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Nandi Governor Stephen Sang on Thursday called on the Cabinet Secretaries for Interior and Coordination of National Security Dr. Fred Matiangi and Foreign Affairs and International Trade’s Amb. Monica Juma to reign on rogue agencies that recruit Kenyan Citizens to work in foreign countries.

Speaking when he received a status report of Isaac Kiprotich from Kimngeru Sub location who returned from Qatar where he was stranded after his agent abandoned him, Sang said the Government should vet all agencies offering such services to weed out unscrupulous agencies who have turned the business into a slave trade.

Medical Officers from Kapsabet County referral Hospital accompany Kipngetich to the Hospital for further medical attention.

“I call upon relevant Government Ministries to move with speed and vet afresh all the recruitment agencies in the country to ensure that only the genuine ones are left”

Kipngetich, who was severely injured after he slipped while on duty, was hospitalized for about a month in a Qatar-based hospital
He arrived on Wednesday and was admitted at Kapsabet County Refferal Hospital for further treatment.

Governor Sang added that many youth have suffered and continue to suffer in the hands of slave traders who masquerade as agents of foreign companies.

“We are aware that many youths have suffered and fallen prey to such slave traders who fool them with non existing jobs in foreign countries. When they arrive in those countries, they are misused and made to work for long hours with less or no pay,” Sang said.

The Governor urged the youth to exercise due diligence and do background checks of the agencies before registering with them.

Sang disclosed that his administration was in the process of exploring ways to increase the Internship opportunities for the youth across the county as well as increasing procurement opportunities so that the youth can benefit from and reduce the numbers of those who are seeking employment outside the country.

“We will continue exploring ways of absorbing our youth through our internship program and also increase opportunities for them through procurement opportunities so that they do not have to travel abroad for jobs.”

Already, the County Government of Nandi has placed 250 youths on Internship program in the first phase with another 400 set to be absorbed in July. Additionally, procurement opportunities for the Youth, Women and Persons Living with Disabilities have increased from the Constitutional 30 percent to 50 percent.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 youths are looking for jobs in overseas countries every month due to the high unemployment rates in the country.

Nandi County leaders have pledge to work together in the delivery of development projects to residents.

While speaking in Tindiret during the burial of Tindiret MP’s sister Irene Jepkorir, the leaders led by Governor Stephen Sang said it was important for leaders from the county to work together for the benefit of the electorate.

“We must come together as leaders and rally our efforts for the benefit of our people” Sang said.

The County boss said they have identified areas of collaboration which include infrastructure, bursaries, Water provision, access to electricity among others.

He said the county will continue to partner with Constituency offices in the different sectors to spur economic growth across the county.

Melly said that he will continue working closely with the Leadership of the County Government of Nandi for the benefit of the people.

He indicated that last year, the county Government and the Constituency office worked together in the construction of Litei-Cheptonon-Kapsoit road that links Kericho County and Nandi.

“Through the Road Levy Maintenance Fund (RLMF), Kenya Rural Roads Authority and Kenya Urban Roads Authority we will team up together to ensure that roads are opened and mainatined across the county” Melly said

“I will continue working closely with the Governor and other leaders from the county to ensure that development projects in the constituency are done” he added.

On his part, Aldai Mp Cornely Serem indicated that his office was working closely with the county leadership in roads and water projects.

Serem added that he had liased with the county Government in the installation of street lights across the county.

“Our duty as elected leaders is to take development projects to the people. That will only be achieved when we come together” Serem said.

In a bid to hasten the provision of water to the residents, the county Government will provide drilling rigs while the MPs do the piping works and other logistics through the Constituency Development Fund.

The leaders also agreed that they will work together in the provision of school infrastructural development, sinking of boreholes in schools and provision of bursaries for needy students.

An amount of Ksh. 42 million has been disbursed to needy students in Secondary, Vocational Training Centres and those with Special Needs, Governor Stephen Sang has said.

Governor Sang awarding one of the top student in last year’s KCSE exams from the school.

Governor Sang revealed that Ksh. 18 million was disbursed to students in Secondary, with Ksh. 18 million going to Vocational Training Centres and six million benefiting students with Special Needs. Ksh. 18 million will be disbursed to University and College students in the last quarter of the 2018/19 Financial Year.

Speaking at St. Joseph’s Girls High School Chepterit during a thanksgiving ceremony to celebrate 2018 KCSE results, Sang said the County bursary scheme has helped many students who faced fee problems to complete their education.

While encouraging residents from needy backgrounds to apply for bursaries at the Ward level, Governor Sang encouraged students to put more efforts in their education for them to have a better future.

Students of St Joseph’s Girls Chepterit during the Thanksgiving giving service held at the school.

‘The identification of bursary beneficiaries has been devolved to the Ward level to ensure that genuine needy cases benefit from the bursary,’ said Sang.

The Governor urged students not to be distracted by their background but to concentrate on their studies since that was the only way they could change their lives and the lives of their families.

‘I am an example. I was raised in a very humble family and I want to encourage all of us to put in that extra effort,’ encouraged Sang.

“Don’t worry about your background because that should not define your future. If I worried about my background, I wouldn’t have reached where I am today. Focus on your studies,” he added.

He said that his administration was keen on supporting the Education sector in the county by ensuring that infrastructural development in schools are fast tracked and needy students get support through the county bursary scheme.

“My administration will continue issuing bursaries to needy students to enable them complete their education and actualize their dreams,” he said.

He added that his administration was working closely with the National Government to ensure that infrastructural developments in schools are fast tracked.

Governor Stephen Sang has called on Corporate institutions, Parastals and Multi-Nationals within the county to up scale their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives across the county.

While Speaking in Ollessos ward, Nandi hills Sub County during the opening of Ollesos Stima School which was funded by Kenya Power, Sang challenged other institutions to fund projects within the county.

“We laud Kenya Power for their CSR activities in our county. We also want to ask other institutions including Multi-Nationals in our county to emulate this, ” the Governor said.

Energy CS Charles Keter powers a street light at Chepterit Centre. The CS said that last mile connectivity will continue across the county until every households is connected with electricity.

He said that his administration was working closely with the National Government to ensure that residents benefit from various projects instituted by both levels of governments.

“In order to ensure that there is enough security and continuity of business activities, we are working ,closely with the National Government in street lighting connectivity in our county”

Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter said that the last mile electricity connectivity in Nandi would continue and areas which did not benefit in the first phase of the program will be considered in the second phase that is ongoing

“The last mile connectivity program in Nandi will continue until every household is connected with electricity,” affirmed Keter.

The CS disclosed that Nandi County was among the biggest beneficiaries of the program and more than 20,000 households have so far been connected to the national grid.

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The Last Mile Connectivity Project is a project which is jointly being done by the National Government and the African Development Bank. The program aims to support the Government’s initiatives of ensuring increased electricity access to Kenyans.

Since its launch in 2015, the program has benefited more than 700,000 households across the country.

Over ten families whose houses were gutted by fire in Belekenya shopping centre in Kosirai Ward have found solace after the County Government of Nandi brought in relief supplies.

The families who were living in ten rental houses belonging to Mr Joseph Maiyo at Belekenya were rendered homeless after a fire swept through the area and reduced their dwelling units and household goods into ashes.

Led by the Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Cheruiyot, the County Secretary Dr. Francis Sang, CEC for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech, Kosirai Ward MCA Hon. Joshua Ng’etich and other county officials visited the victims to deliver aid from the county government.

“We understand the pain our people are going through especially those who lost everything. We are doing all we can to help them recover. We hope the assistance offered will help towards rebuilding their lives,” said the Deputy County boss.

The fire consumed a business premise, residential homes, several bags of maize, household goods and five sheep.

The affected families, each was given beddings, food stuff and utensils.

The cause of fire is yet to be known.

The affected residents thanked the county government for the donations and for the response by the county fire team.

The short term assistance was availed to alleviate the human suffering occasioned by fire. A fundraiser will be held on Friday next week to aid the affected residents to settle.

Nandi Governor Stephen Sang has warned students against indulging in drug and substance abuse.

Speaking at Kapsabet Boys school grounds during a thanksgiving giving service for the 2018 candidates, the Governor said that drug abuse across the country is threatening the future generation.

“Many of our youth have had their lives destroyed by drugs. This is why we must come together and fight the drug menace in the country because it is threatening the future of our youth”

Governor Sang addressing Parents, teachers and Students of Kapsabet Boys High school during a thanksgiving service for 2018 candidates.

He appealed to parents and teachers to always teach their children and students on the negative impacts of drug abuse.

“Parents and teachers play a crucial role in the war against drugs and should be at the forefront educating children and students on the negative effects of drugs”

He disclosed that his administration has put in place elaborate plans to eradicate drugs within the county.

“My administration has put in place measures to ensure that alcohol is eradicated in our county. We have held rehabilitation forums across the county that saw more than 500 drug addicts get rehabilitated”

He added that his administration conducted a fresh vetting of all Alcohol outlets across the county in a bid to ensure that those that meet the minimum requirements were given licences to open and operate the business.

Governor Sang with Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang during the thanksgiving service.

The Governor called on Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs and Elders to take their work seriously and work with the police to ensure that our villages are free from the preparation and sell of illicit brews.

He was accompanied by Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang, Nandi Assembly Speaker Joshua Kiptoo and other guests.

Today Governor Stephen Sang delivered his 3rd State of the County Address to the County Assembly as provided for in law

Governor Sang used the address to highlight the county’s transformational progress as well as enumerating current and future development plans of his administration.

In his address, the Governor said that tremendous progress has been made in all the sectors of development.

Governor Sang delivering his state of the county address.

He noted that under his two year reign, Nandi had scored many firsts in different fronts.

Sang said that the office of the Ombudsman ranked the county for the first time since its inception as the second most transparent county in the country.

The County boss enumerated the progress that has been made in the health sector. He said that improvement of the health sector was one of his priority and the problem of missing drugs in health facilities across the county was now a thing of the past since he has ensured that there is constant supply of drugs and other medical supplies in all the health facilities across the county.

Deputy Governor Dr Yulita Mitei together with the County Secretary following the address from the Gallery.

He added that existing health facilities across the county had been renovated and upgraded so as to relieve pressure from the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital which has undergone a facelift and can now offer Dialysis and MRI services.

Governor Sang indicated construction of a theatre in Kapsabet and Nandi hills hospitals were complete while the installation of a CT scan is ongoing in Kapsabet.

Among other projects in the health sector, Sang disclosed that expansion of outpatient service and installation of a standby generators in Kapsabet and Nandi hills hospitals were complete and an Oxygen plant will be installed at the County referral Hospital next week.

The County has also increased the number of health workers by employing 10 Medical Doctors, 2 Specialists, 60 Clinical officers and 50 Nurses.

Sang in is address said that the county was in the right path to achieving universal healthcare for the people of Nandi.

In the Agricultural sector, he recognized the fact that agriculture is the backbone of our economy and indicated that his administration has done a lot to improve the sector.

He cited the subsidized AI program rolled out by the county, the milk chilling tanks given to dairy cooperatives, the proposed Milk processing plant that will be set up in Kabiyet, renovations of cattle dips across the county, the partnership with Meru greens to assist farmers to plant French beans as well as distribution of coffee seedlings and Avocado to farmers cooperatives.

The County boss said that his administration has been able to achieve a lot in a short time due to his dedication to serve the people of Nandi.

He revealed that works are ongoing at the Kipchoge Sports Academy and the first phase is almost complete adding that the National Government had committed to complete the construction of Kipchoge Keino stadium in Kapsabet.

To improve the Education sector in the county the Governor said his administration has recruited 400 ECDE teachers, disbursed Ksh 102M for bursaries (60M in the first year and 42M in the second year) with Ksh 18M waiting to be disbursed to University Students in the next quarter and has allocated funds for the completion and equipping of 13 VTCs across the county.

Governor Sang disclosed that Kapsabet Municipality has received Sh177M that will be used to implement various projects including the setting up of a waste management system, improvement of road network within the municipality, street lighting, pedestrian walkways, drainage and bodaboda shades within the municipality.

To ensure that households get piped water, Sang said his administration has acquired drilling rigs that will be used to sink boreholes with 26 locations where drilling will be done having been identified across the county and already the process has started in Taboiyat area in Chepkunyuk ward.

In the road sector, Sang disclosed that 750 Kilometers of roads has be graded, 320 Kilometres graveled and 150 Kilometers of new roads done. He added that the county government has done several bridges, culverts and footbridges across the county.

The county boss also confirmed that it has not abandoned its quest to pursue justice for the Nandi people who were forcefully evicted from their lands by the British.

He said that the National Land Commission has ruled that former and current Kimondi Squatters, Tindiret Forest Dorobo Squatters be settled marking the first win of his administration.

The Governor also revealed that NLC has ordered for a fresh survey of the lands held by Tea Estates to find out whether there is any residue that will be given to the county government as a trustee of the community.

Apart from doing a fresh survey, NLC also directed the Multi Nationals to set up a scholarship fund to educate the Talai Children, provide public utilities to the Nandi community and renewal of land leases be held in abeyance until an agreement is reached.

In his closing remarks, the County boss reiterated his commitment to deliver his promise to the people of Nandi by pledging to work tirelessly.

A quick response from the Nandi county fire department on Wednesday saved Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) from huge losses.

Early morning, a fire burnt a section of the Eldoret airstrip, destroying property. No casualties were reported.

The fire response team were called in to aid in putting off the fire together with their counterparts from Uasin Gishu County. The Nandi County team with fully filled tankers and equipped fire engines arrived at the scene on time. The quick response was praised by the Kenya Airports Authority, Eldoret International Airport and the County Government of Uasin Gishu.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Eldoret International Airport management praised the Nandi and Uasin Gishu fire departments and said the response was quick. “We have to give credit to the firefighters as they collaborated to contain the fire,” said Samson Luvutsa, a senior official from Eldoret International Airport.

He praised the fire teams and members of the public for responding very fast to help put off the fire.

The Kenya Red Cross also praised the fire brigade.

The inferno destroyed most vegetation in the airstrip located along the Eldoret-Iten road.

The landing and takeoff areas were affected as burning vegetation caused huge smoke which could not allow planes to land or leave.

The airstrip is operated under the Eldoret International Airport and receives at least three light aircraft and several helicopters every day.

Nandi Deputy County Secretary (DCS)Truphena J. Kobiro joined parents and students of Kapsabet Boys High Primary school in a thanksgiving service following exemplary performance in the 2018 national examinations.

Having a mean score of 380, the school emerged as one of the top public schools in the county. The leading pupil garnered 437 marks. A total of 35 students joined national secondary schools whereas 33 others joined extra county schools.

Kapsabet Boys High Primary School entertaining guests 

Speaking during the prayer and thanksgiving service held at the school’s grounds, the DCS acknowledged the former pupils for their excellent performance in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams.

Kobiro reminded current pupils and students to commit themselves to God for them to succeed in education and later in life.

“The education at Primary, Secondary and University levels will enable you to stand upright and contribute to nation building for today’s and tomorrow’s generations,” she said.

She urged students to dedicate themselves and challenge life to bring out the talent God has given them.

The officer further noted that the resolve of Governor Stephen Sang’s administration remains bringing together all the available resources, identifying opportunities and purposefully taking an integrated approach to have all policies, programmes and activities in the county aligned towards raising the welfare and sustainable quality of life and healing our society, people and ecosystems.

Mr. Samwel Biwott, County Director for Basic Education

Also present at the ceremony were the TSC Deputy County Director Lesayo Megiri and County Director for Basic Education Samwel Biwott.