Nairobi: National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended regional authorities against criticism of failing to discharge their mandate, attributing their challenges to low government funding. Speaking at the Konkona area of Garsen Constituency in Tana River County, Mbadi emphasized the important role played by regional authorities and pledged to do everything possible to ensure they succeed in bringing equitable development across Kenya.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mbadi stated, ‘The challenges the regional development authorities have been facing are not of their making. We (the government) have not been adequately financing them, yet it is our duty to look for money to fund them. I am not promising heaven, but we shall do what is humanly possible to ensure they are up and running.’ He made these remarks after commissioning a Sh11 million water project financed by the national government through the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA), one of Kenya’s six regional development authorities.
Mbadi expressed his disdain for marginalisation, emphasizing that regional authorities were established to address this issue. He advocated for deliberate efforts to ensure equity in development across the country. ‘I know what marginalisation means, and as a country, we must be deliberate in ensuring that there is equity. We cannot have one country where we have two classes of people-some driving on tarmac roads to their homes while others having not seen a single murram road in their areas,’ he said.
The commissioned project includes a solar-powered borehole with a capacity to produce 15,000 litres per hour, an elevated steel storage tank with a capacity of 24,000 litres, three water kiosks, and a powerhouse. This initiative is set to benefit 300 households and 1,800 livestock. Mbadi, accompanied by Tana River Senator Danson Buya Mungatana and Garsen Member of Parliament Ali Wario Guyo, alias Ali Hashaka, reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing the effects of climate change.
Mbadi announced that the National Treasury, through the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme, will disburse Sh122 million, with an additional Sh66 million from the Tana River County, for water projects and tree planting in the Constituency. He also launched the construction of two bridges across River Tana, each costing Sh100 million, to improve transportation in the area. Furthermore, Mbadi pledged to fund the excavation of two water pans at a cost of Sh160 million, following a request by MP Hashaka.
MP Hashaka highlighted the severe water problems in Tana River County and appealed for more resources to address these issues. Senator Mungatana echoed these sentiments, urging the Treasury Cabinet Secretary to ensure that marginalised areas receive adequate financial allocations in future budgets. Local residents Roba Abdalla and Aladin Malibe expressed their gratitude for the project, acknowledging the area’s perennial water scarcity and thanking TARDA for the initiative.