The United Kingdom has agreed to partner with the county government of Kirinyaga to implement three major development projects.

The projects that focus on health, agriculture and energy will help spur economic growth in the county. In her visit to the county, the UK High Commissioner, Jane Marriot, said that Kenya and the UK have enjoyed cordial relations cemented through various collaborations that play an important role in the realization of the county’s socio-economic development goals.

“Kenya has been working together with the UK as a strategic partner and today being in Kirinyaga County is part of collaborations for development,” Marriott said.

Specific projects

The envoy said that the UK Government will fund the construction of a tomato factory, a husks factory and a hydropower project in the county. She said that her government had confidence in investing in counties that have demonstrated that devolution works.

“We have discussed specific projects we want to partner with, the three are husk factory, tomato processing and construction of a hydropower plant,” she added.

The ambassador said that with Governor Ann Waiguru at the helm of the Council of Governors, she had confidence that the SUED will also be successfully implemented in the other counties for the benefit of citizens.

The UK has partnered with Kirinyaga in the implementation of the Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) program.

Governor Waiguru expressed her gratitude to the UK government for the continued partnership which she said would go a long way in improving the lives of the county residents.

“Kirinyaga produces over 60,000 tonnes of tomatoes annually but 30 per cent go to waste because of the perishable nature of tomatoes and poor prices,” Waiguru said.