President Uhuru Kenyatta today met Kisii leaders and pledged the Government’s commitment to bring investors to boost the soapstone industry in the region. 

President Kenyatta, who hosted the 15 leaders at State House, Nairobi, also made a commitment to elevate Kisii hospital into a referral institution to serve the huge population.

The President also pledged that a standard stadium would be built in Kisii County. President Kenyatta assured the leaders that more professionals from the region would be appointed to Government positions as “a national Government cannot be national if it is not inclusive. We are inclusive and will be inclusive”.

The President urged leaders at all levels to rise above partisan politics and work together to deliver on the pledges made to Kenyans.

“Politics is politics and the most important thing is what happens after politics. Political completion is healthy because we all wanted to serve the people. Once people have taken a decision, we unite and work together,” he added.

The President said the country’s development agenda will only be realized in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding among leaders.

 “Let us develop an attitude and culture of teamwork and unity. Political differences are not enmity. We must have something tangible to show Kenyans after five years,” the President said. Kisii Senator Chris Obure, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, said the leaders agreed to meet the President despite their political affiliation to discuss the region’s development agenda that will improve the welfare of their constituents.

He identified roads for tarmacking, saying they would improve movement of farm produce and people and, therefore, boost development.

The Senator said,” The roads are many but total to 93km in Kisii and 52km in Nyamira”. He called for the construction of a 5-level hospital in Nyamira and expansion of Suneka Airstrip to an airport for better service delivery. Mr. Obure appealed for more funding for the soapstone industry, saying it is a unique business that can transform the region.

 The Senator invited President Kenyatta to tour development projects in Kisii and Nyamira counties. The Senator and other leaders said they “would work with the President and the National Government as this is what we have been used to”.

Mr Obure and the leaders thanked the President for appointing of “our sons to senior government positions and appealed for more especially Principal Secretaries”.

Kisii Governor James Ongwae said the County Government has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Kisii University to build a medical school which requires sh.2b – sh. 3b and appealed for support from the national Government.

Other leaders present were 10 MPs, the Kisii and Nyamira Women representatives and ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.