President William Ruto's recently concluded comprehensive
five-day tour of the Mt Kenya region is a clear indication that he is not about to
isolate the area that overwhelmingly voted for him in the last election.
Bouyed up by the warm reception accorded to him by the people of Mt.Kenya, the president committed to continue channelling development funds to the region and ensure all development projects are completed.
That he promised to visit the region again shows he was impressed by the people who pessimists had 'prophesied' would give the head of state a hostile reception.
How wrong they were!
It was a big political win for the head of state against his former Deputy, who before this visit, claimed the title of the de facto region Kingpin.
The massive crowds who attended the meetings showed there is no love lost between the people and their president.
Not only did the president win back the hearts of the residents, but he also got to converted some politicians from the area to his camp, some of whom were die-hard supporters of his estranged former deputy president.
Key among them is vocal Maragwa MP Mary Wamaua.
The visit also boldened those in his camp to face the crowds, and although
it was not all smooth for them, they seemed to openly declare their undying
support for the president.
Contrary to rumours being peddled by his political detractors that there are plans to increase the presidential term limit, the president even took the chance to inform the public that he will hand over if the people send him home through the ballot.
This, however, is a tough call as the president engages this constituency directly, breaking the ice and understanding their needs.
Apart from reclaiming his perceived lost constituency, the primary objective was to commission completed development projects, inspect ongoing ones, and launch new initiatives under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
The people of the nine counties of Laikipia, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Murang’a and Kiambu that the president toured are the real winners. His bag of goodies for the region was overflowing.
From Miraa reforms in Meru, which were assigned to the Deputy
President Kindiki Kithure, to the launch of an ultramodern market in Nanyuki –
Laikipia County, as well as the commissioning of tarmac roads in Ndaragwa
Constituency, Nyandarua County, and many others wherever he visited.
That the government has set aside Sh5 billion to revive stalled Mau Mau roads across Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyandarua, and Nyeri counties is good news to the region.
This critical infrastructure aims at increasing mobility and creates seamless connectivity between the food rich counties.
Other notable projects that will spur development in the region are the construction of the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks in Laikipia and Githunguri and the special economic zones in Maragua.
Once complete, the CAIPs will transform Kenya into an
industrialized middle-income country.
The parks targets to stimulate growth by supporting startups
and SMEs. If for example startup is doing mango juice processing or potato
farming, they will walk into the facility, have their juice squeezed and
processed for a fee before the entrepreneur proceeds to the market.
These parks stationed near production areas will transform the lives of millions by ensuring wealth & job creation, increase foreign exchange earnings, and poverty reduction.
The Special Economic Zones serve a similar purpose but are mainly meant for large-scale production.
During his tour, the president also promised to follow up on ongoing coffee, tea and milk reforms, all in a bid to improve the financial standards of the people.
The directive to revive and Fastrack the construction of Ruring'u stadium is also a welcome move.
The stadium, famed for producing great talent, has stalled for seven years.
By spending six days 'listening to the ground' and launching development projects, the president has extended an olive branch to the people of Mt. Kenya, assuring them that he has no plans to isolate them or deny them their rightful share of development funds.
It's only fair that they reciprocate and support his transformation and financial recovery agenda.
