President William has visited three counties in the Central region with a bag of goodies, to the elation of residents.
Ruto, who is on a three-day tour of the region has been commissioning government projects in Kiambu, Murang’a and Nyeri counties.
On Wednesday, he commissioned Nyambari-Mai Mahiu road and laid a foundation stone at Soko Mjinga market in Kiambu.
In Murang’a, Ruto commissioned Sh200 million Kenya Medical Training College Kangema campus and pledged to support the expansion of Kangema Subcounty Hospital at the cost of Sh100 million.
The President also announced that his administration will construct 13 new markets in Murang’a.
Gakira and Karugia markets in Kangema will cost Sh100 million.
Ruto announced that his administration had sourced for funds to construct the more than 200 km Mau Mau roads project that had stalled for years.
The Sh30 billion, 530-km roads were damaged after contractors left the sites and the undone parts were worn out by the rains.
The president said three new irrigation projects, Kanyenya-ini, Kiawambogo and Kaihi that will cost Sh750 million cumulatively, will be implemented in a month’s time.
Yesterday, the President commissioned Ithanga water project constructed in partnership with the Belgium Development Corporation at the cost of Sh3.6 billion .
The project has distribution pipelines of about 423 km and will serve more than 100,000 residents.
Its treatment plant within Delmonte Company land will process six million litres of water every day and provide 100 per cent water coverage to residents of Ithanga-Kakuzi-Mitubiri subcounty.
Areas such as Nanga, Greystone, Kahuruko and Mitubiri that are elevated will have their water pumped while gravity will be used for low-lying areas.
The president urged locals to use the water project to up their agricultural productivity to stem food insecurity.
He said the government has resolved to put the Sh500 billion it uses to import food to boost farmers' capacity.
“I stood here during campaigns and pledged to have this project completed. I know the next phase of the project is yet to be done. I am liasing with the Belgium government to get more funds to complete it," Ruto said.
“Some people have been complaining that I travel too much but if I don’t, where will I get the money to undertake such projects?”
He said there is need to increase areas under irrigation for the country to overcome hunger and starvation.
Ruto said more funds will be allocated to the Agricultural Finance Corporation to support farming activities.
The national government is also in the processing of establishing county aggregation and industrial parks to consolidate, add value and sell farm produce locally and internationally.
The President said the new NGCDF Act will have ICT hubs established in each ward and about 300 youths will be trained for digital jobs.
“We have agreed with international companies such as Google and Intel to offer jobs to our youths. We can’t be using Sh600 billion annually to support education and have no plan on how to create jobs for them. That will be irresponsible of us. Many other countries have agreed to help us," he said.
Ruto said the Affordable Housing Programme will employ more than 300,000 youth by the end of the year and has already engaged 150,000 youth.
In Murang’a, about 20,000 youths, including plumbers, carpenters, engineers and architects will be engaged during the first phase of the programme that will see 10,000 housing units done.
The president is set to commission the Makenji Affordable Housing project in Kandara that will build 220 units at the cost of Sh492 million.
He is expected to commission Maragua bulk water project before heading to Nyeri to commission Changachicha irrigation project and address residents at Ihwagi area.
On Friday, he will be back in Kiambu county to commission Rwabura irrigation project in Gatundu, concluding his tour of the region.
Gachagua said Ruto is focused on streamlining the economy.