Siaya County reaped significant benefits on the first day of President William Ruto’s four-day development tour of the Nyanza region, which began on Friday.
President Ruto stated on Friday during the groundbreaking ceremony for a level three hospital in Urenga, Ugenya Constituency, that the Cabinet had already approved an additional Ksh.4 billion for the start of Phase Two of the Lower Nzoia Irrigation project.
“Katika baraza la mawaziri on Tuesday, tulipitisha Ksh.4 billion ya mambo ya Lower Nzoia project hapa, ambayo itatusaidia kupanua ardhi ambayo tutatumia 10 acres tuweze kuzalisha mchele na mpunga vile Governor (James Orengo) amesema,” he said.
Further, the President promised an additional Ksh.50 million for elevating level three hospital that is being built at Urenga to ensure it is immediately upgraded to a level four facility once the construction of this phase is completed.
He also revealed that the national government will be supporting the payment of wages for Community Health Promoters to the tune of Ksh.50 million per year.
“Nataka nimshukuru Governor amekubali tushirikiane tujenge hospitali hapa Urenga. Hiyo Ksh.50 million ambayo tayari tumetoa, nitaongeza ifike Ksh.100 million…badala ya kujenga gorofa mbili, tutajenga gorofa nne ikuwe hospitali level four,” stated Ruto.
“Vilevile hapa Siaya tuko na Community Health Promoters karibu elfu mbili, kila mwaka tutakuwa tunatuma hapa Ksh.50 million ya kuwalipa.”
President Ruto, who was flanked by several Members of Parliament and Cabinet Secretaries alongside other senior government officials, also promised to promote cotton and rice production in Siaya County.
He disclosed that his administration will channel Ksh.30 million towards the ongoing construction of a rice mill at Sirowo in Alego/Usonga Constituency.
“Tayari tumeagiza mbegu mpya ambayo itawasaidia kuzalisha pamba katika sehemu hii. Nitaweka pesa ya kuweka ginnery hapa Ugenya, na vile Governor ameniuliza pale kwa rice mill, ameweka pesa, nitamwongezea Ksh.30 million tuweze kukamilisha hiyo mradi ndio tuhakikishe ya kwamba watu wa hapa ambao wanazalisha mpunga watapata mahali ya kufanya processing,” he said.
On issues of trade and housing, the Head of State revealed that the government will construct eight modern markets across Siaya County to enhance small scale business across the region.
He added that they have also identified parcels of land and are planning to begin the construction of the first 5,000 affordable houses in Bondo Constituency and other parts of the county by December this year.
