Tharaka-Nithi County leaders have said that the recent freeze of new government projects by President Uhuru Kenyatta would deprive the devolved unit of development.
Speaking on Sunday at Kajuki Catholic Church in Chuka/Igambang’ombe constituency during a fundraiser, Governor Muthomi Njuki and MPs, Kareke Mbiuki (Maara) and Patrick Munene (Chuka/Igambang’ombe) said that the freeze of new projects would hinder the achievement of the Big Four Agenda.
Mr Mbiuki said the government should shed light on whether the projects, whose contracts had been awarded but work had not started, would be affected by the President’s directive.
IRRIGATION PROJECTS
“Kenyans need to know whether the projects that the government had commissioned but whose work had not started, are part of the projects that would be affected by President Kenyatta’s directive,” said Mr Mbiuki.
Mr Munene said it would not be possible to achieve the Jubilee’s Big Four Agenda without new projects such as hospitals, irrigation projects and roads being initiated.
“If the President is committed to achieving his Big Four Agenda, then he should embrace new projects,” said Mr Munene.
He said the freeze on new government projects was a big blow to the construction of roads and irrigation projects that the government had promised to initiate in the region.
DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
Governor Njuki, who lauded Mr Kenyatta on his development agenda, asked the President to consider the projects the national government had promised to initiate in the county.
“The projects that the national government promised to initiate in the county are not new and should be financed,” said Mr Njuki.
President Kenyatta said the directive is aimed at stopping wastage of resources and the habit of government agencies abandoning incomplete projects and starting new ones.
He further, warned that government officers would be held responsible if they sanction new projects without the express authority of the National Treasury.