President Uhuru Kenyatta starts his two-day tour of Ukambani region tomorrow to inspect various development programmes.

On Friday last week, leaders from the region, led by Wiper Democraric Movement (WDM) leader Kalonzo Musyoka, governors Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau and senators Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni) and his Kitui counterpart Enock Wambua held a-day long meeting with top State officials at Harambee House and agreed on development proposals in line with the 2021/22 National budget.

According to insiders, top on the proposals include dualling of the Mombasa -Nairobi highway from Kyumbi to tame road carnage.

The leaders are also pushing the President to add another one day in his itinerary to enable him spend a day in each county.

Yesterday, Governor Mutua said the President would tour Machakos and Makueni tomorrow and spend the entire Wednesday in Kitui.

“We welcome the Head of State and we expect the tour to yield good results. We at the same time do not expect idle politicians to take the opportunity to be seen walking with the President.

All in all we are still negotiating to have one more day for his visit,” said Mutua.

Kalonzo who addressed worshippers at St Jude Catholic Church in Kisooni yesterday urged residents to turn out in large numbers to welcome the Head of State, saying it will present an opportunity for uniting Akamba and Agikuyu communities in the spirit of building bridges.

President Uhuru will inspect progress of Konza City in Machakos county tomorrow.

He is also expected to oversee launch of construction of Yatta and Miwongoni dams before heading to Makueni.

“Konza city has brought back the region’s glory. We also have a chance to pump water from Thwake multi-purpose Dam to this new city,” he said.  

Other development proposal, according to Kalonzo, is the establishment of Makueni University, acceleration of the construction of Emali-Ukia -Wote road.

Notably, there has been disquiet among residents in Kibwezi, who gave out their land for construction of Kibwezi-Kitui-Migwani road, due to delayed compensation.

According to a well-placed source, the government disbursed Sh80 million to save the face of the President as he moves to launch the road on Wednesday.

Damp sitel

On Thwake Dam, local leaders are agitating for cleaning of River Athi so that the dam does not become a damp site.

“Let the government implement the parliamentary report on cleaning Athi River,” said former Yatta MP Francis Mwangangi.

Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo said he will table a motion in Parliament to compel the government to clean Nairobi River that feeds Athi River, which has become a den of pollution downstream.

Ngilu said as Ukambani leaders, they expected the huge national budget to also impact the region significantly.

“A budget of Sh3.6 trillion is not small. This region would like to have a share. That is what we want to tell the President when he comes,” said Ngilu.