Uhuru to finally tour Ukambani after meeting Kalonzo ,Ngilu and Mutua
President Uhuru Kenyatta will go ahead with his two day tour of Ukambani after the visit was postponed yesterday.
In a statement made on Monday, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua said that the President feared his presence in the region will lead to a spike in Covid-19 infections.
However, Uhuru decided to go ahead with the tour which was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 6 after meeting leaders from the Eastern region led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
"It is noted that COVID-19 continues to propagate within our borders;
and further that the disease situation in East Africa and on the continent was on an upward trend. It was further acknowledged that a surge of infections had compelled a number of African countries to institute full lockdowns in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19 within their borders," State House said in a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday evening.
During the meeting attended by Kitui County Governor Charity Ngilu, Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu and Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau, the leaders noted that the new variants of Covid-19 were deadlier and that containment measures were necessary.
"In view of the foregoing and cognisance of the Directives issued as part of Public Order No. 4 of 2021 on COVID-19 barring ‘superspreader’ events being held within Kenya for the reason that they imperil the
public health and exacerbate the COVID-19 situation in our country, the meeting resolved to scale down the planned presidential visit to the region," the leaders said in a statement.
Uhuru was set to inspect progress of Konza City in Machakos county. He was also expected to oversee launch of construction of Yatta and Miwongoni dams before heading to Makueni.
On Sunday, Mutua said the President would tour Machakos and Makueni 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,” Mutua said.
The governor was flanked by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka who urged Ukambani residents to turn up in huge numbers and welcome the President.
“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,” Kalonzo said.
Other development proposal, according to Kalonzo, is the establishment of Makueni University, acceleration of the construction of Emali-Ukia -Wote road.
