This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
On Monday, Deputy President William Ruto met with 30 Members of County Assembly of Taita Taveta, led by their Speaker Meshack Maganga, in Voi.
Dr Ruto emphasized that the Taita Taveta County government would not be dissolved, as some had feared.
He noted that demanding accountability from county governments was not a way of undermining them, but rather a necessary step in ensuring they function effectively.
Dr Ruto urged the leaders to work together, even when they differ in ideas, and to find solutions to the challenges facing the county.
He observed that counties were made to function and further the interests of the people, not to be dissolved.
Dr Ruto also inspected the Njoro Kubwa Canal in Taveta, which serves a 6,000-acre piece of land benefiting over 20,000 farmers.
He said that the government was ensuring maximum output of the 242-km Njoro Kubwa Canal through adequate water distribution to farmers, lining of main and secondary canals, and installation of offtake points and other irrigation infrastructure.
Dr Ruto added that work was in progress to set up a banana plant in the county under the support of the European Union and the World Bank.
He explained that value addition would enable farmers to earn more from their work.