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Key projects launched by President William Ruto during his recent tour of the North Eastern region are on course according to a project verification team from the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s Office.
Among the projects launched by the President Ruto during the tour include the Garissa Regional Immigration Office, which has so far received over 2,500 passport applications out of which 1,700 have been processed and ready for collection.
Other projects where contractors are on the ground include the construction of the Isiolo – Modogashe road, Construction of 220 units of Affordable Housing Project in Wajir Town, the upgrading to Bitumen Standard of the 90KM Odda-Bute-Danaba – Wajir road and the expansion of Wajir East Technical Vocational Education and Training Institute among others.
The Garissa County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) project, which has created jobs for over 100 local youths has progressed to approximately 65 per cent to completion.
The industrial park, which is jointly funded by both the national and the Garissa County government at a total cost of Sh 490 million is set for completion by July next year, but the contractor, who has already been paid Sh 329 million is working to complete the project by September this year.
According to the North Eastern Regional Commissioner, John Otieno, applications for national identity card have risen due to the relaxation of the vetting process for citizens in the region.
However, Otieno was quick to note that the government has put in measures to ensure that only the deserving Kenyans are able to acquire the ID cards.
“We are impressed by the level of implementation of the national government projects. The government is deliberate in terms of the projects because the aim is to empower the population economically and be able to create employment opportunities for the youth who are a critical segment in our society,” Otieno said.
“The Garissa regional immigration office which was recently reopened by the president has so far processed over 2,500 passport applications where 1,700 have already been collected or awaiting collection. This is a game changer in this region because now the citizens get to access services closer,” he added.
Rinah Odengo, Policy Advisor to the Prime Cabinet Secretary on her part said that much of what the president promised during his February’s development tour in the region has been done with other ongoing projects still on course.
“The implementation of the projects is moving on quite steadily. One of the concerns people were raising is about funding but during this visit, no contractor has told us anything about pending bills,” Odengo said.
