H.E. Joseph K. Ndathi

We have a lot to be proud of in KirinyagaOver the last three years, Kirinyaga

County has made great strides in economic and social development.

We have laid a strong foundation for sustained growth as we embark on our mission to transform Kirinyaga as the best county to invest and live in.

While thanking the residents of Kirinyaga for continued support, I am happy to report that, all our sectors are

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR

Banana farming.

reporting growth. We have a lot to be proud of.

In agriculture, for instance, we have seen production and market price almost double in certain crops like bananas due to the sound technical support we have accorded our farmers, such as distributing high yield hybrid seeds free of charge.

In education, we have seen enrolment in our ECDE centres grow dramatically as

KIRINYAGA COUNTY GOVERNMENT

About 80 per cent of our people derive their livelihoods directly or indirectly from agricultural activities. This makes agriculture a top priority.

The highlights are:1. To support Agriculture extension, advisory and

technology Transfer Services, the department has strengthened its extension service delivery system and has encouraged private sector participation. Farmer groups and organisations have been empowered.

2. In support of food security programmes, the department has increased availability of seed for traditional high value crop and has supported water harvesting projects.

The department has enabled access of affordable and quality inputs such as fertilizer and seed.

3. The department has initiated crop speci�c development programmes using the value chain approach. We have identi�ed strategic food crops such as rice, maize and beans; horticultural crops such as bananas, sweet yellow passion, French beans, tomatoes, avocado and �owers; and industrial crops such as coffee, tea and macadamia. There is tremendous achievement in this development programme.

4. To reduce pre and post-harvest losses, the department has intensi�ed training and dissemination of appropriate technologies. We have enhanced surveillance and control of migratory and other pests.

5. Market access is prerequisite to the development of agriculture.The department continues to collate and

disseminate information on the domestic and export markets for dissemination to producers, exporters and service providers.

Other strategies are:1. The County has been building capacity of

farmers on quality assurance for them to meet local and export market standards.

2. The county has also undertaken to facilitate formation and organisation of vulnerable farmer

groups to form County associations within the value chain. These will facilitate negotiation for better prices.Examples include:

1. Banana industry has a County umbrella body that has worked to raise the average price per kilo from Ksh5 in 2012 to Ksh10 in 2015 to the bene�t of farmers.

2. Dairy industry now has an umbrella County body leading to a rise in average price per litre of milk from below Ksh20 in 2012 to over Ksh30 in 2015.

3. Formation of dairy goat groups has culminated in a joint export of the goats to other counties and the country at large.

4. To enhance production and marketing of high quality fresh produce a County Horticulture Producers Association has been formed.

5. The County has organised cassava and sorghum production groups and linked them to reliable buyers of the products

6. The County has mobilised its extensive workforce to provide improved technical services support to groups.

7. An interactive digital extension service is in place to provide a dedicated phone SMS extension service at subsidised cost.

8. Plant clinic service has been set up and is available to the farmers in the county.

9. The County has supported forums, such as shows, exhibitions and �eld days where other service providers can contribute to create awareness on technical issues.

The Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Department

The Health Department

Immunisation of livestock.

Key highlights:1. We have employed 476 new Health workers,

including nurses, clinical officers, medical laboratory technologists, pharmaceutical technologists, physiotherapists among other cadres.

2. We have more than 98 development projects, both complete and ongoing. These projects include construction of new dispensaries, upgrading of existing health facilities, construction of laboratories, morgues, radiology departments, purchase of ambulances and equipping of health facilities among others.

Notable Completed Infrastructural Projects: 1. Completion of six dispensaries, namely,

Gathuthuma, Nguguini, Kiamuthambi, Kiarukungu, South Ngariama, Kamuiru and Kiaga dispensaries.

2. Construction of laboratories at Kirogo and Karimaini dispensaries.

3. Construction of nine new dispensaries in underserved areas.

4. Construction of X-ray Department at Kianyaga Hospital, a morgue at Sagana hospital, a modern maternity block at Kimbimbi Hospital, an X-ray department at Sagana Hospital, a maternity/MCH block at Kianyaga Hospital and inpatient wards at Baricho and Njegas Health Centres.

Health equipment and machinery1. Purchase of Assorted Medical Equipment for 18

health facilities.2. Four ambulances to supplement the existing

�ve.3. Stand by Generators, Oxygen plants, Morgue

Coolers to be procured this �nancial year.

Key Indicators for Health

Indicator 2013 2014 2015

Doctor: Population Ratio

1:21,652 1:18,452 1:13,518

Nurse: Population Ration

1:1383 1:1246 1:1226

Immunizing Centers 56 69 66

Fully Immunized Children

87% 85.2% 88.5%

ANC attendance 92.4/48 96.4/60 -

Skilled Delivery 73 % 92.5 % 92.5 %

Hospital Beds/100,000

75 79 82

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well as in our polytechnics. In health, the problem of lack of

drugs is a thing of the past. We have invested heavily in human resource and infrastructure. Once all the projects are complete, there will be a dramatic turnaround on provision of health services.

Below are highlights of our successes in various sectors.

In education, we have seen enrolment in our

ECDE centres grow dramatically as well as

in our polytechnics.”

Flagging ambulances and garbage collection trucks.

Immunization of kids.

Opening Gathuthuma Dispensary.

The Trade DepartmentTo promote investments, the department has participated in many trade expos, key among them the Kenya International Investor’s Conference (KICCO) at KICC on November 19-20, 2014, where it showcased over 60 investment opportunities in the county, ranging from agro-processing, tourism, infrastructure development, medical and cultural and educational opportunities.

Value addition;1. We have provided value addition equipment

to cooperative societies eg milk, coolers, pasteurizers and freezers. This has increased milk collection and therefore more earnings to the small scale farmers.

Rice value addtion.

2. Development of open air markets like Kagumo, Kerugoya and Kagio by laying cabros and market sheds where small scale traders now operate in a conducive and clean environment. This in turn attracts more buyers from far and wide. Farmers then get encouraged to grow more fresh produce since there is a ready market for the same.

3. Installation of �ood lights in order to enhance security and increase trading hours in market centres

4. Capacity building for Small scale traders through trainings, particularly on entrepreneurial skills. This empowers them to run and operate business pro�tably.

5. Promoted formation of cooperative societies in various sectors and improved their corporate governance. Some of these include Saccos for savings mobilisation (Boda Boda Saccos etc), housing saccos for provision of shelter, agricultural coops for collective marketing, among others

6. In collaboration with KIE, we have partly operationalised the incubation centre at Sagana. These incubatees have created a market for local produce as well as employment.

Highlights of our successes in various sectors

Citizens register for the Kirinyaga Investment forum held at Kirinyaga University College.

Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Gichangi when he paid a visit at Podago Milk cooling centre.

The County has continued to be committed to ensuring clean and healthy environment and prudent management of Natural Resources. As a result, the following bene�ts have been realised;1. The County tree coverage stand at 21.5 per cent

against the National target of 10 per cent.2. The lighting of urban centres through high mast

lighting has increased by 56.2 per cent.3. The County electri�cation programmes have

seen the number of households connected to national grid rise to 55,000 households.

4. Enhanced solid waste management programmes have increased employment opportunities by two per cent.

Governor Joseph Ndathi distributes water tanks to residents of Nduini in Kanyekini Ward, Kirinyaga Central. The Governor distributed 200 water tanks valued at Kshs 3 million. The project Nduini “B” Water Project sought to ensure that residents who were affected by water rationing had storage tanks to ensure they have a continous water supply.

Department of Water, Environment and Natural Resources

Commissioning water projects at Nyangati.

A farmer at Mwea rice irrigation scheme.

The Lands Ministry

Education DepartmentThe education functions devolved under Schedule Four Include:1. Pre-primary education 2. Village polytechnics 3. Home craft centres 4. Childcare facilities

To undertake these functions, the County Ministry/Department of Education was structured into two Directorates, namely:1. Directorate of Early Childhood Development

and Education (ECDE), which takes care of the functions of Pre-Primary education as well as

Introducing ICT to polytechnics.

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Home craft CentresWe have a total of six home craft centres based in all the sub-counties. These centres are running Programmes such as Brick making, Cookery and Basic Weaving.

ECDE Classrooms We have done a total of 24 ECDE classrooms, 77 toilets, provided 20 EDE play facilities, bought ECDE instructional materials for 198 ECDE centres, and procured ECDE furniture for 14 centres.

In ensuring the communities in both rural and urban areas have access to clean and safe water for domestic, irrigation and industrial use, the county government has implemented 150 water projects.

So far, the projects have realised the following bene�ts:1. 29,900 households have been connected to

piped water.2. Access to irrigation water has increased by 35

per cent in rural areas.3. 15,500 households have been provided with

water storage facilities.4. 80 per cent of County bus parks, markets and

urban centres have access to modern public sanitation facilities.

The key highlights of this department are as follows:

1. Digital Mapping for Four Priority Towns in Kirinyaga

a) The work, which is being undertaken by the Technical University of Kenya, involves digitalisation of all maps in the four priority towns, Kerugoya, Kutus, Kianyaga and Wanguru.

b) Collection of attribute data i.e information on ownership and sizes through questionnaires. This has been completed.

c) Aerial survey of the whole county to be done. This will be transferred to spatial planning.

2. Spatial Planninga) Consultancy for spatial planning has been

advertised and is in the �nal procurement stage.

b) This is expected to come up with policies on zoning of towns, valuation rolls, which will

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KIRINYAGA COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Children facilities (Day Care Centres).2. Directorate of Vocational Education and

Training (DVET), under which all the Devolved polytechnics fall. The Function of Home Craft Centres is also managed under this directorate.

Under the Pre-primary Sub-sector (ECDE), we did the following:1. Recruited 403 Caregivers (ECDE-Teachers).2. Increased levels of enrolments in public ECDE

centres from 10,000 pupils to 15,824 pupils.3. Increased ECDE Centres to 198. 4. Construction of Exhaustible toilets in 67 ECDE

Centres.5. Provision of Teaching Learning resources worth

approximately 6M to ECDE Centres.6. Trained 403 ECDE teachers on Child Counselling

and development of Teaching/ Learning Materials

7. Provided 5 ECDE centres with appropriate furniture for pupils & teachers.

8. Provided 20 ECDE Centres with Fixed play facilities.

Under the Polytechnics & Home Crafts (DVET), we have done the following:1. Absorbed 102 instructors previously under

national government’s contracts.2. Recruited 5 graduates to manage County

Polytechnics.3. Increased enrolment in Polytechnics from 350

trainees to current 1350 trainees.4. Establish ICT laboratories in 5 County

Polytechnics.5. Funded minor varied refurbishment works in 11

polytechnics.6. Provided initial basic facilities to 6 Home-craft

centres.7. Provided varied essential tools to 11

polytechnics.8. Initiated the establishment of production units

in 4 polytechnics.

We also established The Kirinyaga Bursary Fund. In the �rst two years, we have disbursed Ksh110 milion as bursary to needy students, bene�ting 13,000 of them from all our 20 wards. An additional Ksh75 million will be disbursed this year.

We have 198 ECDE Centres, and enrolment has grown from 10,000 before devolution to the current 15,824: an increase of 5,824 in three years. We expect this �gure to go even higher as we continue to improve our institutions.

PolytechnicsIn three short years, the enrolment in Polytechnics has increased from 350 to 1,350. A total of 1,000 students have joined our polytechnics. This is a massive increase directly attributed to our interventions, including increased investment in infrastructure and, absorption of quali�ed instructors.

Governor Joseph Ndathi with ECDE kids.

Supporting needy students with school fees.

ECDE Centres

Highlights of our successes in various sectors

County HQs under construction.

Signing of the County Budget.

Promoting the work of PWD.

The Finance Department

On the 30 per cent procurement rule, the county has over 300 companies for the youth, women and people with disabilities (PWDs), who continue to bene�t through AGPO.

In empowering PWD a SACCO known as Kipawa chetu was launched and will go a long way in helping the vulnerable category. We have continued to support the vulnerable members of our society with food during drought. Recently and in partnership with National Government, we issued 100 wheelchairs.

Department of Youth, Sports and Gender

guide on how much to charge on rates and rents. This will reveal all plots that have not been rated and charged.

c) Policies and development controls and registrations.

3. Storm Water DrainageThe consultancy of the above has been �nalised and the designs forwarded to the National Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development (the �nanciers of the construction works) for implementation. These works include storm water drainages, street lighting and minor road works.

4. Headquarter Building a) The department facilitated in acquiring land

for construction of the County Headquarter.b) The construction works commenced on

November 30, 2014 and is expected to be completed by July 30, 2016.

c) The building has a total of 4575 square metres, accommodating the Governor, the Deputy Governor, conference halls and 74 offices.

Banking suite that has the following advantages:(1) Real time settlement of supplier payments via

RTGS(2) Access to real time bank account balances(3) Real time inter bank account transfers.

Revenue collection is another important role of this department. The �agship project has been the development of the Automated Revenue Collection and Management System.

The development of the revenue management system was completed in January 2016, and is currently undergoing testing and approval from the Commission of Revenue Allocation (CRA) and National Treasury – IFMIS Department.

The entire end-to-end Automated Revenue Collection Management System is now operational as well as the E-Procurement.

It is worth noting that Kirinyaga County has been cited and commended for the award of tenders to preference groups, namely Youth, Women and Persons with Disability. The County Treasury

Transport and Infrastructure

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Kemri Centre Master Plan.

5. Medical Research CentreThe County has reserved a 100-acre piece of land within Wamumu area for development of a Medical Research and Training Institute by KEMRI. This is a joint project between the County and National governments to the tune of Ksh12 billion. It will see the construction of an ultra-modern medical facility that will include a research centre, medical school and a Level 6 hospital. This facility will transform Mwea sub-county and the entire county.

ICT Award

Cancer Marathon.

Completed footbridge in Kariti ward.

This department is charged with the responsibility of improvement of County roads, construction of foot bridges, design and documentation of construction and improvement of infrastructure, such as markets, ECDE and health facilities, among others.

1. Road worksAmong road works done or being worked on are:

i. Kerugoya prison to Kimandi Road in Kerugoya Ward.

H.E. the Governor with Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri.

Intergovernmental relations

KIRINYAGA COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Kirinyaga County Government is committed to developing youth talents and has devoted time and money for this. To this end, a talent academy is in the pipeline, where these talents can be nurtured. Last year, over 400 teams took part in a countywide sports tournament sponsored by the County Government.

ii. Kandongu-Ngothi-Rukanga road in Mutithi Ward.

iii. Marura-Mairungi link road, Kibukure and Gathanji roads done in Japanese technology known as Do nou technology all in Kangai Ward.

iv. Munganga bridge in Kangai.v. Nguka bridge in Kariti, among others.

2. Foot bridgesIn many communities, a foot bridge is the only access to medical clinics, schools and markets, which would otherwise be unreachable when rivers are too high to cross.

Connectivity of road network is a challenge to Kirinyaga people due to many rivers and their many tributaries. Transportation of agricultural produce to the markets and buying centres is difficulty without construction of many foot bridges where people can use motorcycle, bicycles and human traffic.

In the last three years, we have constructed 13 foot bridges initiated by the local community, namely Ngucii, Kaguyu, Mugumoini, Gatarwa, Migingo,Kiumbu/Gitoboto, Kimiiri/Karoki, Koroma, Muratiri, Kangu and Gatundu.

3. Flood lightsKirinyaga County being an agricultural county, has many open air markets and attracts business people from Nairobi, Nakuru, Machakos, Muranga and many more.

Recently, the county registered tremendous growth of small towns to large urban centres

Security has been a challenge due to high exchange of money and especially late at night, with no adequate lighting. Business used to close early due to darkness. We have installed seven �oodlights in Kagio, Kutus, Kibirwi, Baricho, Kimbimbi and Sagana markets with a dramatic positive impact. Businesses now operate as late as 11pm. Petty crimes have also gone down.

Water Sports at Sagana River.

Improvement of service delivery is a key output of this department. In collaboration with key stake holders, such as the Central Bank of Kenya, the County Treasury has successfully deployed an E-

Honoring freedom �ghters.

will continue to ensure that the 30 per cent threshold is maintained. The County also won an ICT Innovation award.

We have had other actives like County Cancer marathon held on campaign against Cancer in the county. Thousands people were reached out.