President Uhuru Kenyatta. [Photo/businessdailyafrica.com]
President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Saturday that rapid industrialisation was at the heart of the next phase of Kenya’s development and would see millions more people lifted out of poverty.
On the second day of campaigns in Meru County, the President said the Jubilee administration had laid a firm foundation for growth, and it involved growth that left no one behind.
The President and Deputy President William Ruto were accompanied by a host of local leaders on the campaign trail. They spoke ahead of the launch of their re-election manifesto on Monday.
They said billions of Shillings of investments in energy, roads, clean water, irrigation, and healthcare provided a condusive environment for investors to plough cash in the area and other parts of the country.
The President spoke of measures taken to cushion miraa farmers in Meru, including legally making miraa a cash crop, but added that real value lay in value-addition.
The President and his deputy wrapped up their visit their visit with a major announcement that Maua will be transformed into a major city.
The two leaders who spoke when they addressed a huge rally at the Maua Stadium said plans have been finalized and funds allocated to revamp the town to have facilities required for a big city.
President Kenyatta said the roads in the town will be upgraded at the cost of Sh1.1 billion to prepare the town for its transformation into a major city.
He announced that Sh700 million has already been set a side to construct a modern sewerage system for the town which is the hub of the miraa growing region in Meru County.
The Head of State also issued a directive for the upgrade and modernization of the Maua Stadium by next year.
“We want Maua to become a city that will become a hub for industries so that the youth do not have to struggle to get jobs,” said the President when he spoke after launching the construction of Maua town roads.