Mutua nets billions in development deal with donors

A round table meeting between Machakos county executive and a host of international development partners has placed Machakos on a faster lane in development programs and poverty eradication.

Governor Alfred Mutua, addressing the press Wednesday after holding talks with high-ranking officials, said the round table engagements had secured commitments worth close to Sh50 billion, whose proposed ejection into various development projects is expected to highly boost the county’s development agenda.

“I am very pleased with the large turnout and the fruitful discussions. We highlighted our development agenda, our many successes and the massive remaining gaps which require funding so as to fully achieve our program of poverty eradication and economic growth in all sectors,” Dr Mutua said.

He went on, “When I was running for re-election as governor in 2017, I promised that I will use my international and governance experience to lobby for local and international external resources and investments to help us achieve our Maendeleo Chap Chap agenda before 2022.”

Some of the ambitious development programs lined up by the governor include actualization of the county’s food and water security, urban development, infrastructure development, improvement of healthcare services, support programs for entrepreneurial development as well as ICT development and improved financial management systems.

In the recently assented budget for the 2019/20 financial year, Sh100 million was earmarked for the initial establishment of Machakos airport which the government says will open up the county international investors and creation of thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities.

In the county’s healthcare plan Mutua plans to spend Sh542 million for the maintenance and equipping of all the facilities in Machakos level 5 referral hospital and a further Sh136 million for the maintenance and equipping of the four level 4 facilities in the county.

In the meeting with the donors, Mutua sought technical support on financial systems management, external resources mobilization as well as revenue management systems.

To address the water deficit for the county’s approximately 1.5 million residents, the county boss persuaded the development partners to assist in construction of mega dams, reticulation for boreholes, elevated steel tanks, solar powering systems as well as construction of weirs whose total cost of Sh957, 203, 200.

On matters of healthcare provision, the county seeks partnership for cancer prevention and management, disaster preparedness, blood management system, community health strategy and advanced training for healthcare workers.

To strengthen governance and administration, the county government is seeking partnerships in staff capacity building programs, office automation, county data center, e-government services and development of knowledge management systems.

In the area of cooperative development, Mutua seeks donor support in rehabilitation and revitalization of coffee sector as well as promotion of vibrant dairy sector. Also in the plan is ICT integration to cooperative sector, capacity building for cooperatives and access to affordable credit to farmers.

USAID deputy program officer, Stephen Fitzpatrick said the organization had undertaken to partner with the county government to support healthcare, education and food security strategy.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations county program, Jared Mark said FAO will support the county in bridging the funding gaps towards addressing food security and nutrition matters.

“We have established a desk in the county to ensure partnership programs yield the desired results. We assure the governor of our support in supporting agriculture and food security initiatives.

Representatives of World Bank, AMREF and World Vision also took part in the negotiations.