Kericho County Government has prioritised the completion and operationalisation of key development projects in health, water, agriculture and industrialisation to accelerate economic growth and improve service delivery.

The resolutions were reached during the 129th County Cabinet Meeting chaired by Governor Dr Eric Mutai, where the County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) reviewed ongoing development programmes and approved measures to ensure residents benefit from public investments.

The priority projects include the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Centre at Kericho County Referral Hospital, Mother and Child Units at Sosiot, Cheborge and Kunyak, the Bureti Water Expansion Project, Kedowa Maize Mill and Roret Pineapple Processing Plant.

The CECM resolved to prioritise resource allocation towards completing the projects, with particular emphasis on operationalising facilities and infrastructure whose completion would expand access to essential services and create opportunities for economic development.

In the water sector, the county is accelerating last-mile connections for completed major water projects, including Kimologit, Kapkures and Kapsoit, to extend reliable and clean water supply to more households.

The initiative is expected to bridge the gap between completed water infrastructure and actual access at household level, while supporting domestic and other productive activities in beneficiary communities.

The county is also pursuing the Bureti Water Expansion Project to improve water supply in the Kapsuser-Kabartegan-Roret corridor and surrounding areas, where improved access to water remains an important development priority.

In agriculture and industrialisation, the prioritisation of the Kedowa Maize Mill and Roret Pineapple Processing Plant is expected to strengthen value addition by providing opportunities for processing agricultural produce, improving market access for farmers and supporting local enterprises.

The Roret facility is among the county’s agro-processing investments intended to support pineapple farming through processing and product development, while the Kedowa mill is expected to contribute to maize value addition.

The CECMs also directed that works under the ongoing multimillion-shilling Kericho town beautification project be expedited to minimise disruptions to traders, pedestrians and other town users.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to improve the urban environment and public spaces, with timely completion expected to ease inconvenience experienced by businesses and members of the public during construction.

In education and skills development, the CECMs ratified plans for the Fourth Vocational Training Graduation Ceremony, which will see more than 4,000 graduates awarded certificates in recognition of their practical and industry-relevant skills.

The approval allows the graduation steering committee to begin preparations for the ceremony, highlighting the county’s continued investment in technical and vocational training as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

The exercise is intended to reinforce accountability, departmental efficiency and results-oriented leadership by aligning public service performance with development priorities and service delivery targets.

The implementation of the resolutions will be key in determining how quickly the county’s ongoing investments translate into improved healthcare, expanded water access, stronger agricultural value chains and better livelihoods for Kericho residents.

By Kipngeno Korir