The State Department of Devolution will document Busia County government’s success story in the provision of portable water to residents through solar powered boreholes.
In a speech read by the assistant director in the Department, Lesley Khayadi, during a meeting with Senior County Officers at the Busia Agricultural Training Centre on Monday, the PS said the County government should be appreciated.
“I congratulate you for this and other innovations you have in service delivery. We will document and share them as best practices to be emulated by others,” she said.
Currently, there are 108 solar powered boreholes across the County which are functional and residents are benefiting from them.
The solar powered projects have caught the eyes of leaders who have visited the County among them former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Water CS Eugene Wamalwa and CRA officials.
Ms Mabruki said devolution gains in Busia County include increased investment, improved roads, and road services, better education, water and security services, increased job opportunities and street lighting.
She said Busia is endowed with incredible beautiful natural features that are potential tourist attraction sites. “I encourage the County government to continue with the initiatives it is undertaking in developing the Western tourist circuit. Being a border county, there are a number of unique opportunities and challenges that may arise, exerting pressure on the services and facilities within the county,” she said.
The PS urged governor Sospeter Ojaamong’s administration, through the established intergovernmental sectoral forums, to explore ways of partnering with the national government to solve issues.
Mabruki said Kenya’s devolution process has been a huge success as exemplified by other countries coming to the country to set their own benchmarks.
However, the PS admitted that the country has faced teething challenges that need to be addressed as it endeavors to implement its mandate including management and coordination, capacity building, and technical assistance to county governments and promoting intergovernmental relations.
“Our water is clean and safe for drinking and in the near future Busia residents might not see the need to buy bottled water. It is our target that in 2018 our people will not have to walk more than 0.5 Kilometers to get water,” the County Chief Officer for water Timona Mboga said.
Water CEC Gregory Odeke said devolution has made it possible for the project to work out although there some teething challenges they are facing.
“Funds for various projects are being released in piecemeal. This makes us look bad in front of our contractors who demand payments on time,” said Odeke.