UK Deputy envoy cautions Kenya over corruption

British Deputy High commissioner to Kenya Ms Susie Kitchens, (center) being welcomed to the Kajiado County county headquarters yesterday.She noted that the significant barrier to inclusive and sustainable economic growth is corruption. [PETERSON GITHAIGA]

Corruption is the biggest barrier to sustainable economic growth in Kenya, UK Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya Susie Kitchens has said.

The diplomat who visited Kajiado yesterday said graft undermines the country’s prosperity. ‘’Unless fully dealt with, corruption will continue undermining Kenya’s long term progress and those responsible should be prosecuted,’’ she said.

She said Kajiado will be one of the counties to benefit from Britain’s programme on climate change solutions and prudent management of natural resources.

“We are building long term partnerships with the County Government, directly and through our implementing agencies,” she said.

The envoy also said Britain will continue offering support in health and education and called on the County Government to appraise the ongoing projects being financed by the UK aid agency, DFID.

During a courtesy call to Governor Joseph Ole Lenku’s office where she was hosted by the Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho, Ms Kitchens also said Britain was keen on supporting the new municipalities of Ngong and Kajiado.

“There are ten municipalities and the Kajiado ones were unable to get funding. We are hopeful there will be support in the near future even as we seek to strengthen the newly created Narok-Kajiado Economic Block,” she said.

Moshisho lauded the UK for the transformative work it was doing at Enkasiti and Isinya Mixed Schools where it is supporting the girl child education.

Moshisho also noted Britain had supported devolution by building capacity of the counties to boost collection of their own revenue. “We have hit a Sh 1 Billion mark in our revenue collection up from a Sh 726 Million in the previous year. This support in revenue collection is bearing fruits,” said Moshisho.

Before meeting the Deputy Governor, the British Embassy team paid a courtesy call to Kajiado County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha. Ms Kitchens later addressed the County Assembly of Kajiado where she was hosted by Speaker Johnson Osoi.