NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 14 – President Mwai Kibaki on Wednesday at his Harambee House Office met and held discussions with a delegation of leaders from Upper Eastern who paid him a courtesy call.
The delegation led by Livestock Development Minister Dr Mohamed Kuti briefed the President on the development and social-political issues in the region.
The meeting deliberated on how best to address the development needs of the region in efforts geared towards revamping vital sectors of the economy in the area.
The leaders thanked the Government for opening up the upper Eastern region through construction of the Isiolo – Marsabit – Moyale road, a section of the great North road that links the country to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The legislators also appreciated the installation of electricity in Garbatulla, Merti, Laisamis and North Horr.
The leaders also acknowledged the construction of the Sh2.5 billion Badasa Dam in Marsabit, which they said, will end the perennial water shortages in the district.
The legislators included Special Programmes Assistant Minister Mohamoud Ali and his Northen Kenya Development counterpart Hussien Tarry Sasura, Abdul Ali Bahari (Isiolo South), Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis) and Chacha Ganya (North Horr).
Citing other priority infrastructure for the region’s economic growth, the leaders called on the Government to hasten upgrading of the Isiolo- Modogashe road to bitumen standards and the construction of Gotu Bridge on the Isiolo-Merti road.
The leaders assured the President that the Upper Eastern Region fully supported the proposed Constitution as it addressed the challenges of the pastoral communities.
President Kibaki reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to equitably develop all parts of the country to ensure improved living standards of all Kenyans.
Allocation of resources, the President noted, will always consider unique developmental needs of the regions in order to unlock the economic potential of the areas.
On the ongoing proposed Constitution debate, the Head of State reiterated that the truth on the contents of the draft should be told to counter propaganda peddled by opponents of the new supreme law.
The President observed that the country was at a defining moment and Kenyans needed to understand the benefits of the proposed constitution to make informed decision during the August 4 referendum.
About The Author
