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Photo Gallery » STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS BY H.E. DR. IRUNGU KANG'ATA, GOVERNOR, MURANG'A COUNTY.
STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS BY H.E. DR. IRUNGU KANG'ATA, GOVERNOR, MURANG'A COUNTY.
Pursuant to Section30(2)(k) of the County Governments Act and the Murang’a County Assembly Standing Orders, H.E. Dr. Irungu Kang’ata, Governor, Murang’a County issued his “Inaugural State of the County Address” to members of the County Assembly and the public on November 22,2023.
In his address, the Governor elaborated on various milestones achieved by his administration since his election on August 2022.
Herewith is the comprehensive address.
“H.E. Deputy Governor, The Honorable Speaker,
Distinguished Honorable Members of the County Assembly, Invited Guests,
Fellow Murang’a Citizens;
Today we gather here, as one united Murang’a people with a resolve to ensure the prosperity of the great people of Murang’a. Murang’a people are great. Murang’a people were in the forefront in the fight for independence. They fought patriotically for the second liberation against Moi tyranny. In addition, Murang’a people have contributed immensely to Kenya’s economic development by way of establishing great businesses including banks, media stations and various manufacturing entities that have created millions of employments.
Murang’a land is very beautiful, bountiful and endowed with very hardworking people, whose true identity is growing together, espoused by our common saying “kamuingi koyaga ndiri”.
Murang’a county stands for economic development and progress of its people. It is our strong believe that when Murang’a develops, Kenya in its entirety will also develop.
Allow me to start with the various challenges that we have encountered in the past year when governing this county.
B. CHALLENGES
i. Pending Bills
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, we encountered the challenge of huge Pending Bills worth Kshs2.7 billion for goods and services provided to the previous county government administration. When one adds pending bills for outstanding legal fees, pension funds, the MCC milk factory debts, KPLC electricity bills, KRA arrears amongst other statutory bodies, the total pending bills actually accrued to an excess of Ksh5 billion.
To address this challenge we did the following:
• In consultation with the office of the Controller of Budget (C.O.B), we formed a Pending Bills Audit and Verification Committee comprised of audit professionals including accountants and lawyers. The C.O.B advised we only deal with pending bills for only two financials years, i.e. FY2020/21 and FY2021/22 and this was because the pending bills for the previous years were already audited by the Auditor General. The committee came up with a verified amount of Ksh642 million. This was divided into Development pending bills worth Kshs342 million and the balance of Kshs300 million was attributed to recurrent expenditure. As at now, Development pending bills are paid in full and we aim to clear the recurrent pending bills by the end of December 2023.
• For those pending bills that were not verified, fairness demanded that they be given a chance to appeal to the Ineligible Pending Bills Committee. The Ineligible Pending Bills Committee verified Ksh 40 million worth of pending bills. Kshs425million pending bills were committed back to the Procurement Department for further documentation and a further approximately Ksh300 million was deemed as ineligible and affected parties were advised to either pursue the matter in court or to seek further verification from the Office of Auditor General. The County Government is aware of the High Court Judgment of Kevine Otieno Ondango versus H.E. George Natembeya and Others, which basically reinforced the role of the Office of the Auditor General on matters verifying pending bills. Contractors with pending bills to engage that office, and indeed, the county government vide a letter dated 20th October 2023 made a referral to this office on outstanding pending bills.
• For pending bills in the legal sector, the county government did not have a functioning county attorney office. The county is still trying to organize the department to allow us actually get the accurate figures. For other pending bills that are statutory in nature, the county has entered into negotiation with these entities with a view of coming up with a repayment plan.
ii. Staff matters and Audit
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the second challenge involved Staff matters. The County has 5,100 employees out of which 1,400 are employed on casual basis and 3700 are on either contract or permanent and pensionable terms.
The county had 2 payrolls systems i.e. manual and official IPPD payroll. The manual payroll is easily manipulatable and employees cannot get services such as loans and other services.
Employees on the manual system can be dismissed at any time since their employment is not fully formalized. To remedy this situation, Murang’a county government has started the process of formalizing casuals’ employment by giving the employees IPPD numbers. Thus far, 80% of the employees previously on the manual system have been successfully on-boarded on to the IPPD payroll system.
Further, the county has also encountered the issue of delayed salaries. Previously an year ago, county government employees were being paid after 3 months. The county government has now configured methods to address this problem and now salaries are paid regularly.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, we also found ECDE caregivers whose issues have never been addressed. The county government started a scheme that allows for annual revision of their terms and incentives. The County Government, however, urges ECDE caregivers to understand that whereas it understands the caregivers various concerns, the county government looks for sequential addressing of issues to avoid ballooning of overall salaries budget.
Under the Public Finance and Management Act 2012, salaries should not exceed 35% of total budget. Murang’a County Government spends in excess of 45% toward salaries. The Senate of the Republic of Kenya and the office the of Auditor General have raised concerns regarding this issue, and many counties with similar problems have been forced to dismiss employees.
Murang’a County Government does not wish to dismiss any of its employees since we recognize that our employees are breadwinners for their families and they need their jobs. Our endeavor is to increase our own source revenue to decrease the percentage county allocation spent towards salaries. The county has also frozen fresh recruitments except where it is a legal requirement to employ. For example, the county had to employ a Director of physical planning and a Director of Procurement since these two are statutory posts. Our lack of a Director of Physical Planning had stalled approval of building plans. With the new recruit, buildings plans will now be approved promptly.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, Nurses have had a long standing standoff with the previous regime after their salaries were withheld after an industrial action. The county has approached Nurses lawyers in a bid to settle the issue in installments and the negotiations are ongoing. One sticky issue has been the issue of settling Nurses lawyer’s legal fees.
Unfortunately, that is an issue beyond the county government as the lawyer was not engaged by the county government. But we hope the matter will be settled soon as the funds to commence payments are available.
Several reported cases of our own staff having mental issue problems, particularly due to alcoholism. To address this issue, the county government has started program to rehabilitate them.
The county government also supported staff whose children were joining university.
The county government has also come up with a reward scheme for hardworking county employees. At the end of every year, the county government will be giving rewards to the most hardworking employees based on objective criteria.
The county government has also reformed its staff disciplinary process. Employees disciplinary process will have to adhere to principles of natural justice including the right to be heard.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the vast majority of county government employees are hardworking and self-sacrificing. But to err is to human. The county has thus established an office based at county headquarters to investigate all public complaints against the county public service. We live in a free society where everyone has an opinion on anything. Members of public are free to visit the said security office and lodge any complaint which will be investigated. Texts and WhatsApp messages to yours truly have also been investigated and action taken. In particular, the county thanks medical superintendents in our level 5 and 4 hospitals for their proactive efforts to address complaints.
iii. Own source revenue
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government has never increased its fees, charges and taxes since 2018 which is the right thing since we believe in low tax regime. It spurs economic growth and enhance economic activities while it does not burden the tax payer. Despite the increasing cost of overheads such as fuel and other costs, it is the county
government’s desire to operate on a rationalized budget to enable business to continue as opposed to a high tax regime. Indeed, our latest supplementary budget that is before this August House proposes to reduce the county government expenditure by about 400M.
However, the county over the years has overstated its Own Source Revenue (OSR) eventually leading to huge pending bills. In the Financial Year 2022/23, for example, the previous county government administration had projected Kshs1.5B as Own Source Revenue. The departed county government administration had purportedly intended to sell the MCC milk factory at Ksh500 million. Neither of this was realized and the county government had a major deficit.
However, despite this and through strategic budget absorption, the county government transitioned into the following Financial Year 2023/24 without any single pending bill on goods and services.
During the Financial year 2021/22, the departed county government administration raised Kshs520M as Own Source Revenue compared to the new county government administration which has realized Kshs682M in Own Source Revenue in the FY 2022/23. The success by the
new county government administration in local revenue collection may attributed to a larger extent to automation.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, for the period between 1st July, 2022 to 31st Dec 2022, the county government realized about Kshs175M Own Source Revenue. We are happy to report that within the similar period of 1st July 2023 and 31st December 2023, county government is on course to attain Kshs300M. If we remain on the same trajectory and noting that half year between 1st January 2024 and 30th June 2024 is when county government realizes high amounts of Own Source Revenue, the county government can easily attain Kshs 1Billion Own Source Revenue for the first time without adding a single tax. This has been achieved through further automation of local revenue collection and holding educational seminars to enforcement officers and revenue collectors.
iv. Exchequer delays
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the fourth challenge is in the exchequer delays. The largest portion of county government budget is funded by exchequer remittances from national government through the Equitable Share. This financial year the county government has not received October and November allocation, despite having to settle various monthly payments like salaries. The County government hopes that the National government will remedy this challenge.
v. The Health sector
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, achieving the best healthcare for Murang’a County residents remains a goal that the county government admits cannot be achieved in a year. As they say, Rome was not built in a day. We are aware of complaints about lack of medicine in our facilities. In the supplementary budget, we aim to increase allocation to pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical drugs.
In addition, the County Government is aware of complaints concerning slow processing of patients in Murang’a level 5 after automation. This is attributed to the huge influx of patients to the hospital after the implementation of Kang’atacare program. It is worth to note that before Kang’atacare, Murang’a Level 5 received on average 700 patients per day. However, now the hospital receives on average 1400 patients a day. The county government believes once
Murang’a county’s rural health facilities are better equipped, this problem will be remedied.
Further, issues of integrity have been raised in our healthcare facilities. The County Government is aware of people who have been calling patients and conning them money in Maragua Level 4 hospital. The matter is currently under police investigation. We believe that Automation of healthcare services might mitigate this problem. For instance, a cctv in Muranga level 5 is helping reduce the number of malpractices including nabbing a suspect who was caught stealing a bench by the hospital’s cctv.
vi. Village Polytechnics
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the village polytechnics are understaffed and ill equipped. The county government is currently procuring equipment for the polytechnics and at the same time recruiting instructors. The previous instructors had been engaged without due process since the County Public Service Board had not been involved, causing constant audit queries. However, the current county government administration has since paid the former instructors a golden handshake and has remedied this issue. The County Public Service Board is currently doing recruitment in compliance with the law.
Similarly, the county government is also aware of the various key areas where we are understaffed including nursing and caregivers’ cohorts. Whereas the county government cannot employ more persons to avoid further breaching the 35% employment cap, the internship policy that was passed by this assembly might help fill these gaps.
C. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, finally there is the issue of National government engagement with the county government.
Dear Hon. Members of County Assembly, it might help if we educate members of public on roles of each level of government. It might help to educate the public that things like electrification, police posts, primary and secondary schools and some roads fall under the mandate of the national government.
However, the Constitution dictates an interdependent relationship between the two levels of government. The county is happy to report that we have had very cordial working relationship with national government. But we single out the one project that may have a huge impact to the County, the proposed Export Processing Zone at the county government land in Makenji. This project which is a collaboration between the two levels of government, will in a great way impact positively to Murang’a county residents especially Makenji, Kabati, Muruka, Kenol areas. We are grateful for this project.
In addition, we are grateful to the working relationship between the County Government and the National Government Officers (NGAOs) at the county level, led by the County Commissioner, and the entire provincial administration in the county who have even assisted the county government in achieving some of the flagship programs.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, on water services provider companies, the national government has been able to transition 4 out of the 5 water companies into county government hands.
However, one water company (MUSWASCO) that supplies Kigumo, Kandara and Maragua residents with water, remains in the national government hands. Recently it increased its water tariffs and the county government shares the concerns of the affected area residents.
The county celebrates the dynamism being illustrated by the water companies that transited to the county. Gatamathi water company in Mathioya is now using media to fight the problem of illegal connections which makes water expensive to lawful water users. MUWASCO in Muranga town has extended its water services to residents in Maragwa ridge, Maranjau Prison and Maranjau primary school in Kambiti/Maragua Range Ward. The county government intends to send more resources to these water companies that joined it once the supplementary budget passes to avoid necessity of higher water tariffs. Currently, Muwasco efforts to reach Kambiti market is commendable- 5000 households are set to get constant tap water for the first time.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government is appreciative of the collaboration with national government on matters fertilizer distribution. The county is happy to report it has now established 10 fertilizer depots in the county that includes:
o Maragua NCPB for Maragua Subcounty
o Rwegetha coffee factory for Gatanga Subcounty
o Marumi coffee factory for Kigumo Subcounty
o Kiruru coffe factory for Mathioya Subcounty
o Murang’a Farmers’ Union for Kiharu Subcounty
o Iyego Main coffee factory for Kangema Subcounty
o Gatuya coffe factory for Kahuro Subcounty
o SIVAP Aggregation store for Ithaanga Subcounty
o Gakarara Coffee factory for Kandara Subcounty
o Wempa Assistant Chief’s Office for Kimorori/Wempa
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, on community health promoters (CHPs), the county government is still waiting for national government to send its promised monthly stipend of 2500 per CHP and we are hopeful that it will be expedited. The county government is aware of concerns about the list of community health promoter and to remedy this, all county health promoters were urged to open bank accounts.
On Matters legislations done at Parliament recently, the county government is following very keenly the new changes to NHIF law by the national government and how that might impact the Kangatacare program and also county government employees’ enhanced medical cover. County employees might have to be migrated out of NHIF as the new laws appear to ban NHIF from undertaking enhanced commercial covers. The full impact of these laws will be known once regulations are published.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, on the issue of Affordable Housing Program (AHP), the county government has engaged the national government on possible locations they can implement the program. We appreciate the proposed AHP in the national government’s manifesto. We welcome both the State Department of Housing and the National Housing Corporation (NHC) as the two national government entities embark on the two proposed
AHP projects. We commit our support to see to it the fruition of all AHP projects in the county.
The county government, however, urges contractors sent by national government to implement the program to be mindful of persons that may be occupying this land particularly churches. The county government has requested the national government’s Department of Housing to explore the possibility to compensate those churches.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the County Government appreciates national government collaboration in establishment County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) at Zabka in Kimorori Ward, Maragua Constituency. The County Government is ready with its own resources to support this program. Soon the County Government’s Smart City Program will ensure that the road leading to the CAIP is tarmacked. The county urges national government to send its share of support to enable project to come to fruition.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government acceded to national government request for 500.3 acres of land for establishment of an Export Processing Zone in the County Government’s land at Makenji. The Project will create employment and support economic growth in that region. The Master Plan for the land in this respect is before this August House for your consideration.
We believe that this this proposed EPZ will be a game changer in terms economic growth and development of the county. The EPZ will utilize raw materials from the county, and we also urge the EPZA to ensure that 99% of the labour force for the EPZA to come from Murang’a, the host county.
The commitment by the American Ambassador to promote Kenyan interests in the US, coupled by the numerous opportunities provided by the AGOA Act, means that the EPZ in Murang’a County will have export market in the US. This not only earn household incomes to the people of Murang’a, it also ensures foreign exchange earning thus improving the strength our Kenya shilling. As I indicated earlier, we are grateful to H.E. the President for this project and many others by the National Government.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government is appreciative of collaboration with national government in agricultural sector under the NARIG program which will soon transform into NAVCDP, the commercialization phase of the former. However, county government is concerned with the slow finalization of programs beyond the set contractual period that were started by previous county government regime. In particular, the Ititu-Ikundu irrigation project in Maragua constituency, the Avocado Packhouse in Ng’araria Ward, Kandara Subcounty and the Banana Ripening Chambers project in Sabasaba, Maragua constituency. The county is currently engaging Ministry of Agriculture in Nairobi to hasten these projects. Further, the county government wants to recast this engagement to Ward based level so that each Ward can see the impact of this Programs as opposed to the current structure that concentrates huge benefits to singular locations.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, finally, the National Government started at Gikono in Kimorori Ward, a project for processing refuse. This land-fill project is the 2nd one of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, with the 1st being in south Africa. This is not a dumpsite. The plant does not produce smell or odour since the refuse is recycled and part of it buried and processed into a gas that can be used to power various things. Whereas the county government does not support other counties bringing their refuse into the Gikono land-fill, it spots an opportunity through which, the now established Kenol Municipality can safely dispose its refuse in a safe manner. However, the project seems to have stalled as the national government has not bought the requisite compression machines. The County Government is currently engaging the Ministry of Lands and Urban Planning to acquire said machines to enable the project to commence.
D. ACHIEVEMENTS
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, with utmost humility, the county government appreciates all stakeholders including this County Assembly and the very hardworking members of staff of the County Government who have enabled it achieve some parts of its manifesto and successes.
Whereas the county government has been celebrated by amongst others the Council of Governors during the Devolution Conference in Eldoret, August this year, where the County got an award; and tomorrow the County will also get an award from Ombudsman, it reiterates it is not competing with anyone but competing with poverty. As long as poverty and underdevelopment exists, county will endeavor to do its best.
However, Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government celebrates various milestones for that one year:
1. the establishment of Kenol and Kangari Municipalities. If well managed, this will spur economic growth in the two towns.
2. The county government celebrates automation. At the comfort of their homes, Murang’a citizens can apply for single business permit (SBPs), Liquor licenses, sub- divisions of their plots, building permits and pay various county services including parking, cess etc. The Maternal support programme is fully automated.
Additionally, it is worth to note that Muranga level 5 hospital automation has enabled the facility to move its daily average collection from Ksh 80,000 to Ksh 400,000. Let me say congratulations to our internal ICT and Software experts who have made us achieve automation.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, currently, Safaricom is doing network connectivity in all our 157 health facilities. The following health facilities have already been networked: Kambirwa ,Kiangochi, Maragi, Kayuyu in Mbiri ward ; Maragwa ridge in Kambiti Ward, Nguthuru and Muruka in Kandara, Mitumbiri in Gatanga, Gitura in Kandara, Sabasaba and Kamahuha in Kamahuha ward and Kanguduini in Kanguduini
ward, Gikono Dispensary in Wempa ward had issues - installation was not completed due to poor signal parameters. Upon completion of this endeavor, at the click of a button, it shall be possible to know if drugs are available in any public facility at any given time; the number of patients who have attended any facility and for what diseases. That will enable the county government to plan better and obtain health data in real time.
Automation of Fleet Management has produced desirable results. All county government vehicles have vehicle tracking system that has reduced fuel consumption amid increasing fuel prices. The tracker also monitors speeding, thus reducing incidences of accidents. Further, the automation of fleet has enabled the County Government to curb indiscipline among drivers with a case in point of a driver who was uncovered to have gone drinking late hours.
3. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government celebrates various infrastructural development in various health facilities. The county government currently pays Ksh1.5M monthly rent in Kenol town for Kenneth Matiba hospital. However, to remedy this, the county government is constructing a new health facility is at the county government land in Makenji.
Kirwara hospital building in Gatanga which was a white elephant project is now complete. Likewise, Kandara constituency did not have any inpatient ward in any government hospital. In the next few weeks that should be a thing of the past.
Kigumo hospital will soon be upgraded to be a fully functioning level 4 hospital.
In Maragua hospital, males and females were sharing one ward-this will soon be a thing of the past as we unveil the construction of the new wards shortly.
Murang’a level 5 hospital inpatients share beds. Already new inpatient wards are under construction.
Mathioya did not have a level 4 hospital but to address this need, Nyakianga hospital construction is ongoing.
Kangema hospital has now received a face- lift plus a new borehole guaranteeing 24hr water supply.
Dispensaries that were abandoned by Constituency Development Fund (CDF) many years ago or new ones have been completed including Kagira in Gaichanjiru Ward; Nyagachugu and Ihigaini in Maragwa Subcounty; a new maternity in Kamacaria, Karunge in Mathioya Subcounty; Karurumo, Kaangema Subcounty; Mbari ya hiti, Kigetuini in Kiharu Constitiuency, and Kahumbu in Kigumo Subcounty. Others are on the pipeline.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government successfully implemented the Kang’atacare Program which is a partnership with NHIF to provide medical insurance cover to the poor and a model that has so far been copied by other counties . It started with 20,000 households benefiting in 2023 . In the new year of 2024, beneficiaries will reach almost 40,000 households. As a result, thousands continue to get free inpatient and outpatient services in and outside Murang’a and in public and private hospitals. This also includes free dental care/optical care. Orphans and widows/widowers who would otherwise sink into poverty upon demise of their bread winner continue to get soft landing through our last expense scheme.
4. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, in matters education, county
government’s Uji Program continues to give free daily porridge to 42,0000 ECDE leaners and creating multiple jobs in the form of cooks, transporters and other personnel.
On matters bursary, the Ward based bursaries impacted 17,000 households. Next year this number will reach 35,000 households. The county government appreciates the corporate sector particularly banks that supplemented the county government’s bursary scheme for orphans. This is in particular, Family bank, Cooperative bank and KCB Bank. Amica sacco collaborated with county government to support day scholars going to university and helped 1,000 university students.
Top KCPE students support will be up scaled from 1-3 to 1-5 in every public school translating to almost 3000 top students in the county. This ensures that the 5 top students in every village in Murang’a county get County government support in a manner that is objective and fair.
5. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government appreciates Community Project Program impact and in particular the very good ideas coming from this County Assembly: the many boreholes, construction of roads; new markets including Ithiru in Kandara, Kambiti in Maragua, Gitugi in Mathioya, Ichichi and Khoya in Kangema, Karuri and Mununga in Kigumo- have changed the face of Muranga. The cabro works in Gatunyu and Kihumbuini market in Gatanga constituency have improved market experience. Karimaini dispensary in Mbiri ward Kiharu has served many. About 130 ECDEs renovations have not only created grassroots employment but also changed the face of ECDE into academies.
This year, the county government will retain 5% of contractual sum for a period of 6 months’ post completion to be used for repairs if any.
6. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, noting the rampant youth unemployment and drug abuse, this County Assembly did a wonderful job by passing the Murang’a County Youth Policy and its Regulations underpinning Muranga Youth Service Program. Murang’a Youth Service (MYS) has created opportunities for 1,050 of our young people. Their recruitment was fair and transparent. There were no barriers of entry. These young people have done a good job in unclogging drainages, clearing garbage and mitigating effects of ongoing El Nino rains. Every week they get their stipend including their parents. The idea of looping in their parents was innovative because as the Bible says, respect your mother and father so that your days may be longer. The programme ensures money circulate at the grassroots level and spurs economic growth equitably in the entire county. It brings young people into the formal economy when they open bank accounts and they start building an economic profile for possible loans in the future . The programme is structured in a way that it is very light on management and other
incidentals and heavy on cash transfers to the youth. Compare this; the national government spends about Kshs20B to support 10,000 Youths in National Youth Service (NYS) congregated in select locations countrywide (an average of 2m per youth).
Muranga uses 100M to support 3000 youths (plus 3000 parents) per annum; an average of 33,000 per student and youths render services to their own communities. Muranga County Government can support 6M youths if given the Kshs20B budget using the County’s model. Meanwhile, the County government is in talks with Kenya Commercial Bank to see how this project can be up scaled. The county Executive thanks the Hon Members of this County Assembly who gave this noble idea.
7. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, on matters environment, county government has bought two skip-loaders and various bins which have been placed in major urban areas. This has enabled other trucks owned by the County Government to attend to rural-urban centers. We urge members of public to throw garbage only into these bins.
8. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, on matters infrastructure, Counties do not tarmac roads because it is very expensive. Notwithstanding this, the county government introduced the Smart City Program and found a way to tarmac highly populated urban markets. This year the program tarmacked roads in Gatura town in Gatanga Subcounty; Kabati town in Kandara Subcounty; Kangari town in Kigumo Subcounty; Maragua town in Maragua Subcounty; Muranga town in Kiharu sucbounty; Kahatia in Kahuro Subcounty; Kangema town in Kangema Subcounty and Kiriani town in Mathioya Subcounty.
Once the rain subsidizes in January 2024, county government will pave roads in other specific urban markets. The county is aware Elnino has damaged several access roads. Unfortunately, the county government can only intervene once the rains subsides, otherwise the intervention might be swept away. Also, accessing quarries to get the materials during rainy season is difficult. Once the rains subside, the county government might consider tapping into the Emergency Fund that was recently endorsed by this County Assembly. The county also believes that Members of Parliament, in collaboration with Kenya Rural Roads Authority, will supplement its efforts.
9. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the Maternal support program continues to incentivize our women to attend prenatal clinics. Over 7000 Mothers have been registered into our system.
10. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county also celebrates Agriculture Minimum Guaranteed Support Program/Subsidy that supports 20,000 milk farmers without fail. The program has enabled farmers purchase salt and other inputs. The county government in the said year also supported about 1,000 mango farmers, and introduced a new value chain of sorghum in partnership with EABL.
In January 2024, county intends to include other milk farmers, including those that supply KCC and Brookside. The program has enabled Murang’a dairy farmers to be the highest paid in the country with the farm gate price ranging between 43 and 53.
E. NEW AREAS
Honorable Members of the Assembly, there are some new development projects proposed going forward. If you pass the Supplementary Budget, we shall establish “Back to school program” whose goal will be to support teenage mothers to go back to school.
Also based on an idea given by a member of county assembly and recommendation of this County Assembly’s Committee on Trade, Industrialization, Cooperatives, Tourism and Wildlife in their report dated August 2023, that once the Supplementary Budget is finalized, there will be Gikuyu music festival set to happen on 24th Dec 2023. It will be the largest Gikuyu music festival ever held in the country and become an annual musical festival. It will celebrate departed Muranga musical heroes like Queen Jane of Kiharu; Kamaru of Kangema /Kigumo and De Mathew of Gatanga.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county also is happy after this County Assembly’s committee on Trade and Cooperatives endorsed MCC milk factory be transferred to the dairy farmers under their union called MCCCU. MCCCU has 34 dairy cooperative societies and about 10,000 active farmers. It is currently doing a test run of the MCC milk factory. The offloading of this factory will allow county government to transfer liabilities in excess of Kshs130 million.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the County Government has decided to actualize an organ that is provided for by Public Finance Management Act 2012 known as the County Budget and Economic Forum. Among the proposed names in the council include Dr. Peter Munga, formerly chairman Equity Bank; Jimnah Mbaru ; Dr. SK Macharia of Royal Media
;Professor Oliver Mugenda former Vice chancellor of Kenyatta University; Engineer John Musonik who is a board member of Safaricom and former PS for Roads amongst others. The County is awaiting publication of the appointment in the Kenya gazette.
F. CONCLUSION
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, in conclusion, the county government believes that the best way to harness economic development is through harnessing relationships with successful non -state actors .Therefore, the county thanks a Canadian entity called Nutritional International for the support in maternal health; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in complementing county efforts in automation of health sector; County Pension Fund and Lapfund in various training of county staff; EABL for the sorghum program; Food for Education in subsidizing our Uji program; Kevian and Sunny mango in supporting our Mango Program; Brookside and Aspedos for supporting our milk value chains amongst others.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, as I conclude, Muranga County takes pride it has been chosen amongst 47 counties to host International Day Against Corruption to be held on 9th December 2023.Probably this has something to do with our efforts towards automation which have made access to services fair and objective hence reduced incidents of corruption.
Various activities that seek to sensitize the public on matters corruption will happen in our county as we mark the said occasion.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen, let us applaud members of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) who have visited us today and are in the gallery.
Finally, the county thanks the Almighty God and the people of Murang’a County for giving us the opportunity to serve them.
Thank you all,
May God Bless Kenya, May God Bless Murang’a County.”
In his address, the Governor elaborated on various milestones achieved by his administration since his election on August 2022.
Herewith is the comprehensive address.
“H.E. Deputy Governor, The Honorable Speaker,
Distinguished Honorable Members of the County Assembly, Invited Guests,
Fellow Murang’a Citizens;
Today we gather here, as one united Murang’a people with a resolve to ensure the prosperity of the great people of Murang’a. Murang’a people are great. Murang’a people were in the forefront in the fight for independence. They fought patriotically for the second liberation against Moi tyranny. In addition, Murang’a people have contributed immensely to Kenya’s economic development by way of establishing great businesses including banks, media stations and various manufacturing entities that have created millions of employments.
Murang’a land is very beautiful, bountiful and endowed with very hardworking people, whose true identity is growing together, espoused by our common saying “kamuingi koyaga ndiri”.
Murang’a county stands for economic development and progress of its people. It is our strong believe that when Murang’a develops, Kenya in its entirety will also develop.
Allow me to start with the various challenges that we have encountered in the past year when governing this county.
B. CHALLENGES
i. Pending Bills
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, we encountered the challenge of huge Pending Bills worth Kshs2.7 billion for goods and services provided to the previous county government administration. When one adds pending bills for outstanding legal fees, pension funds, the MCC milk factory debts, KPLC electricity bills, KRA arrears amongst other statutory bodies, the total pending bills actually accrued to an excess of Ksh5 billion.
To address this challenge we did the following:
• In consultation with the office of the Controller of Budget (C.O.B), we formed a Pending Bills Audit and Verification Committee comprised of audit professionals including accountants and lawyers. The C.O.B advised we only deal with pending bills for only two financials years, i.e. FY2020/21 and FY2021/22 and this was because the pending bills for the previous years were already audited by the Auditor General. The committee came up with a verified amount of Ksh642 million. This was divided into Development pending bills worth Kshs342 million and the balance of Kshs300 million was attributed to recurrent expenditure. As at now, Development pending bills are paid in full and we aim to clear the recurrent pending bills by the end of December 2023.
• For those pending bills that were not verified, fairness demanded that they be given a chance to appeal to the Ineligible Pending Bills Committee. The Ineligible Pending Bills Committee verified Ksh 40 million worth of pending bills. Kshs425million pending bills were committed back to the Procurement Department for further documentation and a further approximately Ksh300 million was deemed as ineligible and affected parties were advised to either pursue the matter in court or to seek further verification from the Office of Auditor General. The County Government is aware of the High Court Judgment of Kevine Otieno Ondango versus H.E. George Natembeya and Others, which basically reinforced the role of the Office of the Auditor General on matters verifying pending bills. Contractors with pending bills to engage that office, and indeed, the county government vide a letter dated 20th October 2023 made a referral to this office on outstanding pending bills.
• For pending bills in the legal sector, the county government did not have a functioning county attorney office. The county is still trying to organize the department to allow us actually get the accurate figures. For other pending bills that are statutory in nature, the county has entered into negotiation with these entities with a view of coming up with a repayment plan.
ii. Staff matters and Audit
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the second challenge involved Staff matters. The County has 5,100 employees out of which 1,400 are employed on casual basis and 3700 are on either contract or permanent and pensionable terms.
The county had 2 payrolls systems i.e. manual and official IPPD payroll. The manual payroll is easily manipulatable and employees cannot get services such as loans and other services.
Employees on the manual system can be dismissed at any time since their employment is not fully formalized. To remedy this situation, Murang’a county government has started the process of formalizing casuals’ employment by giving the employees IPPD numbers. Thus far, 80% of the employees previously on the manual system have been successfully on-boarded on to the IPPD payroll system.
Further, the county has also encountered the issue of delayed salaries. Previously an year ago, county government employees were being paid after 3 months. The county government has now configured methods to address this problem and now salaries are paid regularly.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, we also found ECDE caregivers whose issues have never been addressed. The county government started a scheme that allows for annual revision of their terms and incentives. The County Government, however, urges ECDE caregivers to understand that whereas it understands the caregivers various concerns, the county government looks for sequential addressing of issues to avoid ballooning of overall salaries budget.
Under the Public Finance and Management Act 2012, salaries should not exceed 35% of total budget. Murang’a County Government spends in excess of 45% toward salaries. The Senate of the Republic of Kenya and the office the of Auditor General have raised concerns regarding this issue, and many counties with similar problems have been forced to dismiss employees.
Murang’a County Government does not wish to dismiss any of its employees since we recognize that our employees are breadwinners for their families and they need their jobs. Our endeavor is to increase our own source revenue to decrease the percentage county allocation spent towards salaries. The county has also frozen fresh recruitments except where it is a legal requirement to employ. For example, the county had to employ a Director of physical planning and a Director of Procurement since these two are statutory posts. Our lack of a Director of Physical Planning had stalled approval of building plans. With the new recruit, buildings plans will now be approved promptly.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, Nurses have had a long standing standoff with the previous regime after their salaries were withheld after an industrial action. The county has approached Nurses lawyers in a bid to settle the issue in installments and the negotiations are ongoing. One sticky issue has been the issue of settling Nurses lawyer’s legal fees.
Unfortunately, that is an issue beyond the county government as the lawyer was not engaged by the county government. But we hope the matter will be settled soon as the funds to commence payments are available.
Several reported cases of our own staff having mental issue problems, particularly due to alcoholism. To address this issue, the county government has started program to rehabilitate them.
The county government also supported staff whose children were joining university.
The county government has also come up with a reward scheme for hardworking county employees. At the end of every year, the county government will be giving rewards to the most hardworking employees based on objective criteria.
The county government has also reformed its staff disciplinary process. Employees disciplinary process will have to adhere to principles of natural justice including the right to be heard.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the vast majority of county government employees are hardworking and self-sacrificing. But to err is to human. The county has thus established an office based at county headquarters to investigate all public complaints against the county public service. We live in a free society where everyone has an opinion on anything. Members of public are free to visit the said security office and lodge any complaint which will be investigated. Texts and WhatsApp messages to yours truly have also been investigated and action taken. In particular, the county thanks medical superintendents in our level 5 and 4 hospitals for their proactive efforts to address complaints.
iii. Own source revenue
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government has never increased its fees, charges and taxes since 2018 which is the right thing since we believe in low tax regime. It spurs economic growth and enhance economic activities while it does not burden the tax payer. Despite the increasing cost of overheads such as fuel and other costs, it is the county
government’s desire to operate on a rationalized budget to enable business to continue as opposed to a high tax regime. Indeed, our latest supplementary budget that is before this August House proposes to reduce the county government expenditure by about 400M.
However, the county over the years has overstated its Own Source Revenue (OSR) eventually leading to huge pending bills. In the Financial Year 2022/23, for example, the previous county government administration had projected Kshs1.5B as Own Source Revenue. The departed county government administration had purportedly intended to sell the MCC milk factory at Ksh500 million. Neither of this was realized and the county government had a major deficit.
However, despite this and through strategic budget absorption, the county government transitioned into the following Financial Year 2023/24 without any single pending bill on goods and services.
During the Financial year 2021/22, the departed county government administration raised Kshs520M as Own Source Revenue compared to the new county government administration which has realized Kshs682M in Own Source Revenue in the FY 2022/23. The success by the
new county government administration in local revenue collection may attributed to a larger extent to automation.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, for the period between 1st July, 2022 to 31st Dec 2022, the county government realized about Kshs175M Own Source Revenue. We are happy to report that within the similar period of 1st July 2023 and 31st December 2023, county government is on course to attain Kshs300M. If we remain on the same trajectory and noting that half year between 1st January 2024 and 30th June 2024 is when county government realizes high amounts of Own Source Revenue, the county government can easily attain Kshs 1Billion Own Source Revenue for the first time without adding a single tax. This has been achieved through further automation of local revenue collection and holding educational seminars to enforcement officers and revenue collectors.
iv. Exchequer delays
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the fourth challenge is in the exchequer delays. The largest portion of county government budget is funded by exchequer remittances from national government through the Equitable Share. This financial year the county government has not received October and November allocation, despite having to settle various monthly payments like salaries. The County government hopes that the National government will remedy this challenge.
v. The Health sector
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, achieving the best healthcare for Murang’a County residents remains a goal that the county government admits cannot be achieved in a year. As they say, Rome was not built in a day. We are aware of complaints about lack of medicine in our facilities. In the supplementary budget, we aim to increase allocation to pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical drugs.
In addition, the County Government is aware of complaints concerning slow processing of patients in Murang’a level 5 after automation. This is attributed to the huge influx of patients to the hospital after the implementation of Kang’atacare program. It is worth to note that before Kang’atacare, Murang’a Level 5 received on average 700 patients per day. However, now the hospital receives on average 1400 patients a day. The county government believes once
Murang’a county’s rural health facilities are better equipped, this problem will be remedied.
Further, issues of integrity have been raised in our healthcare facilities. The County Government is aware of people who have been calling patients and conning them money in Maragua Level 4 hospital. The matter is currently under police investigation. We believe that Automation of healthcare services might mitigate this problem. For instance, a cctv in Muranga level 5 is helping reduce the number of malpractices including nabbing a suspect who was caught stealing a bench by the hospital’s cctv.
vi. Village Polytechnics
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the village polytechnics are understaffed and ill equipped. The county government is currently procuring equipment for the polytechnics and at the same time recruiting instructors. The previous instructors had been engaged without due process since the County Public Service Board had not been involved, causing constant audit queries. However, the current county government administration has since paid the former instructors a golden handshake and has remedied this issue. The County Public Service Board is currently doing recruitment in compliance with the law.
Similarly, the county government is also aware of the various key areas where we are understaffed including nursing and caregivers’ cohorts. Whereas the county government cannot employ more persons to avoid further breaching the 35% employment cap, the internship policy that was passed by this assembly might help fill these gaps.
C. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, finally there is the issue of National government engagement with the county government.
Dear Hon. Members of County Assembly, it might help if we educate members of public on roles of each level of government. It might help to educate the public that things like electrification, police posts, primary and secondary schools and some roads fall under the mandate of the national government.
However, the Constitution dictates an interdependent relationship between the two levels of government. The county is happy to report that we have had very cordial working relationship with national government. But we single out the one project that may have a huge impact to the County, the proposed Export Processing Zone at the county government land in Makenji. This project which is a collaboration between the two levels of government, will in a great way impact positively to Murang’a county residents especially Makenji, Kabati, Muruka, Kenol areas. We are grateful for this project.
In addition, we are grateful to the working relationship between the County Government and the National Government Officers (NGAOs) at the county level, led by the County Commissioner, and the entire provincial administration in the county who have even assisted the county government in achieving some of the flagship programs.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, on water services provider companies, the national government has been able to transition 4 out of the 5 water companies into county government hands.
However, one water company (MUSWASCO) that supplies Kigumo, Kandara and Maragua residents with water, remains in the national government hands. Recently it increased its water tariffs and the county government shares the concerns of the affected area residents.
The county celebrates the dynamism being illustrated by the water companies that transited to the county. Gatamathi water company in Mathioya is now using media to fight the problem of illegal connections which makes water expensive to lawful water users. MUWASCO in Muranga town has extended its water services to residents in Maragwa ridge, Maranjau Prison and Maranjau primary school in Kambiti/Maragua Range Ward. The county government intends to send more resources to these water companies that joined it once the supplementary budget passes to avoid necessity of higher water tariffs. Currently, Muwasco efforts to reach Kambiti market is commendable- 5000 households are set to get constant tap water for the first time.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government is appreciative of the collaboration with national government on matters fertilizer distribution. The county is happy to report it has now established 10 fertilizer depots in the county that includes:
o Maragua NCPB for Maragua Subcounty
o Rwegetha coffee factory for Gatanga Subcounty
o Marumi coffee factory for Kigumo Subcounty
o Kiruru coffe factory for Mathioya Subcounty
o Murang’a Farmers’ Union for Kiharu Subcounty
o Iyego Main coffee factory for Kangema Subcounty
o Gatuya coffe factory for Kahuro Subcounty
o SIVAP Aggregation store for Ithaanga Subcounty
o Gakarara Coffee factory for Kandara Subcounty
o Wempa Assistant Chief’s Office for Kimorori/Wempa
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, on community health promoters (CHPs), the county government is still waiting for national government to send its promised monthly stipend of 2500 per CHP and we are hopeful that it will be expedited. The county government is aware of concerns about the list of community health promoter and to remedy this, all county health promoters were urged to open bank accounts.
On Matters legislations done at Parliament recently, the county government is following very keenly the new changes to NHIF law by the national government and how that might impact the Kangatacare program and also county government employees’ enhanced medical cover. County employees might have to be migrated out of NHIF as the new laws appear to ban NHIF from undertaking enhanced commercial covers. The full impact of these laws will be known once regulations are published.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, on the issue of Affordable Housing Program (AHP), the county government has engaged the national government on possible locations they can implement the program. We appreciate the proposed AHP in the national government’s manifesto. We welcome both the State Department of Housing and the National Housing Corporation (NHC) as the two national government entities embark on the two proposed
AHP projects. We commit our support to see to it the fruition of all AHP projects in the county.
The county government, however, urges contractors sent by national government to implement the program to be mindful of persons that may be occupying this land particularly churches. The county government has requested the national government’s Department of Housing to explore the possibility to compensate those churches.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the County Government appreciates national government collaboration in establishment County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) at Zabka in Kimorori Ward, Maragua Constituency. The County Government is ready with its own resources to support this program. Soon the County Government’s Smart City Program will ensure that the road leading to the CAIP is tarmacked. The county urges national government to send its share of support to enable project to come to fruition.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government acceded to national government request for 500.3 acres of land for establishment of an Export Processing Zone in the County Government’s land at Makenji. The Project will create employment and support economic growth in that region. The Master Plan for the land in this respect is before this August House for your consideration.
We believe that this this proposed EPZ will be a game changer in terms economic growth and development of the county. The EPZ will utilize raw materials from the county, and we also urge the EPZA to ensure that 99% of the labour force for the EPZA to come from Murang’a, the host county.
The commitment by the American Ambassador to promote Kenyan interests in the US, coupled by the numerous opportunities provided by the AGOA Act, means that the EPZ in Murang’a County will have export market in the US. This not only earn household incomes to the people of Murang’a, it also ensures foreign exchange earning thus improving the strength our Kenya shilling. As I indicated earlier, we are grateful to H.E. the President for this project and many others by the National Government.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government is appreciative of collaboration with national government in agricultural sector under the NARIG program which will soon transform into NAVCDP, the commercialization phase of the former. However, county government is concerned with the slow finalization of programs beyond the set contractual period that were started by previous county government regime. In particular, the Ititu-Ikundu irrigation project in Maragua constituency, the Avocado Packhouse in Ng’araria Ward, Kandara Subcounty and the Banana Ripening Chambers project in Sabasaba, Maragua constituency. The county is currently engaging Ministry of Agriculture in Nairobi to hasten these projects. Further, the county government wants to recast this engagement to Ward based level so that each Ward can see the impact of this Programs as opposed to the current structure that concentrates huge benefits to singular locations.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, finally, the National Government started at Gikono in Kimorori Ward, a project for processing refuse. This land-fill project is the 2nd one of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, with the 1st being in south Africa. This is not a dumpsite. The plant does not produce smell or odour since the refuse is recycled and part of it buried and processed into a gas that can be used to power various things. Whereas the county government does not support other counties bringing their refuse into the Gikono land-fill, it spots an opportunity through which, the now established Kenol Municipality can safely dispose its refuse in a safe manner. However, the project seems to have stalled as the national government has not bought the requisite compression machines. The County Government is currently engaging the Ministry of Lands and Urban Planning to acquire said machines to enable the project to commence.
D. ACHIEVEMENTS
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, with utmost humility, the county government appreciates all stakeholders including this County Assembly and the very hardworking members of staff of the County Government who have enabled it achieve some parts of its manifesto and successes.
Whereas the county government has been celebrated by amongst others the Council of Governors during the Devolution Conference in Eldoret, August this year, where the County got an award; and tomorrow the County will also get an award from Ombudsman, it reiterates it is not competing with anyone but competing with poverty. As long as poverty and underdevelopment exists, county will endeavor to do its best.
However, Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government celebrates various milestones for that one year:
1. the establishment of Kenol and Kangari Municipalities. If well managed, this will spur economic growth in the two towns.
2. The county government celebrates automation. At the comfort of their homes, Murang’a citizens can apply for single business permit (SBPs), Liquor licenses, sub- divisions of their plots, building permits and pay various county services including parking, cess etc. The Maternal support programme is fully automated.
Additionally, it is worth to note that Muranga level 5 hospital automation has enabled the facility to move its daily average collection from Ksh 80,000 to Ksh 400,000. Let me say congratulations to our internal ICT and Software experts who have made us achieve automation.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, currently, Safaricom is doing network connectivity in all our 157 health facilities. The following health facilities have already been networked: Kambirwa ,Kiangochi, Maragi, Kayuyu in Mbiri ward ; Maragwa ridge in Kambiti Ward, Nguthuru and Muruka in Kandara, Mitumbiri in Gatanga, Gitura in Kandara, Sabasaba and Kamahuha in Kamahuha ward and Kanguduini in Kanguduini
ward, Gikono Dispensary in Wempa ward had issues - installation was not completed due to poor signal parameters. Upon completion of this endeavor, at the click of a button, it shall be possible to know if drugs are available in any public facility at any given time; the number of patients who have attended any facility and for what diseases. That will enable the county government to plan better and obtain health data in real time.
Automation of Fleet Management has produced desirable results. All county government vehicles have vehicle tracking system that has reduced fuel consumption amid increasing fuel prices. The tracker also monitors speeding, thus reducing incidences of accidents. Further, the automation of fleet has enabled the County Government to curb indiscipline among drivers with a case in point of a driver who was uncovered to have gone drinking late hours.
3. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government celebrates various infrastructural development in various health facilities. The county government currently pays Ksh1.5M monthly rent in Kenol town for Kenneth Matiba hospital. However, to remedy this, the county government is constructing a new health facility is at the county government land in Makenji.
Kirwara hospital building in Gatanga which was a white elephant project is now complete. Likewise, Kandara constituency did not have any inpatient ward in any government hospital. In the next few weeks that should be a thing of the past.
Kigumo hospital will soon be upgraded to be a fully functioning level 4 hospital.
In Maragua hospital, males and females were sharing one ward-this will soon be a thing of the past as we unveil the construction of the new wards shortly.
Murang’a level 5 hospital inpatients share beds. Already new inpatient wards are under construction.
Mathioya did not have a level 4 hospital but to address this need, Nyakianga hospital construction is ongoing.
Kangema hospital has now received a face- lift plus a new borehole guaranteeing 24hr water supply.
Dispensaries that were abandoned by Constituency Development Fund (CDF) many years ago or new ones have been completed including Kagira in Gaichanjiru Ward; Nyagachugu and Ihigaini in Maragwa Subcounty; a new maternity in Kamacaria, Karunge in Mathioya Subcounty; Karurumo, Kaangema Subcounty; Mbari ya hiti, Kigetuini in Kiharu Constitiuency, and Kahumbu in Kigumo Subcounty. Others are on the pipeline.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government successfully implemented the Kang’atacare Program which is a partnership with NHIF to provide medical insurance cover to the poor and a model that has so far been copied by other counties . It started with 20,000 households benefiting in 2023 . In the new year of 2024, beneficiaries will reach almost 40,000 households. As a result, thousands continue to get free inpatient and outpatient services in and outside Murang’a and in public and private hospitals. This also includes free dental care/optical care. Orphans and widows/widowers who would otherwise sink into poverty upon demise of their bread winner continue to get soft landing through our last expense scheme.
4. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, in matters education, county
government’s Uji Program continues to give free daily porridge to 42,0000 ECDE leaners and creating multiple jobs in the form of cooks, transporters and other personnel.
On matters bursary, the Ward based bursaries impacted 17,000 households. Next year this number will reach 35,000 households. The county government appreciates the corporate sector particularly banks that supplemented the county government’s bursary scheme for orphans. This is in particular, Family bank, Cooperative bank and KCB Bank. Amica sacco collaborated with county government to support day scholars going to university and helped 1,000 university students.
Top KCPE students support will be up scaled from 1-3 to 1-5 in every public school translating to almost 3000 top students in the county. This ensures that the 5 top students in every village in Murang’a county get County government support in a manner that is objective and fair.
5. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county government appreciates Community Project Program impact and in particular the very good ideas coming from this County Assembly: the many boreholes, construction of roads; new markets including Ithiru in Kandara, Kambiti in Maragua, Gitugi in Mathioya, Ichichi and Khoya in Kangema, Karuri and Mununga in Kigumo- have changed the face of Muranga. The cabro works in Gatunyu and Kihumbuini market in Gatanga constituency have improved market experience. Karimaini dispensary in Mbiri ward Kiharu has served many. About 130 ECDEs renovations have not only created grassroots employment but also changed the face of ECDE into academies.
This year, the county government will retain 5% of contractual sum for a period of 6 months’ post completion to be used for repairs if any.
6. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, noting the rampant youth unemployment and drug abuse, this County Assembly did a wonderful job by passing the Murang’a County Youth Policy and its Regulations underpinning Muranga Youth Service Program. Murang’a Youth Service (MYS) has created opportunities for 1,050 of our young people. Their recruitment was fair and transparent. There were no barriers of entry. These young people have done a good job in unclogging drainages, clearing garbage and mitigating effects of ongoing El Nino rains. Every week they get their stipend including their parents. The idea of looping in their parents was innovative because as the Bible says, respect your mother and father so that your days may be longer. The programme ensures money circulate at the grassroots level and spurs economic growth equitably in the entire county. It brings young people into the formal economy when they open bank accounts and they start building an economic profile for possible loans in the future . The programme is structured in a way that it is very light on management and other
incidentals and heavy on cash transfers to the youth. Compare this; the national government spends about Kshs20B to support 10,000 Youths in National Youth Service (NYS) congregated in select locations countrywide (an average of 2m per youth).
Muranga uses 100M to support 3000 youths (plus 3000 parents) per annum; an average of 33,000 per student and youths render services to their own communities. Muranga County Government can support 6M youths if given the Kshs20B budget using the County’s model. Meanwhile, the County government is in talks with Kenya Commercial Bank to see how this project can be up scaled. The county Executive thanks the Hon Members of this County Assembly who gave this noble idea.
7. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, on matters environment, county government has bought two skip-loaders and various bins which have been placed in major urban areas. This has enabled other trucks owned by the County Government to attend to rural-urban centers. We urge members of public to throw garbage only into these bins.
8. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, on matters infrastructure, Counties do not tarmac roads because it is very expensive. Notwithstanding this, the county government introduced the Smart City Program and found a way to tarmac highly populated urban markets. This year the program tarmacked roads in Gatura town in Gatanga Subcounty; Kabati town in Kandara Subcounty; Kangari town in Kigumo Subcounty; Maragua town in Maragua Subcounty; Muranga town in Kiharu sucbounty; Kahatia in Kahuro Subcounty; Kangema town in Kangema Subcounty and Kiriani town in Mathioya Subcounty.
Once the rain subsidizes in January 2024, county government will pave roads in other specific urban markets. The county is aware Elnino has damaged several access roads. Unfortunately, the county government can only intervene once the rains subsides, otherwise the intervention might be swept away. Also, accessing quarries to get the materials during rainy season is difficult. Once the rains subside, the county government might consider tapping into the Emergency Fund that was recently endorsed by this County Assembly. The county also believes that Members of Parliament, in collaboration with Kenya Rural Roads Authority, will supplement its efforts.
9. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the Maternal support program continues to incentivize our women to attend prenatal clinics. Over 7000 Mothers have been registered into our system.
10. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county also celebrates Agriculture Minimum Guaranteed Support Program/Subsidy that supports 20,000 milk farmers without fail. The program has enabled farmers purchase salt and other inputs. The county government in the said year also supported about 1,000 mango farmers, and introduced a new value chain of sorghum in partnership with EABL.
In January 2024, county intends to include other milk farmers, including those that supply KCC and Brookside. The program has enabled Murang’a dairy farmers to be the highest paid in the country with the farm gate price ranging between 43 and 53.
E. NEW AREAS
Honorable Members of the Assembly, there are some new development projects proposed going forward. If you pass the Supplementary Budget, we shall establish “Back to school program” whose goal will be to support teenage mothers to go back to school.
Also based on an idea given by a member of county assembly and recommendation of this County Assembly’s Committee on Trade, Industrialization, Cooperatives, Tourism and Wildlife in their report dated August 2023, that once the Supplementary Budget is finalized, there will be Gikuyu music festival set to happen on 24th Dec 2023. It will be the largest Gikuyu music festival ever held in the country and become an annual musical festival. It will celebrate departed Muranga musical heroes like Queen Jane of Kiharu; Kamaru of Kangema /Kigumo and De Mathew of Gatanga.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the county also is happy after this County Assembly’s committee on Trade and Cooperatives endorsed MCC milk factory be transferred to the dairy farmers under their union called MCCCU. MCCCU has 34 dairy cooperative societies and about 10,000 active farmers. It is currently doing a test run of the MCC milk factory. The offloading of this factory will allow county government to transfer liabilities in excess of Kshs130 million.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, the County Government has decided to actualize an organ that is provided for by Public Finance Management Act 2012 known as the County Budget and Economic Forum. Among the proposed names in the council include Dr. Peter Munga, formerly chairman Equity Bank; Jimnah Mbaru ; Dr. SK Macharia of Royal Media
;Professor Oliver Mugenda former Vice chancellor of Kenyatta University; Engineer John Musonik who is a board member of Safaricom and former PS for Roads amongst others. The County is awaiting publication of the appointment in the Kenya gazette.
F. CONCLUSION
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, in conclusion, the county government believes that the best way to harness economic development is through harnessing relationships with successful non -state actors .Therefore, the county thanks a Canadian entity called Nutritional International for the support in maternal health; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in complementing county efforts in automation of health sector; County Pension Fund and Lapfund in various training of county staff; EABL for the sorghum program; Food for Education in subsidizing our Uji program; Kevian and Sunny mango in supporting our Mango Program; Brookside and Aspedos for supporting our milk value chains amongst others.
Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, as I conclude, Muranga County takes pride it has been chosen amongst 47 counties to host International Day Against Corruption to be held on 9th December 2023.Probably this has something to do with our efforts towards automation which have made access to services fair and objective hence reduced incidents of corruption.
Various activities that seek to sensitize the public on matters corruption will happen in our county as we mark the said occasion.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen, let us applaud members of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) who have visited us today and are in the gallery.
Finally, the county thanks the Almighty God and the people of Murang’a County for giving us the opportunity to serve them.
Thank you all,
May God Bless Kenya, May God Bless Murang’a County.”
Copyright © 2024. Murang'a County Assembly.
