President Uhuru Kenyatta shakes hand with Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru at past. [Photo/tuko]
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday met Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru for the first time after she won a petition challenging her August 8 general election victory.
Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua had filed the case but the High Court in Kerugoya, Kirinyaga county termed it "hopeless, defective and incurable."
The two leaders met during the groundbreaking ceremony of Sh19 billion Thiba dam in Kirinyaga County. Upon completion, Uhuru said the dam will enable rice farmers to double their acreage under irrigation thus improving crop production within the region. allowing double cropping with the area under irrigation increasing from 25,000 acres to 35,000 acres. "This will in turn increase revenue from Kshs 4.56 billion to Ksh 8.6 billion annually.""It will also increase the number of households with access to clean water,'' he said.
The construction of Thiba dam is being financed in partnership with the Japanese government through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The President thanked Japan Government for being a true partner in the development of Kenya.
“Since independence, Japan has been a partner in our development agenda. They have helped us undertake various projects in the energy, agriculture, roads and in the expansion and modernisation of our port – making it the biggest in the East African coastline,” said Kenyatta.
Waiguru said her County Administration would utilise water from the dam to construct a golf course and hotel to create jobs for residents.
Other speakers included Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Uesawa Toshitsugu, Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kabiru and Gichugu MP Robert Gichimu among others.