Kitui records significant progress in key Gov't programmes ahead of Mashujaa Day celebrations

Kitui County is emerging as one of the better-performing regions in implementing key national programmes, especially coming ahead of the Mashujaa Day Celebrations which will be held at the Ithookwe Stadium.

Data from the government shows progress across several sectors, including health, education, agriculture, and environmental conservation, under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

In the social sector, 76,559 residents are enrolled in the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme, which targets older persons, persons with disabilities, and orphans.

Officials say the initiative has cushioned vulnerable households from economic shocks, though analysts have previously pointed out that irregular disbursements and inflation often erode its impact.

Environmental efforts are also taking shape. Kitui has planted 2.7 million trees under the National Tree Growing Programme, a move tied to Kenya’s push to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.

Much of the effort has been driven by community groups and schools, but locals say sustained watering and care remain a challenge in the semi-arid county.

In education, Kitui continues to post strong numbers, with a 97.7 percent transition rate from primary to secondary school.

The figure places the county among the national leaders in ensuring learners stay in school, though concerns persist over dropout rates in later stages due to economic hardship.

Health coverage is gradually expanding, with 192,933 residents registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) as part of Kenya’s universal health coverage rollout.

However, many residents in rural Kitui still travel long distances for specialized care, highlighting gaps in infrastructure and staffing.

Agriculture, Kitui’s economic backbone, is seeing renewed focus, with 235,392 farmers profiled for data-driven planning and 41,392 bags of fertilizer distributed.

While the government credits these interventions with improving yields, erratic rainfall and high input costs continue to weigh on farmers.