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Governor Wambora (left) when he received CS, Interior, Dr. Fred Matiang'i (in checkered shirt), C.S Health, Sicily Kariuki (right) PS Interior, Karanja Kibicho and PS ICT Joe Mucheru (2nd left) in his office, before proceeding to inspect various Agenda 4-related projects and ending the day at the Inaugural Embu County Youth in Agribusiness Summit and Expo at Kenya School of Government on 28th February, 2019. Standing in red ties are, from left, Embu County Secretary Mr. Jason Nyaga, Speaker of the County Assembly Hon. Josiah Thiriku and Deputy Governor Mr. David Kariuki. PHOTO/James Metumi |
Embu County Set to Shine in the 6th
Annual Devolution Conference
he 6th Annual Devolution Conference will
be held in Kirinyaga County this year. All the 47 counties will converge at Kirinyaga
University from 4th to 8th March, 2019 to showcase their
respective fruits of devolution, in terms of milestones achieved since the last
such event. Embu County Government is well prepared to exhibit its achievements
and opportunities for trade, investment and tourism using State-of-the-Art
media technology, such as running screens as well as one on one interaction
with leaders and business executives from different walks of life. Here below
are some of the sectors which the government looks forward to showcase:
HEALTH
On health, the leadership
of Embu County government recognizes that health is wealth. In this regard, the
Department of Health distributed medicine worth ksh.31million to 94 health
facilities across the county from 8th to 10th October
2018. The Department of health together with a number of partners proceeded
with a medical outreach program with free medical camps at Dallas, Grogon and
Shauri slums before holding a mega Medical Camp at Embu Stadium. Some of the
organizations that were recognized for their contribution in this noble
endeavor included Imara MediPlus Hospital, Winas Sacco Ltd., Githunguri
Diaries, Embu Children’s Hospital (TENRI), Wimwaro FM, Kenya Medical Supplies
Authority, Caritas Kenya, MSF – Belgium, Cuban Doctors, NSSF, Kenya Red Cross, St.
John Ambulance, NHIF, County Medical Center, Consolata Hospital Kyeni, Daima
Sacco, Collo Rescue Team, Medical Training College (MTC) – Embu and the University
of Embu.
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Embu Health Minister, Dr. Jamleck Muturi
attends to a child during the free medical camp
held from 8th to 10th October 2018 |
The free medical outreach
program, flagged off by the Minister for Health Dr. Jamleck Muturi accompanied
by other executives and officers in the Health Department was carried out by
180 Doctors; some from the country and specialists from Belgium and Cuba. Out
of the targeted 3000 patients, 2000 were seen including over 500 children aged
below five years. The Free Medical Camp program had kicked off in April 2018
and the combined effort saw a total of 20,160 patients get free medical care.
The feat was aimed at improving healthcare coverage by reaching out to those
segments of society which may have failed to access medical care before.
On 7 November 2018,
together with representatives from Medical Supply Chain MEDS and the Department
of Health, Governor Wambora had flagged off Phase 2 of free medicine for level
4 Hospitals all through the county. Later on, he inspected the newly
constructed Badea Complex at embu Level 5 Hospital. The building is a 120 bed
capacity complex for inpatient treatment, and an Oncology Unit. Cancer patients
undergoing Chemotherapy as well as Cancer Screening will all be done at Embu
Teaching and Referral Hospital. It can be confirmed that Chemotherapy Chairs,
Hood Machines, trained staff to handle patients and other equipment are already
in place.
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Medical practitioners attend to patients at Embu Stadium during the free medical camp. PHOTO/ James Metumi |
In the same stance,
Governor Martin Wambora has spearheaded the construction of a Renal Dialysis
Unit with 10 dialysis machines with the aim of saving patients and their
families from having to travel all the way to Nairobi or abroad in search of
similar medical services. Patients suffering from ailments that require
internal organ scans have also been rescued from having to spend much time and
money, with the installation of an X-Ray unit fitted with a top of the range
CT-Scan machine, now operational at Embu Level 5 Hospital. Two state-of-the-art
laboratories with Histopathology and Biochemistry units have also been
completed. In addition, renovation has been carried out on a labour ward,
female surgical ward, male surgical ward and 2 amenity wards.
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Governor Wambora with medical officers
outside Badea complex after inspecting
the new super structure 7/11/2018 |
This effort was in one way rewarded with national recognition
when on 23 November 2018; the governor hosted the Cabinet Secretary, Health, Ms.
Sicily Kariuki. It was on the event that marked the launch of Kenya Aids
Response Progress Report 2018. Later, the governor received a motor vehicle, a
motor cycle and 44 refrigeration units for Kenya Expanded Programme on
Immunization (KEPI), to help vaccinate children under 5 years from Embu County
and its neighbors. The exercise was carried out in concerted efforts to achieve
the president’s Agenda 4 on Universal Health.
EDUCATION
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Embu Education Chief Officer Mr. Mbogo
Muchungu (left) receives the books from
Mr. Ochola Arawo, the countrywide
Market Development Officer, KLB.
PHOTO/James Metumi |
In the last 1 year, the government employed 65
additional instructors for vocational training institutions on permanent and
pensionable basis. This was a worthy investment in the future of the society,
as the technical skills imparted to the learners will go a long way into making
them professional artisans, able to steer prosperity for posterity. The
Department of Education also partnered with Kenya Literature Bureau to
distribute close to 10,000 new curriculum PP1 and PP2 books to 396 ECDE centers
across the county between 25th and 28th February,
2019. Embu was the first county to roll out such a program, whereby 572
teachers and 16,135 pupils received 11 sets of books each, valued at ksh.6,700
per center.
TRADE,
INVESTMENT AND TOURISM
On 21 November 2018, Governor Wambora officially
opened the Annual Regional Business Development Services (BDS) Conference. The
theme of the Conference was: “The Role of Innovative BDS for
Inclusive Market Transformation”. Speaking during the event, Hon. Wambora urged
the BDS practitioners to constantly innovate so as to spur agribusiness and
agro-processing in East Africa. He put it in the following words: “I am sure with
continuous innovation; we can generate more polished goods for the markets,
thereby creating jobs and generating wealth. I am impressed by Micro
Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT), European Union (EU) Department for
International Development (DFID) Global Communities among other BDS Donor
Coordination Group (BDCG) members for the complimentary work they are doing in
counties especially in empowering and promoting Kenyan farmers, with Embu being
one of the key beneficiaries”
Tourism
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Country View Hotel, in the outskirts of
Embu town will certainly provide
excellent boarding facilities
to the delegates |
Kirinyaga University, the
venue for this year’s Annual Devolution Conference, is just a few kilometers
from Embu town. Seeing that close to 10,000 guests from all over Kenya and
abroad are expected to be there for 5 days, accommodation can be expected to be
a challenge. As such, Embu County will become very handy in easing the burden
of congestion off her neighbor county. In Embu, there are quite a number of
good hotels where guests can lodge for the period. These include The Panesic, Prime
Hotel, Highway Court Hotel, Sunrise Hotel, The Kryptonyte and Maina Highway
Hotel, all located within the town’s CBD. In the outskirts, there is Slopes Villa, Izaac
Walton Hotel, Minni Inn, Mountain Breeze, Silver Springs, Whispering Hills and
Country View Hotel among others. All these will provide ample and secure
parking, most hospitable services and excellent cuisines. Having dined, wined
and rested, the guests will hardly resist the urge to tour the many tourist
attractions spread across the county.
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A variety of wild animals can be viewed
in Mwea National Park in Embu,
just a few kilometers from Kirinyaga University |
Such sites would include Mwea National
Park, the 7 Forks Dams, Karue and Kirimiri hills. They will also discover that
Embu is the entry point into Mt. Kenya forest/mountain climbing as well as Meru
and Isiolo National Parks, just to mention a few. Embu people are a friendly
society who will readily receive the guests even to their homes in the most
hospitable manner. Embu County Government has through the Department, headed by
former Principal of Alliance Boys as the CECM Mr. David Kariuki, taken great
steps in promoting tourism in the region and has been receiving tourists from
across the globe regularly, especially for the last one year. This will promote
not only domestic tourism but also trade and investment opportunities and
generate more revenue for Embu County and higher GDP for the country. Those who
will take this opportunity will find out that Embu is known as the land of
opportunities for a reason!
GENDER,
CULTURE, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Gender
A capacity building programme on entrepreneurship
was rolled out during the year whereby over 3000 persons benefited with skills
necessary to start and run small and medium enterprises. More than 4,400
students were reached with messages on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), life skills
and health related matters. Sensitization on gender mainstreaming and
developments for Government officials and community leaders was carried out
with advocacy for GBV victims to get justice. Linkage of women groups to financial
institutions for funding and sensitization of women and youth on Access to Government
Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) was also done through establishment of gender-working
groups in all the Wards. Another achievement by this sector was the support for
gender-related national and international events such as Zero Tolerance to Female
Genital Mutilation (FGM) through 16 days of activism and the provision of sanitary towels to poor young girls among other activities.
Children
Sector
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School going girls in Embu display free
sanitary towels issued by the county government
in a bid to keep them in school |
This sector, though dogged by lots of negativity
from those who choose to politicize everything, has achieved much in the last
one year. For one, the distribution of sanitary towels and inner wears to school
children from needy communities was a notable endeavor. Secondly, the government
did support children to attend national and international events such as ‘The
Day of the African Child’ and Children Assembly as well as children programs
such as Christmas parties. Thirdly, in collaboration with the national
government, the Children’s Department carried out supervision of children homes
in Embu County and established a Children Rescue Unit to rescue abused children
and take them to safety. Last but not least, support in form of foodstuff,
beddings and consumables have been offered for 8 children homes every year.
Social
Services
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President Uhuru Kenyatta when he visited
Embu Children Home |
Efforts put by Embu County Government in this sector
through the Department have seen to the construction of 9 social halls in
different centers across various Wards: Gategi, Makutano, Gatituri, Kibugu,
Mufu, Karurumo, Kigumo, Makima and Dallas. Renovation has also been done to 2
social Halls at Kathanjuri and Kiambere. The construction of public toilets at
Gategi, Makutano and Kiambere is also another accomplishment worth noting.
Persons living with disability (PWDs) have not been left out either.
Capacity
building programs on entrepreneurship and sensitization on Access to Government
Procument Opportunities (AGPO) for such persons has been done as well. This was
in addition to the purchase and distribution of wheel chairs to PWDs and
promotion of community barrazas in their
support. Another noble feat that has been achieved is the support of this group
of people that basically comprises of cripples, the deaf, and the blind etcetera,
to attend national and international events such as the United Nations Day for
Persons with Disability. Support has again been given to PWDs to enable them
carry out social-economic projects through registration in Community Based
Organizations (CBOs) and Self Help Groups to boost their income generating
activities. Such support includes distribution of public address systems, tents
and chairs which they have been hiring out and making a living out of the proceeds.
Dialogue and sensitization of 1,300 persons hooked to narcotic drugs,
alcoholism and substance abuse is another plus for this sector and the society
as a whole. What’s more, the government is set to undertake the payment of NHIF
for elderly persons.
Culture
Sector
The construction of a cultural restaurant to promote
cultural/traditional foods is one other achievement by this department that
shall be feted at the Devolution Conference. As such, a well preserved
botanical garden with herbal/medicinal trees for research purposes has been
established and a traditional Embu homestead model established, complete with
artifacts. A Cultural Museum/Gender Resource Centre has been constructed at the
Embu Cultural Centre, where annual music and cultural festivals are conducted;
these activities have also been taking place in the Sub Counties. The purpose
of these facilities is to support teams to participate in the Kenya National
Music and Cultural Festivals thereby preserving the culture and heritage of
Embu people. These amenities have enabled many a people participate in the Kenya
National Commission (KNATCOM) for United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
National Cultural Celebrations. The sector has therefore been in the forefront
in the promotion of local art by organizing art and craft exhibitions in the 4
Sub Counties, whereby 8 local artists have been supported to go bench mark on refined
art and craft activities with the best.
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A fashion and beauty pageant by the University of Embu takes place at the Cultural Center |
Since Embu has got a rich cultural heritage, guests
at the Conference can be sure not to be disappointed when they visit ‘the land
of opportunities’. There shall be traditional dancers, drummers, weavers,
carvers, potters as well as cooks and brewers among many other craftsmen. All
these are expected to showcase their wares and skills at the conference so that
even as the government puts on the table what it has achieved since the last
Devolution Conference, the socio-cultural factor shall not be overshadowed.
Some of the groups that have always thrilled guests on national and county
events will be present at Kirinyaga to do what they do best; entertaining.
These will certainly include Mufu Drummers and a number of traditional singers
and dancers from Mbeere.
AGRICULTURE,
COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT, LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES
Agriculture is by right the bread basket sector of Kenya. As it is, Embu
is a land of fertile soil and plentiful of rains where almost everything grows
in its due season. Following continuous efforts by the government to actualize
the desired paradigm shift from subsistence to commercial farming, those who
will visit Embu County’s booths, stands and tents can expect to gain much on cooperative
movement and development,as did the
beneficiaries of the projects mentioned in the excerpt below:
The level of accomplishments achieved by the
government through this Department hit an unprecedented high with the recent
Inaugural Embu County Youth in Agribusiness Summit and Exposition. The mega
event, held at the Kenya School of Government on 28th February, 2019
saw the highest number of Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Chief
Administrative Secretaries converge in Embu for the sake of the youth and
agripreneurship. Apart from the Cabinet members, led by C.S. Interior and
Coordination of National Security, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, several other national
and international dignitaries graced the occasion where hundreds of exhibitors
showcased what they do best as far as actualization of the president’s Agenda 4
is concerned. The youth got a golden chance to interact with high profile
individuals, learn new technologies and know about opportunities for financial
support, in their quest to take on agriculture as a business. The expo, which
also marked the launch of the Youth in Agribusiness Strategy (2019-2023)
provided an interactive forum between the youth and members of the Directorate
of Youth Affairs who extensively answered questions fielded to them. In his
address, Dr. Matiang’i foretold of a bright future for all the young men and
women in agribusiness or willing to take the opportunity seriously.