JAMHURI DAY 2O14 SPEECH BY H.E THE GOVERNOR JOSEPH K.NDATHIJamhuri Day Speech

8/10/2019 JAMHURI DAY 2O14 SPEECH BY H.E THE GOVERNOR JOSEPH K.NDATHIJamhuri Day Speech

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SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF

KIRINYAGA COUNTY HON. JOSEPH K. NDATHI ON THE

OCCASION TO MARK THE 51STJAMHURI DAY AT THE

KERUGOYA STADIUM ON 12THDECEMBER 2014

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER

OUR WOMEN REP

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

HON SPEAKER, KIRINYAGA COUNTY ASSEMBLY

MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY ASSEMBLY

MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

FELLOW CITIZENS OF KIRINYAGA COUNTY

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN


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TODAY, I AM GLAD TO BE HERE AT THE KERUGOYA STADIUM TO

COMMEMORATE THIS IMPORTANT DAY IN THE HISTORY OF OUR

COUNTRY. JAMHURI DAY IS A SPECIAL DAY FOR US BECAUSE IT IS

THE DAY KENYA BECAME A REPUBLIC AFTER WE GAINED

INDEPENDENCE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM. IT IS ON THIS DAYTHAT WE BECAME A SOVEREIGN NATION AND JOINED THE

COMMUNITY OF NATIONS AS EQUAL PARTNERS. AS FOR US THE

PEOPLE OF KIRINYAGA COUNTY, JAMHURI DAY IS A MORE SPECIAL

OCCASION BECAUSE OUR FOREFATHERS WERE DEEPLY INVOLVED

IN THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE THAT FREED OUR COUNTRY LEADING

TO THE BIRTH OF OUR REPUBLIC. WE SHALL FOREVER REMAIN

GRATEFUL TO THESE GALLANT HEROES WHO GAVE UP THEIR

FREEDOMS AND LIVES SO THAT ONE DAY WE CAN BE WHERE WEARE TODAY MANAGING OUR OWN AFFAIRS. THIS IS A DAY THAT

KENYANS HAD WAITED FOR MANY FOR MANY YEARS FOLLOWING

DECADES OF COLONIALISM.


THIS OCCASION IS ALSO COMING AT A TIME WHEN OUR COUNTRY

IS IMPLEMENTING THE DEVOLVED SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

WHICH IS NOW IN THE SECOND YEAR IN LINE WITH THE

CONSTITUTION OF KENYA 2010. THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT AND

HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR OUR REPUBLIC AS WE BRING

GOVERNANCE DOWN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE CONSUMERS

OF THE SERVICES THROUGH COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.

THIS IS THEREFORE A DAY FOR US TO REFLECT ON WHERE WE

HAVE COME FROM AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO BOTH AS

COUNTRY AND A COUNTY. ON MY PART AND AS THE FIRST

GOVERNOR OF THIS GREAT COUNTY, I WANT TO STATE HERE THATMY VISION REMAINS VERY CLEAR. I AM FOCUSED ON THE

DELIVERY OF THE PROMISES THAT I MADE AND AGAINST WHICH

YOU VOTED FOR ME. I WILL CONCENTRATE ON MY

TRANSFORMATIVE AGENDA FOR THIS COUNTY SO THAT THE

RESIDENTS CAN ACHIEVE AND ENJOY QUALITY LIVELIHOODS. TO


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ACHIEVE THIS, IT CALLS FOR ELABORATE PLANNING WHICH TAKES

TIME.


I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT MANY OF THE THINGS THAT IPROMISED HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED, MANY MORE ARE AT VARIOUS

STAGES OF COMPLETION AND MANY MORE ARE ON THE WAY. I

WANT TO BE JUDGED ON PERFORMANCE NOT ON EMPTY TALK. MY

POLICY IS WORK MORE, LISTEN MORE AND TALK LESS.

TODAY, THERE ARE MANY RESIDENTS WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME

SINCE WE BECAME A REPUBLIC ARE ENJOYING PIPED WATER BOTH

FOR DOMESTIC AND FARMING PURPOSES. THESE INTERVENTIONS

BY MY GOVERNMENT ARE DELIBERATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

THAT ARE AIMED AT TURNING AROUND THE FORTUNES OF OUR

FARMERS. ON WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK, WE SIGNED AN MOU WITH

TANA WATER SERVICES BOARD (TWSB) TO OPERATE A WORLD

BANK WATER PROJECT WORTH KSHS 100 MILLION. THIS PROJECT

WILL SERVE MWEA-MAKIMA AREAS, INCLUDING PI, KUTUS AND

THE SORROUNDINGS.

AS WE WALK THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER I WILL CONTINUE TO

UPDATE YOU ON OUR WORK ON A REGULAR BASIS. I ALSO INVITE

FEEDBACK ON THE WORK WE ARE DOING AND MORE

IMPORTANTLY I URGE YOU TO ATTEND AND GET ACTIVELY

ENGAGED WHEN WE CALL OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FORUMS.

THESE ARE PERFECT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO MAKE

SUGGESTIONS, CONTRIBUTE IDEAS AND TO INFLUENCE

DEVELOPMENT AT YOUR WARDS, TOWNS OR VILLAGES.


MY GOVERNMENT TAKES THE HEALTHCARE OF THE RESIDENTS

VERY SERIOUSLY. IN THIS REGARDS I HAVE SET ASIDE 40 PER CENT

OF OUR BUDGET OR AN EQUIVALENT OF KSHS 1.2 BILLION FOR


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MATTERS HEALTH. CURRENTLY WE HAVE 28 PROJECTS LOCATED

IN ALL WARDS VALUED AT KSHS 256 MILLION. WE HAVE HIRED 472

NEW STAFF WITH 260 OF THEM BEING TECHNICAL. THESE

INCLUDE NURSES, CLINICAL OFFICERS AND LABORATORY

TECHNICIANS. WE HAVE ALSO SET ASIDE KSHS 30 MILLION OR LABEQUIPMENT AND FOR MATERNITY AND KSHS 15 MILLION FOR

MODERN DIGITAL X-RAY MACHINE FOR KERUGOYA HOSPITAL.


AGRICULTURE REMAINS THE BACKBONE OF THE COUNTYS

ECONOMY. MY GOVERNMENT HAS PUT A SPECIAL FOCUS ON THIS

SECTOR BECAUSE OF BIG ROLE IT PLAYS IN PROVIDING THE

LIVELIHOODS OF THE RESIDENTS. AS A GOVERNMENT WE HAVE

CONTINUED TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO CUSHION OUR FARMERS FROM

THE VAGARIES OF PRICE FLUCTUATIONS.


MY GOVERNMENT REMAINS FOCUSED ON ENSURING

AGRICULTURE IS TAKEN AS A BUSINESS AND ONE WHICH IS

ATTRACTIVE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE. WE WILL FACILITATE THIS

SHIFT BY PROMOTING PROCESSING OF OUR AGRICULTURAL

PRODUCTS TO ADD THEIR VALUE BEFORE THEY REACH THE

MARKETS THUS RAISING INCOMES IN THIS SECTOR. THIS WILL

INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SECTOR AND

ALSO TRANSFORM AGRICULTURE FROM BEING NOT ONLY A

SOURCE OF PRIMARY RAW MATERIALS FOR EXPORT BUT ALSO A

MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE REALIZATION OF OUR VISION OF


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BEING A NEWLY INDUSTRIALIZED, MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRY

PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY LIFE FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS BY THE

YEAR 2030.

OVER THE LAST ONE AND HALF YEARS THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR

HAS MADE TREMENDOUS GAINS IN VARIOUS FRONTS

PARTICULARLY IN THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS. FOR

INSTANCE, POLICIES HAVE BEEN FORMULATED IN THE DAIRY,

COFFEE, AND HORTICULTURE, MACADAMIA, TEA AND COTTON

SUB-SECTORS. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICIES HAS BEGUN TO

BEAR GOOD RESULTS AND I AM SURE FARMERS IN THIS COUNTY

WILL BENEFIT FULLY FROM THE IMPROVED POLICY

ENVIRONMENT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

HORTICULTURE HAS CONTINUED TO BE THE MAJOR INCOME

EARNER TO MANY SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN THIS COUNTY

PARTICULARLY THROUGH IRRIGATION. LAST FINANCIAL YEAR,

OVER 9,000 HA OF LAND WAS PUT UNDER HORTICULTURAL CROPS.

THE PRODUCTION WAS OVER 285,000 METRIC TONS OF FRESH

PRODUCE WHICH EARNED THE FARMERS KSHS.4.33 BILLION.

OUR FLAGSHIP HORTICULTURAL CROPS ARE BANANAS AND

FRENCH BEANS. WE HAVE INITIATED A SPRAY SERVICE PROVIDERS

PROGRAMME TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE MAXIMUM RESIDUE

LEVELS IN FRENCH BEANS. AS A RESULT OF THIS WE HAVE HAD

MANY ENQUIRIES FROM EXPORTERS WHO WANT TO DO BUSINESS

WITH US.


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AS A GOVERNMENT WE INTEND TO WORK WITH THE TEA

FACTORIES IN OUR COUNTY TO PROMOTE A VIBRANT,

COMPETITIVE AND PROSPEROUS TEA INDUSTRY. MY GOVERNMENT

WILL FURTHER EMPLOY A MULTI-FACETED STRATEGY WILL

INCLUDES VALUE ADDITION OF OUR TEA. THE GOVERNMENT HAS

CALLED THE DIRECTORS OF THE TEA FACTORIES NEXT WEEK FOR

A CONSULTATIVE MEETING TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN WORK

TOGETHER ON THESE STRATEGIES. AS WE TAKE INITIATIVES TO

EXPAND OUR MARKET I WOULD WISH TO CHALLENGE OUR

FARMERS, TO IMPROVE ON THE HUSBANDRY PRACTICES.


RICE IS A MAJOR FOOD CROP GROWN IN OUR COUNTY. MORE THAN

80% OF THE RICE THAT IS PRODUCED IN KENYA COMES FROMMWEA SUB COUNTY. IN 2013/14 WE PRODUCED 49,000 TONS

WORTH 2.58 BILLION. DURING THE CURRENT GROWING SEASON

MY GOVERNMENT MOBILIZED RESOURCES TO CONTAIN THE

QUELEA BIRDS MENACE. I AM SURE OUR FARMERS IN MWEA WILL

GET A GOOD HARVEST THIS TIME ROUND. DUE TO THE STRATEGIC

IMPORTANCE OF MWEA AS THE HOME OF PISHORI RICE, THE

COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ARE

DISCUSSING IMPLEMENTATION OF A KSH. 30 MILLION RICE

PRODUCTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT WILL LEAD TO

INCREASED EARNING BY OUR RICE FARMERS.


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THE DAIRY SUB-SECTOR HAS CONTINUED TO BE ONE OF THELEADING EMPLOYERS AND INCOME EARNER AMONG MANY SMALL

SCALE FARMERS IN THE REGION AND HAS RECORDED IMPRESSIVE

GAINS. IN 2013/14 DAIRY FARMERS IN THIS COUNTY PRODUCED

77,265,818 LITRES OF MILK VALUED AT KSHS. 2.3 BILLION. I AM

HAPPY TO NOTE THAT PAYMENTS TO FARMERS HAVE CONTINUED

TO IMPROVE FROM AS LOW AS KSHS 7 PER LITRE IN 2002, TO OVER

30 SHILLINGS PER LITRE. TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THIS

INDUSTRY, FARMERS HAVE COME TOGETHER AND FORMED

KIRINYAGA DAIRY FARMERS ASSOCIATION TO ADDRESS KEY

CHALLENGES IN THE SECTOR. I WANT TO URGE ALL DAIRY

FARMERS TO SUPPORT THIS ASSOCIATION SO THAT THE DAIRY

FARMER CAN IMPROVE HIS BARGAINING POWER IN THIS

LUCRATIVE SECTOR. THE SUB-SECTOR PROVIDES A GREAT

POTENTIAL FOR RAISING THE RURAL INCOMES AND THE

GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE OPERATING

ENVIRONMENT SO THAT IMPROVED PRODUCTION AND EARNINGS

ARE REALIZED.


DISEASE CONTROL IS A VITAL COMPONENT IN THE LIVESTOCK

SUB-SECTOR. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS OUR COUNTY HAS

WITNESSED LOSS OF LIVESTOCK DUE TO DISEASES. EARLY THIS

YEAR WE WITNESSED AN OUTBREAK OF FOOT AND MOUTH

DISEASE. MY GOVERNMENT MOBILIZED RESOURCES AND 10,000


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HEAD OF CATTLE WERE VACCINATED AGAINST FOOT AND MOUTH

DISEASE. A FEW MONTHS BACK WE WITNESSED OUTBREAK OF

LUMPY SKIN DISEASE WHICH LED TO DEATH OF SCORES OF

CATTLE. MY GOVERNMENT ONCE AGAIN MOBILIZED RESOURCES

TO CARRY OUT A MAJOR VACCINATION CAMPAIGN THAT COVEREDEVERY PART OF OUR COUNTY. IN THE PROCESS OVER 40,000 HEAD

OF CATTLE WERE VACCINATED.

ON COFFEE WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE NEW MARKETS FOR THE

PRODUCE SO THAT WE CAN CUT OFF BROKERS WHO HAVE BEEN

FLEECING FARMERS MAKING THEM ABANDON THE CROP. WE WILL

ALSO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND

TRANSPARENCY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COOPERATIVES TO

ENSURE FARMERS MONEY IS NOT LOST THROUGH INEFFICIENTPROCESSES AND STRUCTURES.

TOUCHING OF SECURITY, I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THIS YEAR

THE COUNTY HAS ENJOYED A RELATIVE CALM. THIS IS DUE TO

COLLABORATION WE HAVE HAD WITH THE SECURITY AGENCIES.

WE HAVE ALSO MADE EFFORTS TO LIGHT UP OUR TOWNS TO

IMPROVE SECURITY AND BOOST BUSINESS. ONLY LAST WEEK I

COMMISSIONED THE SECOND PHASE OF FLOODLIGHTS

CONSTRUCTED BY MY GOVERNMENT IN ALL OUR SUB-COUNTIES.

THE FLOODLIGHTS HAVE COST US ABOUT KSHS 20 MILLION. I AM

ALREADY RECEIVING GOOD REPORTS FROM THESE TOWNS. THE

TRADERS HAVE INCREASED THE HOURS OF THEIR BUSINESSES

AND CASES OF THEFT HAVE REDUCED DRASTICALLY. THE MOOD

OF THE PEOPLE HAS ALSO IMPROVED AND I AM SURE THIS WILL

RESULT TO MORE PRODUCTIVITY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMENONLY OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT WILL GUARANTEE THE SECURITY

OF OUR NATION WHICH CANNOT BE LEFT TO THE NATIONAL

GOVERNMENT ALONE. IT WILL TAKE COOPERATION,

COLLABORATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY CONSULTATIONS

BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS.


9/12

WE URGE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT THE NATIONAL

GOVERNMENT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 54(6) OF THE

COUNTY GOVERNMENT ACT TO ENGAGE OUR LEADERSHIP

THROUGH FORMALIZED AND CONSULTATIVE FORUMS THAT WILL

ENABLE THE TWO LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO SHARE SECURITYBRIEF REGULARLY AND CONSISTENTLY IF WE ARE TO SAFEGUARD

OUR BORDERS AND THE RIGHT OF OUR PEOPLE TO A SECURE

ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE AND WORK IN.


MY GOVERNMENT HAS EMBARKED ON THE PREPARATION OF THE

COUNTY SPATIAL PLAN AND PLANNING FOR OUR MAJOR TOWNS

INCLUDING KERUGOYA, KUTUS, SAGANA, WANGURU AND KAGIO.

THIS PROCESS WILL GET RID OF THE NUMEROUS LAND DISPUTES

BEING EXPERIENCED IN THESE TOWNS AND ALSO ENSURE EVERY

PROPERTY OWNER IS ABLE TO OWN A TITLE DEED WITHIN THE

SHORTEST TIME POSSIBLE.

ZONING OF LAND USES IN THESE TOWNS SHOULD GIVE OUR

PEOPLE THE CONFIDENCE TO UNDERTAKE HUGE DEVELOPMENT

PROJECTS AND THOUGH THE GUIDANCE OF THE MINISTRY OF

LANDS, WE SHALL ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS TO INVEST IN

GUIDED MODERN HIGH-RISE DEVELOPMENTS, TOURIST

FACILITIES AND AGRI-PROCESSING.

ALL THESE SHALL ENSURE SUSTAINABLE USE OF OUR SCARCE

URBAN LAND, REDUCE THE RATE OF CONVERSION OF OUR

AGRICULTURAL LAND INTO OTHER USES AND CREATE

EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR YOUTH MAJORITY OF WHO HAVE HEAVILYRELIED ON RAIN- FED AGRICULTURE WHICH IS HIGHLY

UNPREDICTABLE.



10/12

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE AUTOMATED REVENUESYSTEM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY PROCURED AND THE SYSTEM

WILL GO LIVE IN PHASES EFFECTIVE 1ST JANUARY 2015.THIS WILLGREATLY IMPROVE REVENUE COLLECTION. EFFECTIVE 1STJANUARY 2015, PAYMENT FOR COUNTY FEES, LEVIES WILL BEPOSSIBLE VIA MPESA PAYBILL AND ALL FORTUNE SACCOBRANCHES.

THE COUNTY HAS UNDERTAKEN MANY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

LIKE DEVELOPMENT OF MARKETS, HEALTH CENTRES, STREET

LIGHTING AND ROAD IMPROVEMENTS WHICH ARE ALREADY

COMPLETE AND IN USE. DESIGNS FOR A MODERN MARKET AT

KAGIO ARE ONGOING AND CONSTRUCTION WILL START IN

FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE SET ASIDE KSHS 260MILLION FORINFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS.

MY GOVERNMENT MADE A NUMBER OF PLEDGES IN THAT ARE

MEANT TO ENSURE QUALITY TRAINING IN OUT COUNTY

INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING. IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR ECDE

CENTER CHILD FRIENDLY, MY GOVERNMENT HAD EMBARKED ON

INFRASTRUCTURES IMPROVEMENT THAT WILL SEE THE

MODERNIZATION, REFURBISHMENT, ENVIRONMENT

CONSERVATION AND EXPANSION OF THE CENTER.

MORE THAN 350 TEACHERS FROM PUBLIC ECDE CENTRES HAVE

RECEIVED TRAINING IN GUIDANCE COUNSELING OF CHILDREN.

THE TRAINING WAS AIMED AT BRIDGING THE PARENTAL GAP THAT

IS LIKELY TO AFFECT THE CHILDREN DEVELOPMENT

IN ORDER ENHANCE SERVICES AND REFORM AGENDA ON

TECHNICAL EDUCATION MY GOVERNMENT HAS ABSORBED 107

TECHNICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS WHO WERE FORMALLY

SERVING IN YOUTH POLYTECHNICS. THE INSTRUCTORS WILL BE

DEPLOYED IN THE SAME INSTITUTIONS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY

BEING REBRANDED INTO COUNTY POLYTECHNICS


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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

IT IS THE COMMITMENT OF MY GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE

SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY SHINE IN NATIONAL

EXAMINATIONS JUST LIKE THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. IT IS FOR THIS

REASON THAT MY GOVERNMENT HAS RECOGNIZED THE

IMPORTANCE OF RETAINING THESE STUDENTS IN CLASS AT ALL

THE TIME. TO ACHIEVE MY GOVERNMENT WILL RELEASE BURSARY

AMOUNTING TO KSH 63 MILLION FOR NEEDY STUDENTS IN

SECONDARY SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.


AS I CONCLUDE I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS DAY CALLS FOR DOUBLE

CELEBRATION FOR OUR COUNTRY FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF

THE FABRICATED CASE OF PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTAS AT THE

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AT THE HAGUE,

NETHERLANDS.

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR COUNTRY AND THE DIGNITY OF OUR

PRESIDENT WAS ON TRIAL AT THE HAGUE AND THIS WAS A DIRECT

AFFRONT ON KENYA AS A REPUBLIC. WE THANK GOD THAT IS NOW

BEHIND US AND THAT THE PRESIDENT IS FREE TO SERVE KENYANS

WITHOUT UNDUE DISTRACTION.

WE ARE ALSO PRAYING THAT THE CASE FACING HIS DEPUTY H. E

HON WILLIAM RUTO IS ALSO WITHDRAWN BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS

THOSE TWO CASES WERE BROUGHT FOR POLITICAL REASONS

WITH THE AIM OF BLOCKING THEM FROM CONTESTING THE

LEADERSHIP ON THIS COUNTRY.

FINALLY,

I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH YOU

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND

A HAPPY NEW YEAR


12/12

Documents

JAMHURI DAY 2O14 SPEECH BY H.E THE GOVERNOR JOSEPH K.NDATHIJamhuri Day Speech