Kericho: Devolution has significantly transformed Kenya’s political landscape, turning it into a potent engine for grassroots development. Kericho County stands out as a prime example of how local governments can effectively anchor the national Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). This transformation is evident through strategic investments in agriculture, water supply, education, infrastructure, and digital revenue systems, illustrating devolution as more than just a constitutional principle but a practical tool for uplifting households.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kericho County is making substantial progress by commissioning multi-million-shilling water projects that now serve thousands of homes, introducing modern farm value chains beyond tea, constructing new Early Childhood Development (ECD) classrooms, and reviving once-stalled processing factories. These initiatives demonstrate how devolved units can deliver tangible impacts.
In a recent televised interview, Kericho County Governor Dr. Eric Mutai highlighted his administration’s focus on equitable resource distribution. Every ward has received projects ranging from new water systems to classrooms and agricultural support programs. Dr. Mutai emphasized the Sh18 million Chagoror water project in Londiani Ward, now 95 percent complete, which supplies households that previously relied on rivers and springs. Additionally, the Sh17 million Kibrengwe project serves Kedowa-Kimugul and Chepseon wards.
Governor Mutai also spotlighted the Sh186 million Kibon Logit project in Kiptere, which was revived after stalling under a previous regime and is now 95 percent complete. He noted the extension of piped water from the Kimugu treatment site to Belgut and the ongoing Sh108 million Seretut-Kabartegan project, serving parts of lower Belgut.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Mr. Magerer Langat reported that Kericho has diversified beyond tea into coffee, sugarcane, dairy, pyrethrum, and aquaculture, significantly widening the agricultural base since 2022. Over 650,000 coffee seedlings have been distributed to farmers across Bureti, Soin/Sigowet, and Belgut, elevating Kericho to the fifth position nationally in coffee production. Sugarcane farmers benefit from the West Valley Sugar Factory, which reduces post-harvest losses and creates jobs.
Langat also revealed efforts to reintroduce pyrethrum in Londiani and Kipkelion areas and expand aquaculture from 200 to over 700 fish farmers across the county. Plans are in place to finalize a county dairy processor to brand and market Kericho milk, ensuring that the county’s 220 million liters of annual production directly benefit farmers.
Despite challenges such as depressed global tea prices, Kericho is collaborating with other counties to advocate for higher auction prices and direct sales to international buyers. On value addition, the county has allocated Sh70 million to complete a pineapple factory at the Royal Factory in Bureti, which will enhance market access and reduce post-harvest wastage.
Governor Mutai confirmed that the Kericho County Referral Hospital has reopened after renovations, restoring affordable healthcare access. Plans are underway to recruit doctors and specialists, focusing on critical cadres to enhance service delivery.
In education, the Equalizer Vocational Training Programme has successfully trained over 3,600 youth from vulnerable families in technical trades, resulting in employment opportunities and self-employment ventures. The construction of 100 new ECD classrooms aims to address overcrowding and achieve optimal learner-teacher ratios.
CECM for Finance and Economic Planning Jackson Rop reported significant growth in Kericho’s own-source revenue, attributed to the automation of revenue systems. This growth reduces dependency on national transfers and supports timely funding of county projects, ensuring continued expansion of services like health, water, and education.