The County Government will support community based groups to achieve their goals in improving the economic status and well-being of members, in the spirit of taking development to the grassroots. Chief of Staff, Hon. Gideon Kimathi has said that through respective Departments, the Government will provide capacity building and skill set development in agriculture, processing, trade and industry in order to empower groups and help them maximize on making profits in their ventures. He added that the government will also provide infrastructural support such as equipping of water intakes and provision of pipes to improve agricultural output through irrigation.

The CoS was speaking at Kanyakine Vocational Training Center, where he represented Governor Kiraitu Murungi during the launch of the Nyombayathi Self Help Group Strategic Plan 2017-2020. The group has a water Project which members are using to carry out irrigation for fruits, potatoes, yams, honey production and other produce. Hon. Kimathi added that empowering Community self help groups is in line with Governor Kiraitu’s vision to Make Meru Great.

Speaking at the event, Abogeta East MCA Hon. Mwirigi Karinga said that he will continue supporting the group to achieve its objective of uplifting the lives of Kanyakine residents. He pledged to work closely with the County Government and other stakeholders to ensure the successful outcome of the group vision.

Hon. Karinga also expressed his dissatisfaction with current mode of revenue sharing between the national Government and Counties, saying that it is unclear why, while the national budget keeps going up every year, the national Government keeps pushing the allocation for Counties downwards. He noted that out of the total budget of about Sh2.5 trillion, the 47 Counties are allocated only Sh0.3 trillion, which is expected to deliver most development at the grassroots, since most national Government projects are stalled, as well as employ the bulk of the nation’s workforce who are at the County level.

The Chief of Staff was also accompanied at the event, by Water and Irrigation Chief Officer George Kimathi and Environment and Natural Resources Chief Officer Kinoti Lawrence. CO Kimathi who has been in the area working on the Iraru Water Project, pledged to work with the group leadership to deliver the intake for their water Project, while CO Kinoti committed to carry out capacity building and training in tree planting and development of Nurseries.
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