Governor Mruttu wants Taita, Taveta to get more children

Taita-Taveta  County Governor John Mruttu.on Monday,020th April,2015. He said the construction of the Mwatate-Taveta road  being implemented by the Kenya National Highway Authority and funded by African Development Bank and the National Government as part of the multinational Arusha-Voi road , is expected to boost tourism and enhance economic growth once completed. [PHOTO/MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD]     

Governor John Mruttu now wants his electorate to give more births so as to boost their political bargaining power and make the national government allocate more money to the county.

Mr Mruttu said the current low allocations to the county were directly linked to its small and low population growth.

He further said the national resource allocation and distribution depended on the number of people in an area, hence encouraged the locals to give birth to more children to boost their chances of receiving more cash from the national government in future.

"The low population growth has a direct impact on resource allocation and distribution by the Government. Improved population figures will not only be an added advantage in resource allocation but also give the community bargaining power in politics," he said.

"We should abandon family planning and instead bear more children to boost the population. Intensive campaigns should be done to encourage the locals to have more children," he said.

Speaking in Voi town yesterday when he officially opened JM Recording Studio, owned by nominated MCA John Maghanga, Mruttu said counties like Kilifi were receiving more cash allocations due to high population growth.

The 2009 census put the region's total population at 284,657, with Taitas being 216,992 and Taveta 67,665. In the current financial year, Kilifi County with a population of over 1.2 million received over Sh8 billion while Taita Taveta County was allocated Sh2.4 billion.

Mr Maghanga, who represents special interest groups in the assembly, wants the county government to set aside funds to assist local artists.

"The music industry is performing poorly yet it is full of potential that has not been exploited. There is need for the county administration to allocate funds to the industry, which can help transform the lives of the local community," he said.

Mruttu called on the local leaders to embark on vigorous campaigns to encourage the local community to get more children.