Year: 2020

In the last 24 hours our County has reported 2 more cases of Corona virus.This brings the cumulative Kajiado cases to 47.

One is a truck driver at Namanga border and the other is a baby of one of the previous positive case. The truck driver is being evacuated to KU referral hospital while the baby remains with the mother at one of our isolation centres.

There were other 25 positive cases from foreign drivers; 24 Tanzanian and 1 Burundian; they were handed over for treatment to their respective countries.

There are 278 people on quarantine across the County; 88 in South, 68 in East, 48 in central and 74 in North.

Our Isolation centres have 18 patients, 12 at The County refferal hospital and 5 at kitengela hospital.

Prevention and control activities are ongoing.

Esther Somoire OGW

CECM Health Services

Human traffic to and from Tanzanian continues to pose a challenge to efforts instituted by the County Government in combating the spread of the COVID-19. According to the County Department of Health, foreigners constitute a bulk of the quarantined cases at isolation facilities at the border entry points with screening done by health workers at Namanga indicating that 84% originated from Tanzania, 16% from Zambia while a notable number were from Kenya, Malawi and Namibia. Drivers and Traders who frequently cross the border have been identified as the highest risk groups. 10 Kenyans are currently being detained and quarantined at the border health facility awaiting testing and further determination.

Esther Somoire, Health CEC said so far 119 suspected cases have been reported in Kajiado with zero deaths recorded. This figure includes those at the border points. 104 patients have so far been tested in the County with 15 of them cleared after initial screening showed they did not exhibit any Corona related symptoms.

She maintained that Kajiado is still a high risk County due to its geographical proximity to the capital city Nairobi and as an international gateway through Tanzania to other countries adding that her Department together with the County Security Team has already instituted stringent measures to limit cross border movement including monitoring adherence to social distancing norms and use of personal protective, equipment, PPE specifically face masks. These measures will include activation of door to door screenings of suspected COVID-19 cases and mandatory quarantine for those flouting curfew directives. Plans are also underway to close down Shompole Market and others within the County deemed as risk zones for community transmission.

She advised members of the public to adhere to basic sanitation norms of washing hands with soap, or use of hand sanitizer and social distancing as a way of breaking the transmission gap in the community.

Meanwhile, the third Corona Virus patient from Ngong, Matasia continues to receive medical care at the Kenyatta University Hospital. 32 persons that she had come into contact with are still quarantined in an Isolation center in Ngong. Thirteen of them are awaiting test results.

The County leadership led by H.E. Joseph Lenku has also asked all residents to observe calls for social distancing as a measure in breaking the gap in the spread of the pandemic. This is while the County government steps up distribution of personal protective equipment, PPEs hand sanitizers and other COVID-19 response commodities.

NOTICE FOR BUDGET 2020

ADVERT BUDGET 2020-21 (1)

TO CUSHION OUR PEOPLE FROM HIGH FOOD PRICES H.E THE GOVERNOR HAS GIVEN THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIVES.

As you are all aware, our country continues to experience the impact of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID -19).

The County Government of Kajiado is cognizant of the negative economic impact of COVID 19. Many business enterprises are suffering huge losses while others have closed. Many workers continue to lose their livelihoods as the effects of the situation persist.

In this unfolding situation, food security of our people is grossly threatened.

To cushion our people from higher food prices and to enable the business community to avail food supplies in affordable prices, I DIRECT the County Department of Finance to WAIVE TAXES and levies for April-June, 2020, as follows;

▪️Daily market Cess fees on Agricultural produce.

▪️Transit Cess fees for all Agricultural produce.

▪️Slaughter house inspection fees.

▪️Monthly parking fees for Passenger Service Vehicles (PSVs).

🔷Following a DECLARATION by the Ministry of Health that the transmission of the Corona Virus Disease in Kenya is now Community driven and that it is being spread through close contact among people who have disregarded observance of social distance as a measure to contain the spread of the pandemic, I have given the following DIRECTIVE;

▪️That the County Directorate of Inspectorate Services ensures trading activities in the County are CONDUCTED within the recommended ONE METRE distance with a special focus on RETAIL MARKETS, CATTLE SALE YARDS, SUPERMARKETS, BUS PARKS and HEALTH FACILITIES.

▪️Business enterprises that deal with essential goods and services and are still operating MUST ensure that their customers observe the recommended SOCIAL DISTANCE when transacting.

▪️Administrative action will be taken against business enterprises that do not abide by the issued social distance guidelines.

The County Inspectorate officers are URGED to observe restraint when handling members of the public.

As the country continues to feel the pain and pressure of the Corona Virus,the Governors  administration is not leaving anything to chance as it is working very closely with other health stakeholders to ensure we are prepared for any eventuality.
Towards this effort, H.E the Governor today opened the second COVID-19 Isolation Unit at Kitengela Sub County Hospital.

“I call for calm and patience of all Kajiado residents as we head towards a critical period of this pandemic. We all need to observe the guidelines of the curfew issued by the National Government beginning today at 7 PM,”said the Governor.

H.E. Joseph Lenku today officially opened The First sitting of the Fourth Session of The Kajiado County Assembly with a strong message of unity of purpose between the two arms of government that he said will ensure all development initiatives are on track in the run up to the next general elections.

In his address to the Members, the Governor reiterated his vision of fulfilling most of the pledges made to the electorate in his manifesto, most of which he said have been implemented as outlined in the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2018-2022. He said the County Treasury intends to seal all existing revenue collection gaps to boost revenue collection to surpass last year’s Sh1Bn mark so as to ensure a boosted allocation from the Exchequer as well as will enable his administration to implement more development projects the in the next Financial Year. He asserted that towards this realization, the County Government is determined to clear all pending development bills which stood at Sh1billion, Sh581Million of which had been paid out by the close of the first half of this Financial Year. Recurrent expenditure bills amounted to Sh939Million as at December 31, 2019, Sh280Million of this had already been settled.

Towards the recently launched County Bursary and Scholarship programme, the Governor urged the County Assembly to fast-track the amendments to the Kajiado County Public Finance Management ( County Bursary Fund ) Regulations ,2019 that will set a legal framework to guide the programme.

On matters education, The Governor urged the County Assembly to fast-track the amendments to the Kajiado County Public Finance Management ( County Bursary Fund ) Regulations ,2019 that will set a legal framework to guide the recently launched County Bursary and Scholarship programme. The annual bursary kitty which has tripled from Sh40M in 2013 to Sh150M in the current Financial Year has with it raised the number of beneficiaries from 3,000 to more than 9,000. 430 students, 250 of whom are in Secondary Schools and 180 in colleges and universities have also benefited from the Scholarship Programme.

Lenku said health matters continue to be a top

priority of his administration with equipping of medical facilities around the County in top gear. He singled out the Lenku The Mother Child Health (MCH) complex at Kajiado Referral Hospital, ready for operationalization in the coming weeks, the fully equipped

Kitengela hospital and Ngong Sub County Hospital Theatre and Male and Female Wards as well as Construction and equipping of a theatre at Rongai Health Centre, currently at procurement stage. To cater to the gaps in the administration at the County Hospital he said his government will employ hospital administrators at the four major hospitals; Kajiado Referral,Ngong’, Ongata Rongai, Loitokitok and Kitengela Sub County hospitals.

On Infrastructure development, he assured more road construction projects akin to the completed tarmac roads in Kitengela, Kiserian, Ngong ,Ongata Rongai and the Central Business District within the Financial Year. This he said went hand in hand with promotion of trade and creation of trade spaces such as the Rombo retail market which waits commissioning with Ngong, Kitengela, Kiserian and Ilasit retail markets earmarked for completion and occupation in the next two years.

In his address, the Governor intimated that efforts to fast track payments of pending compensation claims to victims of human-wildlife conflicts had paid off with 50 per cent of the families that lost their kin in wildlife attacks being fully compensated at the requisite rate of Sh 5 million per family.

On Legislation, the Governor challenged the County Assembly Members to embrace the spirit of collective responsibility, that members are not seen to be overly critical of legislation regulations, policies or Bills out there, when they are still within the armpit of the Assembly.  This he said was the recipe for success or failure of the County Goverment.  He urged the MCAs to fast-track pending legislative tasks including Bills and Policies from the Executive as well as from Private Members. He outlined the follow legislative business for the Fourth Session; The Kajiado County Villages Bill (2019), The Kajiado County Climate Change Bill (2019), The Kajiado County Environment Management Bill (2019). The Kajiado County Finance Bill (2019) as well as The Kajiado County Quarry Bill which have all been submitted to the County Assembly for consideration.

Lenku equally noted and appreciated the effort members are putting in ensuring in enacting laws that are useful to the people. he particularly noted five Private Members Bills that require huge support from the Assembly during this session.

(i)The Kajiado County Agriculture Development Bill (2019) by Honourable Joshua Oluwuasa.

(ii) Kajiado County Rain Water Harvesting Bill (2019) by Honourable Onesmus Ngogoyo.

(iii)The Kajiado County Livestock Sale Yard Bill (2019) by Honourable Jackson Mpaada.

(iv). The Kajiado County Corporate Social Responsibility Bill (2019) by Honourable Joseph Masiaya.

(v). The Kajiado County Animal Disease Control (2019) by Honorable Amos Peshut.

He pointed out that The Kajiado County Investment Policy; The Kajiado County Cultural and Heritage Policy as well as the Kajiado Women Economic Empowerment Policy were pending before the County Assembly.

Alongside these policies are petitions by various stakeholders; notably a petition on the Effects of processing of soda ash by Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd in Kajiado Town and one by Kitengela residents on Introduction of payment of rates on freehold tenure and review of rates payable to leasehold tenure.

Others include a petition by Ngong Council of Village Elders on Enactment of legislation to provide for delineation and establishment of village units within Kajiado County as well as a petition submitted on Employment of the local indigenous community in all private companies/ public institutions and flower farms operating in Kajiado County.

In the same breathe, the Governor highlighted

that key regulations important for the social-economic well-being of the County were pending before the County Assembly and urged the Honorable Members to act fast to consider them. They include :

(i)Amendments to the Kajiado County Public Finance Management (County Bursary Fund) Regulations (2019)

(ii) Alcoholic Drinks Control (Licensing) Regulations, 2019.

The Governor’s address touched on the political atmosphere in the Country with the

The Building Bridges Initiative which he said was conceptualized by President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a platform through which certain ills that bedevil the country can be changed. He intimated that the County will within the week be presenting a memorandum in Narok expressing a wish to be incorporated in the final BBI Report. He called upon all honourable members to embrace and board the BBI train and seize the opportunity that could soon transform the County’s political landscape as well as fight injustices and create prosperity for the people. He urged them to keep a focused mind, an open heart and show the county the great things that they, together with the Executive, can do.

H.E the Deputy Governor has officially opened a new dormitory and dining hall for Kisaju Dipak secondary school that was built in partnership with Zenith Steel limited.

Speaking during the occasion he thanked Zenith Steel for their partnership and support. “We welcome other companies through Corporate Social responsibility to partner with us to develop Kajiado and advance conducive business environments” said Moshisho.

Kajiado County Government will continue to partner with all the private and public to ensure we better the lives of our people.