Nairobi: Residents of Nyeri have been advised to evaluate track records of persons who they wish to vote into various elective offices in the forthcoming General poll.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nyeri Governor, Dr. Mutahi Kahiga, emphasized that any candidate presenting themselves for election should be evaluated based on their past achievements rather than their promises. Dr. Kahiga made these remarks at Karuthi village in Chinga Ward, Othaya Sub-county, during the distribution of free certified maize and bean seeds to local residents.
“We have seen what has taken place in the recently concluded by-elections in Ol-Kalou, Mbeere, and Malava and taken vital lessons from them. Among the lessons learnt from these mini-polls is that your vote is an important asset that decides who will govern or represent you for the next five years. In the event you get carried away by political euphoria and end up electing the wrong person, you will have to live with your consequences for the next five years,” he said.
Dr. Kahiga also defended the cooperative relationship between his office and the National government, highlighting its importance for meaningful development. He pointed out that Kenyans are more concerned with improvements to their livelihoods than political infighting among leaders.
“The local person is not interested in whether development in his area will come from the National or County government. They are equally not interested in whether the road being tarmacked in their area is being funded by the National government or the County government. What our people need are leaders who will serve them with no strings attached regardless of which level of government they ascribe to,” Dr. Kahiga noted. He was accompanied by area MCA, Kiruga Thuku, and Agriculture CECM, James Wachihi.
The Governor also encouraged farmers to register for the National Maize and Fertilizer Subsidy Programmes to receive updates on the distribution exercise. He urged farmers to work with agriculture extension officers and meteorological officials to get accurate information on the anticipated El Nino rains, which could affect planting decisions.
“I also urged residents to make good use of the seedlings distributed by planting them in time and taking full advantage of the upcoming rains. As a County, we will continue investing in agriculture and supporting our farmers with the resources, knowledge, and partnerships they need to boost productivity, strengthen food security, and improve household incomes,” said Dr. Kahiga.
Meanwhile, coffee farmers at Kiamwangi Coffee Factory in Iria-ini Ward, Mathira East Sub-County, are set to benefit from a new solar coffee dryer. The project, nearing completion, is a partnership between the County and National Government under the Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme.
FLLoCA is a five-year initiative funded by the Government of Kenya, the World Bank, and other donors to deliver climate resilience actions and strengthen government capacity to manage climate risk. The solar dryer features four modern metallic drying beds with a capacity of 16 tonnes of coffee beans per drying cycle, expected to halve drying time and enhance coffee quality.
In addition to the solar dryer, the project includes a tree-planting component to support environmental conservation and combat climate change. Dr. Kahiga remarked that the initiative is part of efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture and add value to the coffee sector, which is recovering from years of neglect.
“This investment reflects Nyeri County’s continued commitment to climate resilience, value addition, and empowering coffee farmers to produce premium-quality coffee that attracts better prices and improves livelihoods,” Dr. Kahiga posted on his Facebook page. “Once operational, the state-of-the-art solar dryer will improve coffee quality, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance farmers’ earnings by providing a faster, cleaner, and more efficient drying process.”
Kiamwangi is among nine coffee factories benefiting from the FLLoCA programme, alongside Chorong’i, Njuriga, Thage-ini, Kiamariga, Gachuiro, Ichamara, and Rwarai Coffee Factories.
