[President Uhiru Kenyatta in a past campaign rally. Labour and Social Services PS Susan Mochache has urged Gusii community to support Kenyatta. Photo/NATION]
Labour and Social Protection PS Dr Susan Mochache on Saturday appealed to Kisii County residents to give Uhuru Kenyatta another term to complete his development projects.
She said the head of state had demonstrated his commitment to developing the country by launching a number of projects which he needed to complete.
"We have benefitted immensely from Uhuru Kenyatta's government through programs such as the Beyond Zero initiative, equipment leasing schemes for county referral hospitals and reduced school fees for public secondary school education. He deserves another term in office," said Dr Mochache.
She said the government had disbursed Sh 450 m to Kisii County over the last four years, but noted the region could still get more funds hae entrepreneurial groups been more aggressive in seeking for them.
"Some counties have gotten up to Sh 1 bn because of having aggressive business plans and you too can obtain even more than that amount if you aggressively pursue business ideas that will attract funding," said Dr Mochache.
She was speaking during a visit to meet community group leaders on a variety of issues including leadership, capacity building for enterprise and women empowerment.
Dr Mochache said 12, 000 elderly people in the county were benefiting from the Cash Transfer Fund to the tune of Sh 583 m per quarter.
The PS said senior citizens who had attained 70 years and above would now benefit from the cash transfer program that had previously targeted 65 year olds and below.
"This quarter, our beneficiaries can still look forward to the Sh 583 m in addition to the new citizens we have done identified in the 70 plus age bracket," she said.
Dr Mochache also announced that the new beneficiaries would also be registered as National Health Insurance Fund members.
She assured members of the Gusii community of Jubilee's commitment to fulfilling its 2013 election pledges and said she would personally work to ensure that their welfare was taken care of.
"As a civil servant working in Uhuru's government, I am going to make sure that your interests are taken care of. It is the only way I can be a faithful daughter and member of the community that raised me and made me what I am today," said the PS.
Her latest visit is among the frequent trips made to the area by civil servants in the Jubilee government in a bid to drum up support for President Uhuru Kenyatta's bid to secure a second term in office in the August polls.
She has been coming to the region on her own, as well as accompanying Education CS Dr Fred Matiangi on trips seen as part of the charm offensive Jubilee is carrying out in the region that overwhelmingly voted for ODM's Raila Odinga during the last elections.
He secured 68 percent of the vote.
Other civil servants from the region that Jubilee has been using to boost Uhuruto's reelection bid in the region include Central Bank chair Mr Mohammed Nyaoga, the National Quantity Surveyor Mr Moses Nyakiongora and Youth Fund executive Mr Josiah Moriasi.
The region is seen by analysts as a swing zone, with Jubilee hoping to capitalize on its improving fortunes to secure a number of seats, among them the governorship and several parliamentary seats.
Dr Matiangi has so far given more than Sh 50 m to various schools in infrastructure grants to construct dormitories as well as build and upgrade classrooms and laboratories.
Jubilee's efforts to incorporate civil servants in its campaign has particularly irked Nasa principal Mr Odinga, who has threatened to sack all civil servants campaigning for Jubilee once he assumes office as president.
On Monday, he said he would fire all civil servants dabbling in politics as he wins the election.
"President Kenyatta must prepare to leave office with his political civil servants. We won't allow them to serve in a NASA government," said Mr Odinga.
He criticised Jubilee for failing to implement the separation of powers between public servants and politicians as stipulated by the constitution.
"You cannot have civil servants running around campaigning. It is wrong. In a credible civil service in established democracies, civil servants don't participate in politics," said Mr Odinga.