DP Ruto “Tangatangas” in Kiambu with a bag full of goodies.

Deputy President William Ruto being taken through the artistic design of the new Kikuyu Market that will cost the government KES. 280m. Looking on is area MP Kimani Ichung'wa.

Deputy President William Ruto has visited Kiambu County bearing a bag of goodies for the residents.

Speaking during the launch of a KES. 280 million modern market in Kikuyu town on Friday, Ruto said his visit to the county affirmed the government's determination to ensure that no part of the country lagged behind in development.

He said that the government had set aside KES. 1.2 billion to construct four modern markets in Kiambaa, Kikuyu, Juja and Ruiru with the Kikuyu one scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

To eradicate the shortage of drinking water, the DP said that the government will spend KES. 28 billion to put up infrastructure for water and sewerage treatment plants in Kikuyu (sh. 700m), Gatundu (sh. 2.4b), Limuru (sh. 1.2b) and sh. 20 billion for Thika and Ruiru.

“The president will next month also commission the construction of 70km of road in various parts of the county which will include the Kikuyu-Udiri-Reli underpass whose procurement process is already complete and the contractor is scheduled to start in a month’s time,” said Ruto.

On education, Ruto said that they had allocated KES. 800 million towards the expansion of Kiambu Institute of Science & Technology (KIST). He added that more investments will be done on other technical colleges across the country besides the government employing 2,000 more tutors to teach in these institutions.

“We are also going to waiver all fees paid in technical colleges where each student will get a sh. 30,000 capitation. We shall also extend loans to them to cover the deficit and ensure that education in technical and middle-level colleges is absolutely free,” he said.

Ruto noted that the number of Kiambu residents who had benefitted from the Last Mile Connectivity Project had risen from 300,000 to about 560,000 last year with a further 30,000 being targeted in the second and third phase.

He asked all MPs to liaise with the government to ensure that all those who had not yet gotten connected to the national grid benefitted in the next phase of the programme.

Concerning the “Pesa Ya Wazee” cash transfer programme, the DP acknowledged that Kiambu had already registered over 20,000 persons above the age of 70 years. He added that they were now targeting to hit 40,000 in the next phase whose beneficiaries will not only enjoy their monthly allowances but will also be insured with a NHIF medical cover.

“I am requesting the county commissioner to ensure all those above 70 years are registered and benefit from this programme,” he said.

In the fight against corruption, the DP urged all Kenyans to join in the fight to protect the country’s resources and to curb wastage and theft of public resources.

“I call upon every Kenyan and institutions (of governance) to close ranks to eliminate corruption and wastage of public resources. The fight against mismanagement of our resources should be a collective responsibility for all of us and for all the arms of government,” he said.

He appealed to all leaders in Kiambu County to cease fire and end the political animosity that has recently put the county in the limelight.

“Stop embarrassing us with these unnecessary noises or else I will come here and ‘whip you into order’,” he warned.