DEFINING DEVOLUTION IN KAKAMEGA COUNTY

As the Devolution Torch Caravan takes its third lap in Kakamega County on Monday 7th November 2016, residents continue to appreciate and identify more with government programs and projects in all the twelve Sub-Counties.

Projects such as the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital, ongoing renovations of the County General Hospital, Construction of Level Four Hospitals, procurement of modern health equipments like CT-Scan, theatres and blood bank among others, Construction of bridges including the famous Khaunga bridge which never existed resulting to the loss of over 2,000 lives as people drawned while trying to cross river Nzoia, the renewed ten kilometers per ward roads, 18km bitumen roads in Kakamega and Mumias Towns, Street lighting and eight high mast floodlights, new 242 ECDE classrooms commissioned, new 24 modern high school centers of excellence built, new 13 modern Twin Lab Polytechnics commissioned, 800 Refurbished modern Kiosks distributed at selected market centers in the county, new 12 modern markets and programs like the One Cow Initiative whose phase one cows have calved, OparanyaCare which has registered a total number of 38,000 mothers since inception two years ago lowering maternal mortality in the county by half, mechanised subsidised farming that has so far doubled farm products from 16% to 32% in last year’s harvest, the poulrty program, the Governor’s Cup Tournament whose second phase begun on Saturday 5th November 2016 in all the 60 wards bringing together over 30,000 talents in football, netball and volleyball disciplines, Kazi Mashinani which employed 1,380 youths, widows and persons with disability, Mkopo Mashinani which has seen over 9,000 small and medium entrepreneurs benefit from government soft business loans and enterprenual training.

All these, most phase one programs and projects, among others, have improved the economy and the living standards of residents of Kakamega County and most Kenyans.

With regard to the status of the on-going refurbishment of Bukhungu stadium, the government is set to complete and deliver phase one of the project within this year, despite rumours of the demolished block, which took place on Saturday 5th November 2016 just after the passing of the devolution torch at the site, as had been advised by resident official of CAF, so as to meet the set international stadia standards, an action that was lauded by members of NCA who visited the site today, which a section of media reported as “collapsed.”

Government Officials led by Deputy Governor H.E Hon. Philip Kutima, who visited the site, immediately the unfortunate signals started doing rounds in social media, called on residents to be calm saying there was no cause of alarm as was being insinuated by a few politicians who took advantage of a normal process to mislead the public. Official communication on this matter, however, will soon be delivered by H.E The Governor, who is currently abroad on official trip.

The train of the Devolution Torch will leave the county headquarters at 8am to Lugari and Likuyani Sub-counties with the first stop being Kabras Polytechnic before heading to Baharini Primary School for filming of Baharini ECDE classrooms – Mwamba Water Project – Forestal Primary ECDE classrooms – Likuyani County Hospital – Soi Polytechnic – Matunda modern market – Matunda police houses – Matunda Solar Powered Water Project and wind up at Moisbridge market for a handover ceremony where the torch will be received by the County Government of Trans-Nzoia. Long live Devolution.