Deputy President William Ruto has pledged to prioritize water, health and education in Ukambani through the Bottom-Up Economic Approach.
This is after political players and policymakers from the Ukambani region raised issues of concern among them provision of water, health, and education in Ruto’s economic model.
Concluding his two-day delegates meeting of the southeastern region economic forum, Ruto said the model was pro-poor and considered not only empowering ordinary citizens through finances but also provision of social services like water, health and education.
“We understand and appreciate the challenge of water provision in the country and more so in regions badly affected by drought. This is part of our plan to uplift the common man,” Ruto said.
He said forums will be organised for residents in the three counties: Machakos, Makueni and Kitui to make their proposals.
“We have developed a broad framework which is going to be the basis upon which people from different walks of life in South Eastern will engage over the next one month. We are going to have meetings in different places culminating in one meeting in Makueni, another in Kitui and another meeting in Machakos,” he said.
The forum heard that there were several ongoing large-scale water investments such as Thwake Dam, Umaa Dam and others which when completed will irrigate up to 300,000 acres of land.
“However, this is just over 5 per cent of the region’s 5.5 million acres of arable land. Unlocking the potential of this land requires that we map all potential sources for both irrigation and domestic use,” said Jonathan Mueke, the former Nairobi County Deputy Governor.
He said consultations will be intensified with all stakeholders to ensure that available water resources are harnessed with a view to identifying the interventions that will bring the region’s perennial water problem to an end.
“This meeting identified raising agricultural productivity as the region’s top economic priority, and water as the key enabler of socio-economic transformation,” said Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka.
He said the provision of ample water for irrigation in Machakos, Makueni and Kitui Counties will lead to increased production of fruits, which are key drivers of economic growth and jobs generation.
Ruto said he had every intention to transform Kenya through a bold and robust and conversation that centres on the economy.
Additionally, he said he was proud that the 2022 campaigns have been hinged on economic issues rather than tribe and sharing of positions as has been the case in the previous campaigns.
Leaders present in the meeting included Governor Josphat Nanok, MPs Victor Munyaka, Nimrod Mbai, Katoo Ole Metito, Former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama, Former Nairobi Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke, several MCAs, among others.