The President’s visit to Mandera and Wajir counties comes hot on the heels of a similar visit to the six counties of Coast region and his meet-the-people tour of Nairobi city yesterday where he assured Kenyans of their safety before, during and after the August polls.
President Kenyatta will start his visit of the North Eastern counties in Mandera where he will address rallies in Mandera and Elwak towns, highlighting his administration’s delivery track record in the last four-and-a-half years while outlining his development agenda for the region for the next five years as he pitches for his re-election in the August polls.
Thereafter, the President – who is accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto – will visit Wajir where he will address residents at Habaswein and Wajir towns, underlining his determination to ensure no part of the country lags behind in development.
Already, the two counties have witnessed unprecedented development under the Jubilee administration, a move that has ensured the region receives facilities that are as good as in other parts of Kenya.
For instance, last year President Kenyatta commissioned the tarmacking of the Kshs 2.5 billion Elwak – Rhamu road in Mandera, a key road that is expected to open up the North Eastern region and accelerate economic growth for the benefit of residents. The 135 kilometre road is under construction in three phases, Elwak-Wargadud, Wargadud-Bambo and Bambo-Rhamu.
The Jubilee administration has worked with the county governments of Mandera and Wajir to boost the provision of health services. In Mandera the national Government has invested Kshs 810 million to provide specialised medical equipment under the Managed Equipment Service (MES) project at Mandera Level 5 and Elwak Level 4 hospitals. Under the MES project, the two hospitals have been equipped with theatre, sterilisation and surgical sets, renal, imaging and radiology equipment at a cost of Kshs 430 million and Kshs 380 million respectively.
A similar investment in the health sector has been made in Wajir County where Wajir Level 5 and Giftu Level 4 hospitals have received the specialised equipment at the cost of Kshs 430 million and Kshs 380 million respectively, relieving the residents of a big health burden they previously had to bear, having to travel all the way to Nairobi for specialized medical care.
