State Of The County Address By H.E Governor William Kabogo at Kiambu County Assembly

Here's the State of the County Address speech by H.E Hon Governor William Kabogo to Kiambu County Assembly Members at the Assembly's Chambers in Kiambu:

"MR. SPEAKER SIR,
HON. MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY ASSEMBLY,
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I begin today by applauding the members of the County Assembly for upholding the practice of participating in the annual state of the County address. This occasion, as anticipated by our Law, affords me a singular opportunity, to inform the residents of Kiambu County and the Kenyan citizens at large, of the progress we have made towards fulfilling our commitments to them.
Towards that end, my address to you today will focus on our basic priority areas such as education, agriculture, infrastructure, health care, trade and industry and the empowerment of youth, women and persons with disabilities.
This is not to say that we have neglected other responsibilities bestowed upon us either by law or by practice. On the contrary, we have given each and every function under our care equal attention. I have however chosen to focus on these areas because of the comparative impact that they have on the lives of the common citizen.
Mr. Speaker, Hounourable Members,
The Constitution demands that the National government periodically transfers funds to Counties to enable them conduct their affairs smoothly. Nonetheless, we are all aware that these funds, however promptly disbursed, or meticulously expended, cannot sustain the needs of this County.
On the contrary, we firmly believe that local revenue generation is the lifeblood of our economy. We have therefore put in place various measures aimed at increasing locally generated revenues.
Allow me at this juncture, to mention a few of these interventions:
Firstly, we have integrated ICT in our financial management system by installing an automated receipting and business intelligence system.
We have been able to consolidate the legacy system LAIFOMS from 8 former local authorities into one central system thereby establishing a single trustworthy source of information with the ability to track all revenue collection on a real time basis.
This County now boasts of a self-help portal; accessible on www.digitika.kiambu.go.ke, where our citizens can log in and request for services from the county and effect payments online.
We also support different modes of payment including MPESA, Airtel money, Visa and MasterCard and have eliminated all forms of manual payments, with all departments adopting the IFMIS and e-procurement systems with a view to further minimize tampering and fraud usually endemic in procurement processes.
Moreover, we will be issuing an initial 100,000 residents with the Visa-Enabled Kiambu County Cards, which will be used for various fee payments to the County Government but can also be used on other platforms such as matatu fare payment and online shopping, amongst others.
Our investments in these measures have yielded great results. I am pleased to report that our revenue collection as at May 2014 stood at Ksh. 1.1 Billion compared to Ksh. 2.3 billion in May 2016. This represents a 109% increase in local revenue collection is expected to keep growing during this and subsequent years.
This great progress has not gone unnoticed. It has earned us great repute and tremendous support from local and international agencies. We continue to enjoy widespread recognition by other County Governments for spearheading the implementation of one of the most effective and transparent revenue collection systems and serve as a great success story; amidst numerous challenges, for the rest of the Country.
Roads, Transport Public Utilities.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members,
We all know the numerous possibilities that can result from linking communities through construction of a robust road network within a County. There is no doubt within us that cheap and efficient movement of goods and services rewards diligent workers, enriches the land and deepens cooperation between our Counties.
To ensure that Kiambu residents inch closer to the full enjoyment of these benefits, we have spared no efforts in opening up new roads and improving existing ones.
Farmers can now reach hitherto unreachable customers with ease. Children spend less time moving between home and school and more time focusing on their education. Expectant mothers and those burdened by disease have easier access to hospitals and other health centres, while the number of traders, tourists and investors continue to expand.
These socio-economic developments though still at nascent stages, are testament to us that we made the right choice in rehabilitating approximately 1400KMs of rural access roads and initiated the construction of new and modern roads in various parts of the County.
In the coming year therefore, we have budgeted for the conversion of certain single carriageways into dual carriageways; and the construction of several motorable bridges, pedestrian paths and bus parks in various parts of the County.
Concurrently with this, my administration has installed 275 street lights using 80Watt energy saving LED across seven urban centres in the County with the installation of over 70 high masts using 200 Watt LED currently ongoing.
These installations, whose cumulative effect is the reduction of power bills by almost 50%, have been strategically located in shopping centres, market centres, hospitals, schools, informal settlements and police stations with the aim of increasing security across the County, extending learning hours for school children and trading hours for local businessmen.
My administration also continues to maintain and repair the existing 139 High Masts and 3,300 street lights across the county to ensure improved lighting for, and enhanced safety of, our residents.
Fire safety and rescue has not been relegated to the back. On the contrary, we have increased our fire engine fleet by a further 5 trucks and are in the process of constructing three 24 hr fire stations in Githunguri, Limuru, Thika, Kiambaa and Ruiru Sub-Counties.
Water and Sanitation
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members:
Allow me to report on a resource that is as vital, as it is finite. Water is at the core of sustainable development. It is critical for human survival and vital for reducing the burden of disease and improving health, welfare and productivity of our population. Yet in many parts of this County, as in the global spectrum, access to clean and safe water remains a challenge.
Our response to these challenges comes in many forms.
Today, more than 3,000 residents from Thogoto are benefiting from improved water services as a result of the construction and rehabilitation of water tanks and kiosks. The Gachie Water Project in Kiambaa is up and running- benefitting more than 5,000 residents.
We have completed the construction of an elevated 100 cubic meter water tank in Tinganga ward and are carrying out trench work and pipe laying in 3 other wards.
A pump house has been completed in Kikuyu and Kabete Sub-County and new water pipes installed in the Mwiki - Githurai Area . The Juja Salama
borehole is now operational giving over 200 families access to clean and safe water. We have also rehabilitated the Lussigetti community borehole in Nachu Ward and Mwiki borehole, both of which are now fully operational.
This is not to say that our work is done. Indeed, we are aware of how much more we need to accomplish. For this reason, plans are underway to install a high performance water treatment plant that will serve upto 600 residents of Ngoliba ward. Similarly, we will construct a 100m3 storage tank that will have 1200 connections and serve the entire Kinyathena community in Juja.
Further works are also currently ongoing at the Ondiri Water Project, which, once complete, will serve Gikambura and Karai areas, supplying more than 5,000 residents with safe and adequate water and at the Ruiru sewerage plant, which will serve about 70,000 households.
With only five registered dumpsites, we recognize that there is a huge problem in waste management. Several initiatives have therefore been implemented including the development of a Semi-Aerobic Landfill in Thika. The Kiambu and Limuru Dumpsite Rehabilitation is complete and others are presently under rehabilitation. We have also repaired old garbage trucks, procured new skips and deployed them to various Sub-Counties to assist in the maintenance of a clean and healthy environment.
Health
Mr. Speaker , Honourable Members,
I wish to move on now to the progress made in the provision of quality, affordable and easily accessible healthcare within the County.
You are aware that my administration inherited several dilapidated health facilities. As in the previous years, we have continued to invest heavily in rehabilitating these hospitals in order to ensure that they are capable of delivering world-class services to our people.
In this regard, renovation works are currently underway in 15 health facilities ranging from Level 4 Hospitals to dispensaries across the County.
In addition to this, we have constructed a total of 21 mother and child health clinics and are in the final stages of completing a 400-bed capacity reproductive health wing at Thika level 5 hospital. These interventions will be of great benefit to mothers and their newborn babies, by not only reducing the infant and maternal mortality ratios, but by enabling expectant mothers to attain the care they need, at prices they can afford, in places accessible to them.
At the same time, we have procured and distributed medical equipment to 86 facilities. This equipment includes diagnostic laboratory equipment, delivery beds, dental chairs, theatre equipment, patients monitors, digital Blood pressure and weighing machines, infant incubators and maternity and child health equipment.
With respect to non-communicable diseases, I am pleased to report that this administration will soon be opening a center for excellence in management of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension at the Gatundu level 4 hospital. Efforts are also underway to put in place a reproductive health unit in Thika level 5 hospital, a trauma center in Lari level 4 hospital and a pediatric center in Tigoni hospital.
Additionally, we have deployed ambulances to all major health centers. It is our hope that each level 4, level 5, high workload level 3 and all 12 sub Counties will have adequate ambulance and referral services. We anticipate the delivery of 8 more ambulances within the year in addition to those procured in the previous financial year to boost these services.
In keeping with the times, we will oversee the computerization of all health centers before the end of this financial year and automate 75% of our facilities in the next financial year.
The county government is also collaborating with the private sector on health matters. This year, we signed an MOU with Max Health Care from India, that will see Kiambu residents access health care in hospitals in India for cases that cannot be treated in our hospitals. This agreement assures residents of special tariffs inclusive of flight, accommodation and the cost of medical care. In addition, Kiambu residents will also enjoy on-site surgeries for cases that cannot be handled here by specialists from India.
These efforts, while laudable, are still far from satisfactory. A lot more remains to be done in this sector, as in various other sectors. My pledge to you therefore is that we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that no resident of Kiambu County shoulders an unfair burden while in search of medicare. We will continue, in the next financial year, to improve hospital infrastructure and to purchase modern health care equipment. Room for dialogue between my administration and health workers will remain open and no efforts will be spared in commissioning new programmes aimed at addressing recurrent health problems within the County.
Agriculture, Livestock And Fisheries
Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members:
Agriculture is the mainstay of most of our people. Many residents of this County depend on farming revenue to pay school fees, access health care and sustain their livelihoods. Yet for centuries, agriculture has failed to uplift the living standards of our residents.
My administration has employed various initiatives to address the perennial challenges facing this sector.
First and foremost, we have identified specific sectors requiring urgent farmer empowerment. These include, greenhouse farming, macadamia and avocado grafting, fish farming, bee keeping, tissue culture, and banana and rabbit production.
To ensure our farmers excel in these target sectors, we have rolled out several training programmes. Over 3,500 farmers have been trained on agronomic practices of crop management. 1,000 farmers have been trained on banana production. More than 3000 farmers have been trained on rabbit rearing. 200 farmers have been trained in the cottage industry and many more training opportunities have been made available to farmers with a view to enhancing their capacity to engage in vibrant and sustainable agricultural practices.
Secondly, we have focussed our efforts on revamping promising sub-sectors. As you are aware, Kiambu County produces not only the highest amount of rabbit meat in Kenya (107.8 MT in 2014) but is also the highest milk-producer with 800 million liters of milk produced in 2015. Yet our potential to soar to greater heights has remained untapped. We have therefore embarked on deliberate activities to bolster production in both subsectors. In this regard, we have purchased a meat processor worth 3 million and rehabilitated the rabbit slaughter house. Additionally, we have installed 8 bulk milk coolers with a combined capacity of 22,000 litres and 1 Pasteurizer of 500 litres per hour capacity to serve our farmers.
Hides, skins & leather development remain one of the key investment areas for our country. However, while Kenya currently earns approximately Kes 9 Billion from this sector, only about 2,5% is attributable to Kiambu County, and we need to change these statistics. We have therefore invested in the training of our very own cobblers with the hope that they will be able to tap into the opportunities in the higher spectrum of the leather value chain and increase the production of finished leather goods thereby increasing our competitiveness in this industry.
Access to quality seeds and farm inputs is at the core of ensuring small holder farmer success through increased yields. To this end, the County Government has invested in the purchase and distribution of seeds such as legume seeds of cowpeas, beans and green grams worth 4M distributed to 2000 farmers in the lower region of Thika, Juja and Ruiru Sub counties. Planting seed, fertilizer, training on rearing of dairy goats and indigenous chicken worth 11 Million have also been supplied to over 8,000 vulnerable families in arid and semi arid areas of Kikuyu and Limuru .
Education & Social Services
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members
It behooves me at this juncture, to pose for a moment, and convey my gratitude to this Honourable house for your unwavering support during the allocation of funds for the Kiambu Education Bursary to aid needy students within the County.
I believe that I do not speak out of step when I say that many of us here today understand only too well the value of lending a helping hand to a child who yearns for education but is constrained by circumstances that are not of their own making. As the Governor, it is my intention, with your support, to continue with this noble endeavor in the years to come.
The impact of the Education Bursary Fund on the lives of bright but needy students has been tremendous. Since its inception, a total of Ksh. 247 Million has so far been disbursed to deserving students.
The education sector has also benefited on other fronts. In the course this year, we have completed the refurbishment of 25 ECDE centres and 25 youth polytechnics. We have procured and delivered tools and equipment worth Kes. 54 million to all the 31 polytechnics with each institution receiving equipment worth Kes 1.8 million. These investments have seen a rise in the number of students enrolling in different institutions thereby expanding this Counties human resource and its ability to attract further industries and investments into our economy.
Finally, in a bid to increase literacy levels amongst our children, we have constructed and fully equipped a new library in Nachu ward and Githunguri Youth Empowerment Center. As I address you today, we are equipping 5 other Youth Empowerment Centers and constructing new facilities in sub Counties that do not have these centres. In addition to this, we have embarked on a school-feeding programme that is currently benefiting 491 ECD centres.
Youth Sports Affairs
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members
Sporting activities have become a source of pride for this Government because our youth have demonstrated excellence across the board.
I am pleased to report today that Kiambu All Stars are currently participating in the Kenya Premier League Division One League.
We also participated in the KICOSCA Games in August 2015 and emerged 3rd place overall. Our mens Volleyball, Basket Ball, Darts and Table Tennis teams as well as Womens netball and draughts teams excelled tremendously, with four of these teams proceeding to the East African championships in Kigali.
To facilitate these young men and women, my administration has upgraded Thika, Ruiru, Limuru and Kirigiti stadiums and trained 120 football referees and coaches and another 120 volleyball referees and coaches to officiate County leagues and matches at the ward level.
With respect to youth empowerment, you will recall that we established a Youth, Women and Persons with Disabilities Enterprise Fund in 2014. In the past three years, we have seen successful applicants through a rigorous financial training boot camp to ensure they are skilled in basic financial management and soft business management skills prior to disbursement of funds.
We have trained and issued certificates to over 2000 youths on technical skills such as plumbing, masonry, domestic electrical
installations and carpentry among others and expect to kick off the training of 1000 females from 1st June 2016 on skills relevant to the construction industry.
The Fund has also successfully disbursed over KES177 million to individuals, women groups and SACCOs, with a reach of over 4oo members, and a default rate of less than 6% with some of the members already having repaid their facilities in full, we believe that we are on the right track with the Fund and will continue to forge new partnerships to ensure its continued success.
In addition to this, we have made investments ranging from the distribution of generators and water tanks to women groups involved in agri-business, the rehabilitation of cultural and tourism centres, the construction of local markets, bodaboda and jua kali shades and the inspection, audit, registration and revival of several cooperatives.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members:
I wish to focus my attention now to matters of land and housing.
Like many Counties, housing development in this County had hitherto been grossly mismanaged.
One of our key priorities has therefore been to conduct a comprehensive audit of poorly developed buildings in selected areas of the County and issue directives on how to remedy these situations.
We have been able to speed up the delivery of services to a level that is yet to be surpassed by any other County. As I speak with you today, we have cleared all the back log of building applications that have delayed construction in the County for the past many years, with all minor applications comprising of Bungalows and Maissonettes due for clearance within 14 days.
Together with our partners, we have embarked on an informal settlements improvement programme, through which two informal settlements - Gachagi and Umoja estates will undergo various infrastructure upgrades that will include roadworks and street lighting.
In addition to this, we are in the process of finalising a robust Housing Policy and urban renewal models as well as procedures to regularize old developments that were not compliant with planning regulations.
The department has also prepared a Spatial Plan through a consultative process. The plan identifies the countys resource bases and their potential as a basis for urban development through the integration between sectors such as housing, transport, energy and industry.
To give effect to these policies, a set of bills governing Spatial-planning Bill, Survey and mapping Bill are currently under development and will soon be tabled before you for debate.
Ladies and gentlemen:
We firmly believe in embracing technology, especially technology that leads to smart outcomes. We plan to digitize all land records and review our valuation roll to include areas previously omitted by the defunct local authorities.
The County Government has also signed an Advisory Agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to automate the E-Development System. This web-based system will improve our capacity to receive and process all development or building plan applications in an efficient and transparent manner.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members of this Assembly, Ladies & Gentlemen:
A lot still lies ahead of us. As we begin the next financial year, it is important to remember that fundamentally, our mission is to serve those who have entrusted us with the offices that we currently hold. Our service to them will only come to bear when we succeed in creating better opportunities for them, whether in economic, social or political spheres.
No doubt we will have differences of opinion along the way. But we must endeavour always, to remain true to our call to serve. On my part, as a result of the enlightening lessons that we have picked up along the way over the last three years, I am fortified in the belief that our great strength perhaps our only real strength is our unity and solidarity. I therefore complete this address by reiterating my commitment to the unity and prosperity of this great County and call upon all of you to continue to embrace the collaborative spirit that has brought us this far.
May God bless you all."