Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Friday listed government projects in Embu County, including roads, markets and health facilities, as he met more than 30,000 grassroots leaders to discuss the progress of the Kenya Kwanza administration's development agenda.
Dr Kindiki said the meeting in Manyatta Constituency brought together grassroots leaders from across the county to review ongoing government programmes and receive feedback on their implementation.
The Deputy President said agriculture remained central to the county's economy and pointed to government subsidies on fertiliser, seed and artificial insemination as some of the interventions aimed at increasing farmers' productivity and incomes.
He said the price of fertiliser had fallen to Sh2,000 per bag from Sh7,000 in 2022, while the price of seed had reduced from Sh300 to Sh150.
Dr Kindiki also said subsidies on sexed semen had reduced the cost of artificial insemination from Sh8,000 to Sh1,400 per dose over the last three years.
“Embu County is a region of farmers,” Dr Kindiki said.
He said the measures would help increase crop yields and dairy production.
The Deputy President also highlighted road projects in the county, saying 415 kilometres of bitumen roads were under construction at a cost of Sh20 billion.
He added that 12 fresh produce markets were also being constructed to support local trade and farmers.
In the health sector, Dr Kindiki said Level 3, 4 and 5 hospitals were being equipped under the National Equipment Support Programme.
He said the government was also re-equipping 1,500 Community Health Promoters in the county to improve the delivery of preventive and primary healthcare services.
Dr Kindiki further said prices of coffee, milk and tea had improved compared with 2022.
He pointed to the County Aggregation and Industrial Park at Machanga, which he said was nearing completion and would support value addition and industrial development in the county.
“Coffee, milk and tea are fetching better prices than in 2022, and the near complete County Aggregation and Industrial Park at Machanga will provide the first step towards industrialization for job and wealth creation,” he said.
The Deputy President said Friday's meeting was also meant to give the government an opportunity to hear directly from local leaders about the impact of its programmes.
“Met over 30,000 grassroots leaders from across Embu County, to stock take on the journey of transformation of the key sectors of the economy, the ongoing national programmes and projects in the County, to listen to their feedback on the pace and impact of the government’s development agenda for the county,” he said.
The meeting was attended by elected leaders and government officials from Embu County.
