Government Officials Pledge Action On Development After Engagement with Gatundu South Residents

Aoma Keziah

By Aoma Keziah,

Residents of Gatundu South in Kiambu County held an engagement with senior government officials who had toured the area to listen to the people’s concerns and highlight ongoing development projects.

The meeting, held at Kahuguini Primary School grounds, was led by Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura and attended by Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Muthoni, Principal Secretaries Mary Muthoni (Public Health), Salome Beacco (Correctional Services), and Elijah Mwangi (Sports), among other senior officials. Also present were local leaders including Gatundu South MP GG Kagombe, area MCAs, and several heads of government agencies.

Speaking during the session, the government spokesperson said the government is taking a more hands-on approach to ensure that citizens’ voices are heard and their needs addressed. He noted that issues raised by locals such as frequent water shortages, poor road conditions, and power interruptions would be forwarded to the relevant ministries for urgent follow-up.

“We came here to listen, not to lecture. We want to understand what matters most to our people so that government services respond directly to those needs,” said Mwaura.

The officials used the opportunity to encourage residents to enroll in the Social Health Authority (SHA) program, which aims to make healthcare more affordable for households across the country.

PS Mary Muthoni said the scheme is part of a broader plan to ensure that every Kenyan family has access to quality medical care without facing financial hardship.

“When families are healthy, the economy grows. We want every Kenyan, regardless of income, to get medical attention when they need it,” she noted.

The meeting also touched on youth empowerment, with officials urging young people to make use of opportunities available through government initiatives such as NYOTA, which provides capital to help youth start small businesses. The program is expected to benefit over 100,000 young people nationwide, each receiving Ksh 50,000 in startup support.

On her part, CS Wahome highlighted strides made in the digitization of land records through the Ardhi Sasa platform, which she said has helped reduce corruption and delays in land transactions. She however pointed out that scaling the system countrywide requires additional funding.

“We have made progress, but we still need to cover more ground. Transparency in land management is critical for national development,” she said.

They said the government has also invested heavily in infrastructure and energy projects in Kiambu County, including a Ksh 409 million electricity expansion program targeting over 2,200 households. In addition, Ksh 49.3 billion has been set aside for affordable housing and market projects in towns such as Ruiru, Limuru, Thika, Kikuyu, and Gatundu.

PS Salome Beacco and Elijah Mwangi emphasized the importance of guiding the youth away from drug abuse and encouraging sports participation. Mwangi noted that new sports academies are being set up across constituencies to nurture young talent and provide alternative livelihoods.

“We want our youth to channel their energy positively, whether through sports, arts, or entrepreneurship,” Mwangi said.

The engagement ended with a commitment from the visiting team to maintain regular consultations with Kiambu residents as part of the government’s effort to make service delivery more responsive and inclusive.