Machakos County has been awarded for exemplary performance in the implementation of Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Projects (KCSAP).
The World Bank has ranked the Governor Wavinya Ndeti-led county third overall position in Kenya for implementing life-transforming projects touching on small-scale farmers and cooperatives.
Governor Wavinya, who received the trophy in a ceremony hosted in her Athiriver office declared Machakos was now a food-secure county, following a raft of strategic measures deployed by her administration since taking over leadership of the devolved unit.
“Our main goal has been to make Machakos a food-secure county and lift our people out of the chains of poverty. Through collaborative efforts with KCSAP, we were able to actualize our social economic transformation agenda of Chakula Mezani Pesa Mfukoni,” said Wavinya.
The Governor noted that the World Bank-funded program had massively invested in life-changing projects that have unlocked numerous barriers to the progression of agricultural industry in the lower Eastern’s wealthiest county.
“The impact of the projects executed by KCSAP will be felt by many generations in future. As a Government, we will remain committed to offering lasting solutions to the challenges our people have been facing,” she said.
Some of the development projects implemented under KCSAP include rehabilitation of Ukanga Utune and Kilaata dams in Kangundo Central and Ikombe Wards respectively and the sinling of Kithaayoni, Limba and Kitambaasye dams in Kalama, Wamunyu and Matungulu regions respectively.
Through the projects, residents have been able to undertake small-scale agribusiness projects while at the same time accessing clean water for domestic consumption.
Wavinya said similar investment in the coffee sector had borne fruit, leading to a significant increase of coffee production in the coffee growing regions of Kangundo, Matungulu and Kathiani Sub-Counties.
Deputy Governor, Francis Mwangangi lauded the Governor for offering exemplary leadership in the management of the county affairs despite the underlying setback of huge pending Bills.
“In all fairness, Machakos should have been ranked number one, because the Governor delivered all these while at the same time servicing very huge pending Bills. For us behind her leadership, we will give her all the support she needs to change the lives of our people,” said Mwangangi.
At the same time, the National Coordinating Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture, lauded Governor Wavinya and her administration for making the right decisions in the implementation of donor-funded projects.
“The trophy we have presented to the Governor is a culmination of regular assessments by the World Bank to appraise and review the progress of the counties implementing the various projects. For Machakos County to have come out third out of all the counties that were implementing the projects, it is indeed a significant achievement,” said Ms Priscilla Muiruri from the National Coordinating Unit.
