Since President William Ruto took oath of office, he has made numerous development pledges to counties.
In a recent tour of Isiolo county, he vowed to address the issue of land ownership, which he said is the main obstacle to development.
"I want to make Isiolo the centre of development, and in the next years, Isiolo will grow," Ruto said.
Land ownership in Isiolo will be a headache gone as the President promised to issue 37,000 title deeds.
"Maendeleo yamekwama hapa Isiolo kwa sababu hakuna title deeds. I will return in December to issue 7,000 title deeds," Ruto said.
In the next three years, he vowed to issue another 30,000 title deeds to the Isiolo people.
Isiolo Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo has been lobbying to find a lasting solution for the land ownership disputes between residents and security agents.
“After discussion, President Ruto will ensure that the residents Leparua, Chumvi and the Kisima community of Burat ward are provided with title deeds,” he said.
The President also asked the residents not to worry about the army taking over their lands without title deeds.
"I'm the commander-in-chief. Maneno ya wanajeshi wachia mimi. Msiogope," Ruto said.
The Head of State commissioned the upgrading to paved standard and performance-based maintenance of the Isiolo Town Roads (Lot 2) in Isiolo county.
The 6km project road falls within Isiolo town in the former Northeastern Province and comprises three links.
These links are the 1.3km Isiolo airport-Mattercare hospital road, the 2.7km Trojan-LMD road and the 2km Catholic-IWASCO water kiosk road.
The roads, which were constructed at a cost of Sh319 million, are now complete, which will boost trade and transport.
Ruto ordered Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen to ensure completion of the Kina-Garbatula road, which is at 89 per cent, within a year.
"We want to change the face of Isiolo, and we can only achieve that through infrastructure development," he said.
On matters of health, the Head of State announced that Isiolo County Teaching and Referral Hospital will soon be upgraded to a Level 5 facility.
It will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to rid residents of the burden of traveling longer distances to seek specialised treatment.
Last month, Guyo said plans are underway to set up a state-of-the-art casualty, accidents and emergency centre at the hospital.
The county boss said once complete, the centre will serve the region during incidents of accidents and emergencies.
The primary function of an accident and emergency department is to provide immediate attention for people with life-threatening conditions.
This means patients with less serious problems will probably have to wait longer for treatment.
Also, there are plans to upgrade Merti and Garbatulla to Level 4.
"The process has been finalised and necessary facilities put in place," Guyo said.
Ruto also announced that Sh500 million had been earmarked by both Isiolo county and national government to establish an aggregation and industrial park at Isiolo Prison’s idle farm.
Guyo said already, Sh1.5 billion has been allocated and the President will lay the foundation before December this year.
To boost trade, the President said a special economic zone will be set up in the county.
“This will leverage the Isiolo International Airport to export meat, hide and skins from the export abattoir," Ruto said.
Guyo had earlier announced that livestock farmers will have to wait for the abattoir to start operating, adding that the facility will have the capacity to process more than 1,000 animals daily.
“The abattoir will have the capacity to process 1,000 goats, 200 cows and 100 camels daily,” he said.
In addition, water pans will be dug in various centres in Isiolo by the national government through the Water ministry this financial year.
The government has already accepted the proposals for the said project.
Ruto had also pledged to fasten the construction of the proposed Isiolo dam in the Ewaso Ng’iro River.
The dam was identified by Kenya’s National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation as necessary to improve locals' livelihood by providing water for domestic and livestock use.
It also aimed to support small irrigation activities and, in future, to serve tourists in the proposed Isiolo Resort City.
The President said the dam will also be a source of water for livestock.
He noted that nationwide, 500,000 million livestock had been lost mainly in Eastern and Northeastern as a result of lack of water due to drought and lack of proper planning.
“We cannot continue losing livestock in Kenya because we are diminishing communities,” Ruto said.
“This means we must invest enough resources to prevent the loss of such an amount of livestock and the equivalent amount we lose as a country.”