Governor Natembeya Highlights Key Achievements in Agriculture, Health, and Infrastructure in 2025 State of the County Address
In his address, Natembeya launched by stating that development is realized when the leadership focuses on serving the people rather than themselves.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth sang
In his address, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya highlighed the progress that has been experienced in his administration, saying that the county is gradually living up to the *Promise to Progress* ideal. In his address on Thursday during the State of the County Address at the County Assembly, Governor Natembeya said that strategic leadership decisions and people-centered governance are now bearing fruits.
In his address, Natembeya launched by stating that development is realized when the leadership focuses on serving the people rather than themselves. This is because his government has concentrated on developing agricultue, providing healthcare, developing infrastructure, youths, as well as dealing with emergencies.
# Agriculture and Food Security
Agriculture was one of the issues that featured in the address, with the governor reporting on the success of the *Fukuza Njaa* initiative. Since it was launched in 2023, the county has managed to provide free certified seeds to in excess of 459,000 households. This has led to a notable rise in the production of maize, from 4.8 million 90kg bags in 2022 to an estimated 7 million bags in 2025, with the county now being food secure, as opposed to being prone to dietry deficiency, as reported by Natembeya.
In a move to support farmers, the county has invested in post-harvest infrastructure. This includes the establishment of seven storage facilities for grains, nine dryers for maize, as well as the promotion of new value chains for avocados, sunflower, and coffee. In the dairy sector, a 16,000-liter pasteurization plant for milk as well as a 3,000-liter extended shelf life processing plant has been set up in Cherangany. This provides a significant advantage to farmers.
# Environment and Water Services
On conserving the environment, Natembeya said that tree planting has exceeded 20 million trees since 2023, which has increased the forest coverage from 15.1 percent to 16.1 percent. Notably, he identified significant progress on improved access to clean water under the World Bank-funded *Financing Locally Led Climate Action* (FLLoCA). Under the project, 27 borehole UV systems have been installed, 52 kilometers of water pipes installed, and 27 natural spring sites protected. This has improved the average distance from which people fetch clean water from five kilometers to 1.5 kilometers.
# Roads and Market Infrastructure
There has also been the development of infrastructure, with over 1,200 kilometers of roads opened and rearranged, with 300 kilometers having been gravled in the past year alone. The governor emphasized that grading should be followed by gravling. On the other hand, three box culverts have been completed, with two more set to be completed before the end of the year. The upgrading of markets in Weonia, Mitume, Kapkoi, and Kapkarwa has managed to increase the monthly revenues to a top of KSh 2.4 million.
# Healthcare and Social Protection
Healthcare reforms initiated under the *NateCare* initiative were termed revolutionary. The project currently supports health insurance coverage for 35,000 families. The nine sub-county health hubs now have operational mother theatres, although the Tom Mboya Mother and Baby Hospital is set to be inaugurated in the early part of next year. However, Natembeya expressed a worrying trend with regard to delayed cash payouts from the Social Health Authority, which pose a threat to healthcare delivery at Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The county has also provided more than 700 assistive devices to people living with disabilities, as well as assisted 3,000 youths in the cash transfer component of the *Ukombozi* empowerment initiative.
# Education, Sports, and Disaster Response
In the educational sector, the governor expressed support for the pre-school going population via *Ukombozi School Milk Programme*, which supports 47,000 pupils twice a week. Since 2023, the county has managed to deliver 61 twin classrooms, 28 ablution blocks, and has even recognized 781 ECDE teachers on permanent employment. There are also plans to set up a local university within the county, in collaboration with Kibabii University and Bells University from Nigeria.
Natembeya also commented on disaster responses in relation to management, with more than 9,000 people displaced by floods, though all the camps are now closed due to the success of disaster relief responses. In conclusion, he reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive growth, ensuring that his priority of investing in major sectors would remain a driving force in the development of Trans Nzoia.
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