After power wrangles, leaders now focus on development

Embu, Kenya: Last year, investors signed a memorandum of understanding with the Embu County Government in which they pledged to bring in Sh441 billion in industries ranging from agro-processing, housing, health, education and infrastructure.

However, political wrangles became the order of the day and were best visible through a long-drawn battle to impeach Governor Martin Wambora. Although he got a temporary reprieve by the Court of Appeal and things are looking up, there are worries some investors are no longer interested.

Mr Wambora says a number of investors who signed the MoU have kept off. He did not give figures on the funds affected. But the leaders now appear to have learnt from this and are making pledges to work together. MCAs have promised not to hound him out of office if he is reinstated and things seem to be getting back on track.

Sense of urgency

Buoyed by assurance of support by several MCAs including Mr Ibrahim Swaleh, who moved his impeachment motion, Wambora has now returned to work and says he will go revamp projects aimed at improving residents’ lives.

Remarks by County Assembly infrastructure chairman Silas Nyeki perhaps best capture the situation local leaders have found themselves in. “The first year ended in settling scores. The fifth year will largely be consumed in campaigning. We want to work together these three years so that we can realise the development our people need,” Nyeki said adding “citizens don’t care about our differences. They want development.”

Also, some development projects the county started in its first few months in office such as upgrading of Embu Moi Stadium stalled while Sh650 million meant for development was said to have been unspent in the first one year. However, Finance Executive Member John Njagi and County Assembly Budget committee chair Michael Njeru have dismissed the claim of unspent cash as far fetched.

Despite this, leaders and residents agree the county has immense potential. The county lies between two diverse climatic zones. On the upper side administratively comprising Embu West, North and East sub-counties, the land is fertile with adequate rainfall with coffee, tea, macadamia and dairy farming practised as major economic activities.

The lower side which comprises Mbeere North and South sub-counties is largely arid and semi-arid and residents practice cotton, miraa, groundnuts and livestock farming. The wide ranging geographical features that start with the Mt Kenya forest, waterfalls and caves on the upper side to expansive shrub land, mountain ranges and dams in Mbeere have potential for tourism.

Growth drivers

 

Of late flower farming has been introduced with modest success, where pioneer investor Mugo Flower Farm earned Sh7million during the first harvest and promises to be a major economic activity if cultivated in large scale.

Despite the farming potential, the downside is there are few agro-processing factories and the deplorable state of access roads has hindered opening up of remote areas while rates of unemployment are high.

Wambora says to give leaders direction, the county has prepared County Fiscal Strategy Paper, County Integrated Development Plan and Sectoral Plans for all portfolios which earmark the projects to be carried out up to year 2022, their budgets and their timeline.

Lease of life

The coffee sub-sector has been given a new lease of life after the county spearheaded construction of a county coffee mill in Kavutiri. Wambora says constructions are complete and in partnership with 24 coffee societies, the county is acquiring a Sh73 million machinery from Brazil for the mill to start operating.

In partnership with investors, the county has introduced new crops such as groundnuts in the Mbeere area with an investor offering free seeds and guaranteeing market. The county is also distributing subsidised fertiliser to farmers’ groups in their locations which has eliminated the lengthy process of accessing it.

To promote the livestock sub-sector, the county is constructing a Sh7 million Ishiara slaughter house and Sh3.5million Kiritiri slaughter slab. “Our commitment is to ensure farmers are fully equipped with the right technological skills, ease access to farm inputs and provide market linkages for their outputs,” says Wambora.

And to end over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture, the county last year set aside Sh60million for irrigation.

Embu deputy governor Dorothy Nditi says the first year was spent largely on setting up systems upon which development programmes would be built.

She says the county was also able to put up several water, road infrastructure, health facilities and investments in education and they are set on up scaling them.

Nditi termed the county investor’s conference held last year as successful saying they are following up on the Sh441billion pledges made.

“The strength of Embu lies in the fact that it is strategically positioned and easily accessible from Nairobi. The land is good for development. Security is also stable for investments and to gain confidence of potential investors,” she says.

She adds that they have been able to set up the right legislature such as a Strategic Paper with grand ideas and a policy on macadamia.

County Agriculture Executive Member Dr Patrisio Njiru is optimistic that the projects they have embarked on will promote the county’s economy. He says they have embarked on building of 25 fish ponds per sub-county where tenders have been awarded and actual work set to begin in two weeks’ time.

He says the county has large potential in small industries and as such they have started contract packaging concept in conjunction with Agriculture Training Development Corporation in Siakago. The corporation has been revived at Sh10million.

“We are in the process of buying packaging machines for both liquids and solids where investors in small value addition industries can come for packaging of their products. We will also help them get Kenya Bureau of Standard certification,” he says.

Finance Executive member John Njagi says the county will implement an elaborate agricultural revitalisation programme to expand the sector. “We plan to improve farming methods, embrace public-private partnership in value addition for coffee, macadamia, millet, tomatoes, sorghum and honey,” he says.

Embu is the leading producer of macadamia nuts and the county government is drafting policies to have nuts processed locally through the Kamiu factory, which is being revived. But poor roads are a concern for leaders and farmers. Wambora says the roads to be tarmacked are Muthatari-Siakago-Ishiara road and Embu-Kibugu-Kathangariri-Kianjokoma-Runyenjes road. He has in the last two weeks launched four graders and the county is procuring four others, loaders and other equipment to be used in repair and construction of roads. But this is not enough without good markets.

“We are targeting 20 markets at a cost of Sh10 million. These include, putting up stores, improving sanitation and sewerage system, proper gates and tarmacking roads leading to all major markets,” says Wambora.

The county is putting up flood lights in all the 20 major markets of Embu at a cost of Sh500,000 per market. The Embu-Nairobi bus park is also set for tarmacking.

Further, women are set to benefit in a big way following a programme to eliminate domestic violence and nurture better families. The Social Services department launched the Shujaa Dad program last November that saw 100 men from all the sub-counties trained after which they formed Men Ward Committees to continue with the programme.

County Executive for social services Pamela Rita said this will restore dignity and instil responsibility in men since many have been victims of drugs and substance abuse.

The county has formed the Local Credit Referencing Forum for women.

The county has launched a talent academy to help tap into the talents of young people from football to music and dance. This saw the formation of two music bands and a county football team with five of the boys getting enrolled at the National Youth Talent Academy. “To further empower the youth, we are constructing a Talent Academy building,” says Wambora.

Chief officer youth empowerment and sports Raymond Kinyua says the department is scouting for talented youth in football, athletics and music in all the sub-counties. “We want to produce a pool of the next top football players, athletics stars and successful singers,” says Mr Kinyua.

The county is also connecting all sub-county headquarters with fibre optic and putting up five Wi-Fi hot spots. “This will boost the economy by opening up local and international markets for all stakeholders especially for farmers to sell their produce online,” adds Wambora.