President William Ruto, left, received by Busia Governor Dr Paul Otuoma at Busagwa, Budalangi, for the launch of the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Scheme on Wednesday 22, January //Photo Courtesy
President William Ruto has said that the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Scheme, once completed, will produce enough food to feed Kenya and eradicate the shame of hunger.
Speaking during the launch of the project at Busagwa in Budalangi yesterday, Ruto said he had promised to secure funds to ensure phase one of the project, which had stalled, was completed.
He explained that money for phase one, which covered a total of 22 kilometers, had been allocated but was diverted elsewhere, leaving no funds to facilitate the completion of the remaining 9 kilometers in phase two.
However, the Head of State said that the Kenya Cabinet approved Ksh 2.9 billion last year for the completion of the project’s final phase.
“The money for the final phase of the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Scheme has come, and the canal will be completed by August,” he assured.
He added that an additional 20,000 acres of land would be made available to ensure increased rice production.
Addressing the backflow of Lake Victoria that has displaced scores of residents in the flood-prone Bunyala South zone, Ruto said the national government had allocated Ksh 130 million for dredging the lake and constructing dykes to prevent flooding.
On rural electrification, Ruto said the government has set aside Ksh 1 billion to ensure 17,000 residents of Busia County gain access to electricity.
He also announced that seven new markets, complete with cold storage and storage rooms, would be built.
On education, the President said more classrooms would be constructed at St Anne’s Busagwa Girls Secondary School to accommodate more students and reduce overcrowding.
Ruto urged the people of Busia County and Kenyans at large to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA), the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and Taifa Kenya to access free medical treatment at level one, two, and three health facilities.
Busia Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma, who also attended the event, appealed to President Ruto to extend the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Malaba to ease transportation and open the border market.
The event was also attended by Budalangi Member of Parliament Raphael Wanjala among other leaders in Western Kenya
Ruto is scheduled to visit the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Nasewa, Nambale Sub-County, today.
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