What Dr. Mzalendo Kibunjia has in store for Tharaka Nithi if elected the Governor in August polls
Ex-national-museums-of-Kenya-boss-and-now-aspiring-TharakaNithi-Governor-Dr.Mzalendo-Kibunjia
By Denis Mutua
Worth Noting:
- This was in reference to 2021/2022 County budget allocations where Chuka Igambang’ombe constituency with a population of 128,000 people was allocated over Ksh 319 million, Tharaka constituency with a population of 130,000 allocated Ksh 88 million while Maara constituency with a population of 115,000 was allocated 78 million.
- Therefore Mzalendo feels that he best fits the position of the governor to deliver the county from Intensive care unit to at least a general ward and eventually turn it to a hub of investments.
- To achieve this, the former museums boss outlined his priorities that he will embark on if takes over the county leadership after the elections
Ahead of August elections, Tharaka Nithi hopeful governor and the immediate former national museums of Kenya Director General Dr.Mzalendo kibunjia has officially declared his bid and unveiled his manifesto.
Mzalendo who is vying on NARC Kenya party declared bid and launched his manifesto at Kathwana stadium in an event that was attended by NARC party leader Martha Karua among other leaders.
In his speech, Mzalendo said he has decided to vie for the top county seat after realising that the county is headed in the wrong direction under the current regime which is plundering public resources in collaboration with no-residents.
He argued that Tharaka Nithi has become a slave of other counties since even readily locally available resources are being sourced from other counties.
For instance he noted that despite the county being blessed with vast ballast quality rocks for construction purposes, the county has continued to import the same from other counties simply for lack of a crusher which the county can afford.
“Whereas the county is blessed with ballast quality rocks, we residents of Tharaka Nithi import that which we have in abundance for lack of a stone crusher which costs about Ksh 1 billion. With annual budget allocation of Ksh 5.5 billion, the county can comfortably procure the crusher and cease wasting resources in importing the ballast,’’ he said.
The hopeful governor attributed the sad state affairs of the county to endless looting of public coffers by the current regime as it has been proved by audit queries from the auditor general.
For instance, he quoted the stalled status of Kairini playground levelling project that was funded by the county government at a tune of Ksh 12.9 million and Ksh 3.8 Million Chiakariga water project which was paid in full amount despite that there is no water running and neither is the contractor on the site.
Also Mzalendo blamed lack of equity in resources distribution which sees certain regions receiving more allocations while others get fewer resources.
This was in reference to 2021/2022 County budget allocations where Chuka Igambang’ombe constituency with a population of 128,000 people was allocated over Ksh 319 million, Tharaka constituency with a population of 130,000 allocated Ksh 88 million while Maara constituency with a population of 115,000 was allocated 78 million.
Therefore Mzalendo feels that he best fits the position of the governor to deliver the county from Intensive care unit to at least a general ward and eventually turn it to a hub of investments.
To achieve this, the former museums boss outlined his priorities that he will embark on if takes over the county leadership after the elections
Construction of County headquarters
Mzalendo noted that Kathwana being the County headquarters, it is lacking infrastructures such as County assembly, public hospital, major bank, a national standard county stadium, branded petrol stations,public,reliable water among others.
Therefore he pledged to work towards working for a fully pledged county headquarters that will attract investors, raise the land prices and create service and artisanal jobs.
Worth your knowledge, After the incumbent governor Muthomi Njuki was barred from his Kathwana office over a chain of corruption scandals, he shifted his operation to Chuka town a situation that has seen Kathwana turn into a ghost headquarters.
Agriculture
Another sector Mzalendo is aiming at streamlining is that of Agriculture. He hit out at the current regime for neglecting major services to farmers like issuance of fertilizers, deployment of extension officers among other and instead opting to only supply farmers with two kilograms of planting seeds.
“It is my intention to employ and equip extension officers to support farmers with outreach services, revive coffee and tea factories,refurbishment of cereals storage stores and revival of livestock vaccination programme and cattle dips,’’ Mzalendo said.
Employment
Dr. Mzalendo argued out that in Tharaka Nithi County for one to get a slot in County pay roll, another person has to face the axe.
He accused the incumbent governor of sacking county employees mainly from Tharaka region when he took over the office in 2017 allegedly to reduce the wage bill but surprisingly it has shoot up despite mass sacking of employees.
If elected the governor, Mzalendo promised to re-instate all county employees through an executive order, who were fired in procedural way.
This means that all village administrators and ECDE teachers who were sacked from the county when Njuki took over office will be back into their former places of work.
The current regime has been engaging the laid off workers in court battles with the workers decrying illegal sacking but the county government has always stood by its stand.
Youth and Tourism
Mzalendo stated that youths who fails to transit to the next level of education will get absorbed into Technical training institutes with full support of the county government after which his administration will help in sourcing their jobs when they graduate.
There shall also be annual talent scouting shows around the county aiming at identifying and signing diverse talents from the county and beyond.
On tourism, Mzalendo said his administration will map and develop all major tourists’ attractions for both domestic and international tourism.
For the county to benefit from Mt.Kenya,he said the county will make efforts of advertising and popularising Chogoria route which has been deserted, a move that will create several investments such as hotels,porters,lodges and businesses selling tourists merchandise.
Further, Ura Gate Tharaka Cultural Festivals that used to serve as a major tourist attraction will be revived as Mzalendo expressed confidence that come the last week of August after the elections the event shall be held at the usual venue.
Trade, Industry and County Cohesion
To empower youth, women and people living with disabilities, Mzalendo revealed he has plans to propose to the county assembly to set up a County Micro-Finance institution where they can access concessionary funding to apply for County government tenders.
Payment of the contracts shall then be done through the set up Micro-Finance which will deduct its dues and remit profit to the respective borrower.
There shall be also incentives to investors wishing to set up investments in Tharaka Nithi including one or two years moratorium on permits for investors generating 1000 jobs per investment and particularly who will want to invest at the headquarters.#
Finally as a way of promoting spirit of County inclusiveness and peace co-existence between all the genders, Mzalendo picked a woman from Maara Sub-County as a running mate, promising to also share all the nine County Executive Members equally among the three constituencies in the county.
Others who have since announced bid to dethrone incumbent governor Njuki include Former clerk in Machakos county assembly Gitari Mbiuki, former Chuka University vice chancellor Erastus Njoka and Njuki’s deputy Engineer Nyamu Kagwima.
With elections campaigns now taking shape, aspirants have an uphill task of presenting their agendas to the voters to seek votes.
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