Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has asked people in Mt. Kenya region to support President William Ruto’s development agenda for the area.
Waiguru further said President Ruto has not lost any political ground in Mt. Kenya despite parting ways with his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking during the opening of a Goat Artificial Insemination (A.I) Center at Ahiti Ndoba in Mwea Constituency by President Ruto, Waiguru asserted that the visit by the President has shown that Ruto still enjoys massive support from the people.
“The turnout by people during this visit by the President clearly shows that he still enjoys support from the people contrally to claims that the President has lost support or people have decamped to the opposition,” Waiguru added.
The second term Governor said the region will reap more being in government than while in the opposition.
Waiguru further asked leaders to focus on delivering on their promises to the people instead on politicking.
She said people from Mt. Kenya region have not decamped to the opposition despite efforts by some politicians to peddle lies against President Ruto’s government.
“We will continue to support the President because we know the 2027 politics will be decided purely on performance. Let continue to support and work with President Ruto for sake of development,” Waiguru said.
The governor said that many projects in the region have come about as a result of collaboration between county and national government.
Waiguru expressed gratitude for the transformative initiative, highlighting the positive impact it would have on local farming communities and the wider economy. “We are particularly honored to host the Goat AI Center at Ndomba, which is not only a great treasure for our county but also a key development milestone for our country. This center is a significant step forward in improving goat production and food security in Kirinyaga County,” she said.
She said upgraded Kagio market will accommodate about 1,000 more traders, providing ample, hygienic and well organized safe spaces for trading.
“Kagio market is a source of livelihood to over 2,000 traders who converge here to sell assorted goods and produce as well as about 5,000 traders who come to buy produce for sale within the county and in markets in other counties including Nairobi and Mombasa,” Waiguru said.
The market mainly deal with retail and wholesale of fresh farm produce such as tomatoes, vegetables, bananas, maize potatoes and avocado among others.
She said the market generates over 330k per week in revenue and therefore plays a vital role in the local economy.
The governor asked the traders to support construction of the market as it will provide more expanded and conducive environment for business.
“The new facility will be a spacious two-storey facility that will accommodate the market area, a community hall, ICT hub, cold storage facilities, offices, a food court, an eco-toilet, water harvesting and storage facilities, revenue collection points, garbage management facilities and a crèche for use by mothers with babies,” the governor added.
Waiguru said her administration remain committed to providing conducive and modern infrastructure that support farmers to aggregate their produce and traders to do business.
“So far, we have constructed 18 markets including Kagio cereals, Kagio clothes, Kutus, Kagumo, Kerugoya, Kianyaga, Kiamutugu, Sagana, Makutano, Wang’uru, Kibingoti, Makutano, Githure, Gathoge, Karumandi, Togonye and Riakiania.
Waiguru said her administration is working in collaboration with the National Government to upgrade other markets including Kibingoti, Kimbimbi and Mukarara while Kianyaga, Kutus, Mukinduri, Kagumo, Kiumbu and Wamumu are in the pipeline to bring the total number of markets upgraded in the county to 28.
Christine Muchira
