Meru residents expect more on development against political utterances

Meru,

Thursday, January 25, 2024,

KNA by Makaa Margaret

Meru County residents expect President William Ruto to focus more on how the government intends to spearhead community development initiatives in the urban and rural setups.     

Speaking to the media in Imenti North sub-county headquarters, residents hoped President Ruto would address challenges encountered by farmers in the agricultural sector and the general infrastructure development against the empty rhetoric by a section of politicians. A small-scale farmer and a businesswoman Beatrice Kawira said farmers in the region were hard working and committed to small and large-scale farming activities to earn a living, saying the major obstacle in realizing the desired farm yields remained the high cost of production due to expensive farm inputs, disease and pest control. 

Kawira said the recently available subsidized fertilizer cushioned farmers in a big way, noting that it was not the only requirement for better yields, right from farm preparation, planting, and taking care of crops to maturity.

She also appealed to the President to take responsibility for restoring political tranquillity in Meru County and lamented that no business activity or development initiative could thrive in the prevailing political turmoil in the region.

John Rimberia who earns a living from mixed farming activities wished the President would lead other leaders in articulating more on how available resources could be utilized towards improving the livelihoods of Meru residents as per their respective areas of residence.

Rimberia challenged local leaders against misinforming President Ruto during his three-day tour of the county to assume all was well, while the public was suffering from a lack of development initiatives and stalled development projects due to political selfishness and greed.

He urged local leaders to open up to each other and bury their personal and political differences to enable the President to preside over a reconciliation forum.

Rimberia said the leaders had a lot to do for the people of Meru County considering there were several school-going children that were still at home due to lack of school fees among other challenges, which should be addressed collectively to ensure the desired 100% transition from one education level to the other. 

Courtesy; KNA