‘No region will be left behind’: Ruto says as he unveils multi-billion Kisumu development plan

Kisumu's Moi Stadium will be upgraded at a cost of Ksh.700 million, President William Ruto has announced.

The President pointed out that the government is keen on upgrading the stadium to an ultra-modern sports facility that can accommodate various sporting activities.

Speaking when he hosted Kisumu County leaders led by Governor Anyang Nyong'o at State House Nairobi on Wednesday, the President also announced that Ksh.700 million has been set aside to install solar energy at Ahero Irrigation Project to boost rice production.

Rice farming in Kisumu County, the President said, would also benefit from a Ksh.3.5 billion programme with the Japan International Corporation Agency.

"We are modernising the rice growing in an effort to increase production in the country," he said.

The delegation included MPs, MCAs, professionals, clergy and elders, among others.

On transport in Lake Victoria, he disclosed that the Kenya Shipyard Ltd will build a second ferry to boost local and regional trade.

Furthermore, President Ruto said the Cabinet has approved the elevation of Kisumu's Jaramogi Ogonga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to Level 6 or national referral status.

He said the hospital has been allocated Ksh.3 billion in the next financial year.

At the same time, President Ruto said the regional Lake Victoria Search and Rescue Centre is under construction, adding that 35 per cent of the work is complete.

He regretted that 4,000 lives are lost in Lake Victoria every year, saying the centre will help reduce the fatalities.

On the blue economy in the Lake Victoria Basin, the President cited the ongoing works for the Ksh.1.3 billion Kabonyo Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre in Kisumu, saying it will be growing between 25 million and 30 million fingerlings a year when complete.

On the whole, the President said he was confident that Kenya is moving in the right direction with a transformative development agenda.

He said the government is painstakingly implementing policies that will create prosperity for all residents.

"We are committed to our resolve that no region or community will be left behind in the endeavour to transform Kenya. Inclusive development powers our country's energies in all sectors and all value chains," said President Ruto.

He said the broad-based government has helped to make the difficult decisions necessary to effect transformation in Kenya.

"Our broad-based government is neither the creation of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga or myself; it is a God-sent," he said.

He explained that transformation of a nation is difficult and requires immense political goodwill to implement inclusive and meaningful development.

The President assured Kenyans that no part of the country will be left behind in development.

President Ruto took the delegation through the agenda the government is implementing.

He said reforms in the agricultural sector have seen the production of maize increase from 44 million bags in 2022 to 65 million last year, and is expected to rise to 75 million bags this year.

"We have also reduced maize imports by 90 per cent and sugar imports by 75 per cent because of increased production, courtesy of our reforms in the agricultural sector," he said.

On health, President Ruto noted that 23.7 million Kenyans have registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA) as opposed to 7 million in the defunct National Health Insurance Fund.

"In the past eight months, SHA has paid claims worth Ksh.41 billion to public, private and faith-based hospitals. NHIF could only pay Ksh.25 billion a year," the President explained.

On the Affordable Housing Programme, the President announced that 700,000 housing units are in the pipeline and in different stages of construction and procurement across the country.

"We are not only providing decent homes for Kenyans, but we are also creating jobs for young people 250,000 of whom are working in the programme," he said.

The President also enumerated the gains made through reforms in the education sector, citing a record 76,000 teachers employed in the past two years. Another 24,000 teachers will be recruited before the end of the year.