Hundreds of Kisii County residents turned up at the Gusii Stadium for the 51st Madaraka Day celebrations.

H.E. Governor James Ongwae joined residents in marking the day Kenya got independence and gave a progress report on the development agenda being implemented by his government.

Highlights of the speech include;

- a Public, Private Partnership with JKUAT and Chase Bank to modernize Daraja Mbili market at a cost of Sh 400 million.

- Sh 360 million spent in rehabilitating roads in the county. The County plans to tarmac selected roads in the wards in the next financial year.

- Kisii Level Five Hospital set to become Teaching and Referral Hospital with the passing of a law in the Kisii County Assembly. Modernization of the hospital underway involving a new 130 bed ward, drugs depot, morgue and other facilities.

- Suneka Airstrip to be rehabilitated in the next financial year. Already, some investors have expressed interest in utilising the facility for commercial flights.

- The County will purchase 6 state of the art ambulances to replace the ones currently operated in a PPP arrangement with Kenya Red Cross.

- Street lighting in Kisii Town being rehabilitated. The County Government will build high mast street lights at the main market and at built up areas within town. Similar projects planned for all sub county headquarters.

- German Bank to rehabilitate the water supply system for Kisii Town in a Sh 1.2 billion encompassing Kisii and Nyamira Counties. The rehabilitation will include relaying of the dilapidated pipeline from Kegati and Nyakomisaro, overhauling the pumping system and expanding connectivity in Kisii Town.