Word From the MP

A word from the MP

1. Word from the MP - Growing business in Laikipia

The last six months we have stepped up our efforts to improve security, the level and quality of our service and above all to support growth of our businesses, to create jobs and wealth!

Security

Following very successful security operations, the incidence of crime has declined markedly. In addition we have started the Community Policing project creating a much improved relationship between all the actors in the law enforcement system.

High quality service at Constituency offices

We are constantly monitoring and tracking and improving the quality of our service at our offices in Nyahururu, Kinamba and Rumuruti. For example in the last 8 months, more than 6,000 constituents have received service at these offices.

 At Nyahururu, we have created a small resource centre, to provide a repository of useful information and documents on various government programs, universities and colleges and so on.  I encourage all of you to use the resource centre.

Kazi kwa Vijana

We have this started the Kazi Kwa Vijana program in all locations in the Constituency, focusing first on improving feeder roads.  The process is supervised by the district roads engineer, councilors and chiefs.

Support to business, and creating jobs and wealth

The Rumuruti Investment Forum will be held this May.  It has received tremendous support from government, and business.  It will be an excellent opportunity to not only show case your products but find out where the newest opportunities to build or grow you business are.

The Constituency office, Ujuzi na Biashara and Centre for Development of Enterprise have entered in to a partnership to provide assistance to business in Laikipia West.  In the first phase, 12 companies are set to receive this assistance.  The type of support will range from business planning, to product design; to marketing strategies.

2. Word from the MP - 2008 - The Year in Review

First and foremost, a very big thank you to all; our supporters, colleagues and friends, for an excellent year of enthusiastic work. You have remained committed to delivering an educated, prosperous, secure and socially cohesive Laikipia West On my behalf and that of the residents of Laikipia West, thank you. We value your continued support, ideas and the time that you volunteer to make a difference. Laikipia West is undergoing many exciting changes. Below, a short summary of some of the goings on.

 Hon Ndiritu Muriithi

Attention: at the highest level: The year started with His Excellency the President visiting Laikipia on January 12th. In February, our constituency staff were inducted by senior government officials is the first such induction ever organized. In addition many MPs visited Nyahururu. In March, Internal Security Minister visited to deal with the security challenges we had been having. In May the Vice President visited, inspecting the prison services, and opening Rumuruti Hospital and Kinamba dispensary.

Security: Security has proved a vexing challenge. The year started on a terrible note, with daily incidences of livestock theft. By mid-year this had improved considerably mainly due to additional deployments of ASTU and RDU units. The year closed, however, on a sour note – the murder of a teacher in Sipili inflamed passions to heights not witnessed since the elections. But we have made major strides in the fight against crime. Police have stepped up the crack down on illegal weapons with excellent success. A police division, commanded from Rumuruti has been established and an OCPD posted. Additional police units, tracker and sniffer dogs have also been posted. In addition the long awaited community policing program has started! 

 IDPs. Laikipia West housed many people who fled other parts of the Rift Valley. In addition the situation in Gatundia, Ndurumo and Ol Moran earlier this year displaced 167 households. Government and my office will continue the work to ensure all those affected are properly looked after.

Commerce and creating Jobs: Our program to promote commercial and industrial activity is progressing well. We have partnered with CDE to provide support to small business. We now are actively assisting 30 companies that have been identified through the investment forums.  

Roads: To oversee this critical activity, we have a new and very professional team at the district roads office. Eng. Ngatia Muturi is the district roads committee chair, while Eng. Koskey is the district roads engineer. This year we will spend over KShs. 38.5 million combined resources from Kenya Roads Board, CDF and LATF to improve roads. We shall be completing the Salama-Pesi road, and opening the connector from Lorien to Rumuruti. In addition His Excellency the President has sourced funds to improve Rumuruti-Maralal Road to bitumen standards.  

Water and electricity: In water, we will use KShs. 47 million to improve water resources. We will use KShs. 20.8 million to electrify Ol Moran, Survey, Magadi and Loniek. We electrified Salama trading centre earlier this year. In addition, we will be spending KShs 1.5 million to support community oriented electrification projects during the rest of this financial year. 

Education: Laikipia Campus of Egerton University will be upgrading to a fully fledged University College, allowing it to have campuses in Nyahururu, Rurumuti and Maralal. This year we hired an additional 60 TSC primary school teachers. We distributed KShs 4.5 million in CDF bursary to 623 tertiary students, and 728 day secondary school students. In addition we distributed KShs. 2.9 million from the Ministry of Education Bursary, to 363 secondary boarding school students. In all a total of 1,714 students have so far benefited from financial support!   

Partnerships: Nyahururu Municipal Council has a very enriching partnership with Finland. This year, they two have exchange visits. Health: We have continued our awareness campaign on NHIF. For those who don’t know, for five shilling per day – about 1,800 per year, you can provide your entire family with health care. We are establishing strong rooms in Ndindika, Rumuruti and Karandi, to make it easier to access ARVs  

Constituency Services: As you know, we now have a fully fledged constituency office in Nyahururu. This is co located with the CDF office as well as the district development officer. We also have a resource centre, and welcome you to use it. In Kinamba we have a satellite office, and will soon have another in Rumuruti.  The key service committee are also up and running. The DRC is chaired by Eng. Ngatia Muturi. The Bursary committee is chaired by Mr. Gichuki, while the CACC is chaired by Mr. Gachoka. We expect to have the sports committee in place this November.

We have also established a website www.laikipiawest.org . This is a great avenue to advertise your companies.

 The year ahead promises many more exciting changes. We shall be opening an office in Rumuruti. The investment work will be broadened and up scaled. The up grading of the University will open up new commercial opportunities. Sincerely Hon. Ndiritu Muriithi

3. A word from the MP - Welcome to Laikipia West Constituency Website

I’m very pleased that the constituency office has created a gateway to Laikipia West. The portal will provide residents, as well as those from Laikipia living elsewhere with a communication tool to keep track of the goings on in Laikipia WestIt will provide the latest listing of upcoming events in the constituency, new and exciting developments, business and job opportunities, tips on farming techniques and much much more. It will be for and by the community.