Former Chuka University VC and Tharaka Nithi County gubernatorial hopeful under Jubilee Party Professor Erastus Njoka on Monday launched his manifesto labelled “The Transformative Agenda”, immediately after being cleared to vie for office by IEBC at Kathwana.
Accompanied by his immediate family, lawyers, politicians affiliated to the Jubilee Party and his supporters, Professor Njoka together with his running mate Geoffrey Mucee Rukunja were given the greenlight to contest the gubernatorial race, with the County Elections Manager Mohamed Raka saying the duo met all qualifications for clearance.
Professor Njoka’s transformative agenda consisting of 12 key pillars has been developed through diverse stakeholder input, articulating the plans and aspirations of making the blueprint a reality.
His manifesto seeks to change the way in which county programmes and projects are implemented in order to deliver accelerated and inclusive economic growth, food security, higher living standards, better education and healthcare, increased job creation, commercialized agriculture and improved livelihoods.
According to Njoka, desirable transformation can be achieved through prudent leadership, effective coordination of structures and improved accountability.
In his first 100 days in office, Njoka seeks to allocate 30 Million per ward in the budget to promote ward development, conduct a feasibility study to map out viable cottage industries to be established in every ward to promote industrialization, improve health facilities & ensure recruitment of qualified medics and adequate medical supplies, establish a county youth service to engage 150 youth, improve work environment for staff and review engagement with village administrators.
Njoka’s administration within 100 days will also see the allocation of 50 M in the budget to support duly registered boda boda groups, 50 M to support women groups, 50 M emergency fund to cushion farmers, 50 M for social security of the vulnerable groups in the society, 50 M to promote agroforestry, provide bursaries to vetted students, make budgetary allocations to employ additional ECDE teachers and constitute a committee to rationalize staff salaries and allowances as per the SRC guidelines.
Njoka is convinced that social transformation through social investment in water, agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, housing, industry, job creation, youth, women, PWDs, bursaries, electrification, employment, agribusiness, value addition, mining, tourism ward industrial development and social security for the elderly can be sustainable.
Drumming up support for his camp, the former VC lashed out at incumbent governor Muthomi Njuki, saying the county boss was incapable of serving the people due to his corruption charges that barred him from accessing the county headquarters at Kathwana.
Recently, governor Muthomi Njuki faced misfortunes in his bid to secure a second term in office, after IEBC blacklisted his preferred running mate Mr Njue Njagi with claims he had failed to resign from his position as CECM Agriculture as required by law.
With 62 days remaining to the August general elections, Njoka has called on all residents to rally behind his transformative agenda, insisting that the end results will be the creation of functional and rich villages with people living a dignified and decent life.
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