affordable Housing Program, Kihika’s administration has facilitated the provision of land in strategic locations to support National Housing goals.
The Bahati and Elburgon Housing projects are virtually completed while new projects have been initiated at ATC (Soilo) for 1000 housing units, Karagita- Naivasha for approximately 1000 units, and Viwandani Naivasha next to Buffalo Mall for approximately 2000 units.
Similar projects are soon to be launched at Lanet Airstrip and Gilgil Level 4 hospital where 2000 units will be constructed in each of the sites in the initial phases.
“We are also grateful that under the AHP initiative, both Bondeni and Gilgil hospitals will be upgraded to offer better health facilities to the residents. These developments reflect our shared vision to promote affordable and dignified living and support sustainable urban development across the country,” she said.
While noting that the roads and infrastructure sector has suffered the brunt of budgetary cuts especially in as far as the Conditional Grants under Roads Maintenance Levy Funds (RMLF) are concerned, Kihika pointed out that Nakuru County has the largest network of County Roads totalling to over 12,000KM which explains the highest allocation of RMLF if the Fund is to be actualized.
She added that Nakuru County is the biggest loser when these funds fail to hit coffers.
Kihika cited some notable bridges and structures that have impacted lives among them Mbegi Bridge connecting Gilgil and Murindat Wards, Moi Ndabi bridge in Maela Ward, Tuyoibei and Maigoya Bridges in Kamara Ward, Kapkembu-Aon Bridge in Tinet Ward, Kilo Bridge in Lare Ward, Kavilila Footbridge in Waseges Ward and Drifts along Kapchorwa Korofa Road in Amalo Ward.
“We have also begun the maintenance and construction of roads through the Tea Cess in Kuresoi South and Kuresoi North sub counties,” she said.
During the meeting, Kihika made requests of key projects among them dualing of the Rironi – Mau Summit road.
She noted that Nakuru residents are excited about the scheduled launch of this game-changing road next month.
She also requested approval and deployment of the Kenya Armed Forces for the completion of Afraha Stadium
Resumption and completion of Lanet Airport which will fortify the status of Nakuru as a city.
Other Projects include Resumption and completion of the construction of Itare Dam to ensure a steady supply of clean and safe drinking water for the people of Nakuru, Ground breaking of the Naivasha-Nakuru SGR Link which adds to mobility masterplan for Nakuru City, Allocation of 100 acres of Kenya Airports Authority Land to Nakuru County for construction of an Economic Promotion Zone.
Kihika noted that the National Government is undertaking the Affordable Housing project on this land and hence will require amenities including a hospital, school and an EPZ., Resumption of construction of Kiamberiria Chepsir and Njoro- Nessuit roads which have both stalled.
“Your Excellency, you launched both roads. There is also need for Kenya Urban Roads Authority to do repairs on the 30km of roads within the town,” she stated.
On Resumption of the construction of the Trauma Centre at the Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital which was begun by the National Government but has stalled, Kihika revealed that The County has done a revised Bill of Quantities which has been shared with the Ministry of Health.
Allocation of more resources to boost electricity connectivity across the County on strength as the home of geothermal electricity generation in Kenya is also a request made by Governor Kihika.