By Ahmed Abdi Rashid Haji
President Uhuru Kenyatta today launched several Key developmental Project in Mandera County amid disquiet over late visit.
The President launched the tarmacking of Elwak ‐ Rhamu ‐ Mandera road at cost of Ksh 8 Billion. The 135 Kilometer Road will be constructed in three Phases , Elwak ‐ Wargadud , Wargadud ‐ Bamboo and Bamboo ‐Rhamu.
The President said the road will help open up the economic development of the far flank Mandera County and and other Counties in the region.
”This is a key road that will help open up the economic of North Eastern region” , the President said.
The President also commissioned the Groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of Wargadud Aiport which will ease the movement of goods such as livestock in the County and the region.
Addressing Mammoth Crowd at Moi Stadium in Mandera town,The President also announced that government has allocated 1B ksh to upgrade Elwak Disrtict Hospital to level IV and Mandera Hospital to Level (VI) to help the County residents to access to quality healthcare.
The President who was accompanied by Deputy President and other local leaders notably, Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization , Adan Mohamed also announced 100 Million Shillings project which will be used to construct Flood control along River Dua.
The head of State also promised in the soonest possible to re‐open and tarmacking the Mandera ‐ Arabia ‐Lafey Road as requested by Mandera East MP , Abdull Aziz Ali Farah.
The President also recognized and feted the family of the late Hero Salah Sabdow Farah.Mr Farah, a teacher who until his death was the deputy headmaster of Mandera Township Primary School, was shot as he shielded non-Muslims during an ambush by Islamist gunmen on a bus travelling from Nairobi to Mandera on December 21, 2015.
The President and his deputy held meeting with Mandera Leaders in the afternoon where he urged them to take a leading role in unifying the communities in the County. He similarly urged the residents to work with the security agencies in securing the country’ s border.
”I call upon the residents of Mandera County to work with our security agencies in defeating terrorist and securing our borders” , he urged.
Statement that was echoed by the other leaders who spoke at the event.
Mandera County residents overwhelmingly voted for the Jubilee coalition in 2013 but locals have felt neglected due to insecurity, the exodus of non-local teachers, poor roads ,extra‐juducial killings and inadequate power supply.
Some analyst described the President’s visits as nothing but as way of wooing votes in the insecurity prone region as election approach.
President Kenyatta’s first visit to Mandera and in the region is the first since he ascended to power in 2013.
The President is also set to visit Wajir and Garissa in the coming days where he is expected to launched several other development projects.
