The government has vowed to eliminate cartels operating within the land and mining sectors in Taita-Taveta County as part of critical intervention meant to streamline and make profitable the operations in the two areas.
Taita-Taveta County Commissioner Josephine Onunga warned that cartels have thrived for ages through chaos by creation of deliberate conflicts and triggering mismanagement crises that hamper smooth operations that would benefit local residents.
Speaking in Wundanyi on Friday during the celebrations of Mashujaa Day, Ms. Onunga said no effort would be spared to streamline land and mining sectors whose massive potential to transform the lives of the ordinary citizens of the county remains largely untapped.
“We are determined to end the cartels that have made the mining and land sectors ensnared in endless conflicts,” she stated.
She added that the government was keen on addressing challenges in key sectors with potential to provide employment to thousands of youths and tackle the unemployment crisis in the country.
Noting that the potential in the mining and land sectors had not been fully exploited, the county commissioner expressed her optimism that once streamlined, the youth will land gainful employment in the sectors.
The Mashujaa event was attended by Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo, Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako, County Women Representative Lydia Haika and senior national and county government officials.
The County Commissioner further disclosed that the county had made significant steps in fighting against the menace of drug abuse and illicit brews. She said the war to eradicate the toxic drinks and other intoxicants would continue until all villages were declared drug free.
She further regretted that many youths continued to be destitute after they were blocked from benefiting from land-based resources like ranches by self-seeking management committees that had joined hands with cartels.
“Many youths who by right deserve to benefit from resources like the ranches have been left in the cold because the management and cartels have locked them out. That must change because we want the youth to benefit from their resources,” she said.
In her speech, Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo hailed the cooperation between the national and county government especially in offering support to community-empowerment programs targeting the health sector. She cited the launch of the Universal Health Coverage Program where over 1,000 community health promoters would be used to enhance services at the village level.
Ms. Kilalo added that the county was also keen on working closely with partners and donors to promote development projects to benefit the residents. She cited the newly-opened eye unit at Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi, the refurbishment of the cancer center and upgrading of rural health facilities in the region.
“Through partnerships and working closely with the national government, we have been able to establish structures that promote efficient delivery of good services,” she said.
During the event, the leaders officially launched the kits that would be used by the Community health promoters to offer preventive services at the household level. Four motorbikes were also launched to support the program in Taita-Taveta County.
Health officials in the region said the program of paying a stipend to the health promoters, insuring them and purchasing some basic attire for their safety will cost the county sh 41 million while the National government paying a similar amount to meet the cost of the entire program for a year.
