Mutua secures multi-billion deals after hosting international donors

Machakos County is set to benefit from multi-billion investments after Governor Alfred Mutua on Wednesday held a round table meeting with development partners to discuss areas of partnership.

The meeting featured representatives including Ambassadors, Head of Missions, Head of United Nations Bodies, Head of representatives of international funding organizations and global and continental development banks among others.

Speaking after the talks, Governor Mutua said the round table engagements had secured commitments worth close to Ksh.50 billion set to be injected into various development projects in Machakos.

“I am very pleased with the large turnout and the fruitful discussions. We highlighted our development agenda, our many successes and the massive remaining gaps which require funding so as to fully achieve our program of poverty eradication and economic growth in all sectors,” Dr. Mutua said.

In the meeting with the donors, Mutua sought technical support on financial systems management, external resources mobilization as well as revenue management systems.

To address the water deficit for the county’s approximately 1.5 million residents, Mutua asked the development partners to assist in construction of mega dams, reticulation for boreholes, elevated steel tanks, solar powering systems as well as construction of weirs.

On matters of healthcare provision, the county sought partnership for cancer prevention and management, disaster preparedness, blood management system, community health strategy and advanced training for healthcare workers.

To strengthen governance and administration, the county government is seeking partnerships in staff capacity building programs, office automation, county data center, e-government services and development of knowledge management systems.

USAID deputy program officer, Stephen Fitzpatrick said the organization had undertaken to partner with the county government to support healthcare, education and food security strategy.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations county program, Jared Mark said FAO will support the county in bridging the funding gaps towards addressing food security and nutrition matters.

“We have established a desk in the county to ensure partnership programs yield the desired results. We assure the governor of our support in supporting agriculture and food security initiatives.

Representatives of World Bank, AMREF and World Vision also took part in the negotiations.