Devolution Was a Gift To Counties – Says CS Wamalwa

On Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Kitui – Devolution and ASALs Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa lauded the County Government of Kitui for initiating programs that will completely grow the county and improve on the livelihoods of the residents.

Speaking when he officially opened the #KituiExpo2020 organized by the County Government of Kitui, the CS said he had witnessed major steps in skills development, innovation and production in the county and applauded Governor Ngilu for her emphasis and efforts in local production.

“If there’s a place where the President’s manufacturing agenda is being actualized, then that county is Kitui under Governor Charity Ngilu”. He said.
The CS commended the Kitui Textile Centre {KICOTEC} as a job creation avenue for hundreds of young persons who were previously unemployed saying the factory remains one of the key manufacturing plants in the country.

On touring the Kitui Youths Skills Enterprise Centre, the CS said the skills training and development in making cabro, interlocking blocks among others will help retain the county’s resources by acquiring construction materials locally.

“We had very few places making construction materials in the country for long, the story is now changing and Kitui’s making of the materials will supplement the available market”. He said.

Wamalwa acclaimed Kitui for what he termed as “leading efforts in manufacturing and focus on realizing President Kenyatta’s Big 4 Agenda”.

Kitui’s new venture in locally producing hand sanitizers, fumigants and antiseptics among others received endorsement today when the county received certificates approving the production in the newly established “KITUI PHARMA’ – a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Kitui town.

The CS said Kitui’s natural resources and minerals will be key to wholly transform the county if exploited after touring the county ballast crusher site at Kwa Kilui in Kitui Rural earlier before opening the Expo.

“I have seen incredible progress at the crusher site, this county is well harnessing its potential in exploiting the natural resources”. The CS said.

Noting that the county had attracted international recognition in manufacturing through the establishment of the county Textile Centre, the CS said increased resources as projected in the BBI report will hugely boost Kitui’s production agenda.

“If you have achieved all that have seen with the little resources, then a bigger allocation will boost this county entirely”. Said Wamalwa.

Devolution is about changing the peoples’ livelihoods, and that doesn’t come easy, as is the saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention and we must all work together to grow our people and country”.

The CS emphasized on the need to build on the gains achieved so far to ensure devolution succeeds across the country and that economies of the devolved systems are largely boosted by exploring alternative ways to grow the revenue base

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