Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana keeps amazing Kenyans by launching development projects at a pace faster than his colleagues.
His latest project adds to his development credentials as construction was officially completed at the Wote Green Public Park, undertaken by the county government in conjunction with the World Bank.
Construction of the massive park located in Wote Municipality began in May 2019.
Among other things, the public park has green recreational spaces, an ICT innovation centre complete with free Wi-fi, an open-air theatre, food courts, stalls, ornamental lighting, walking paths and a dedicated art space with murals for graffiti artists.
A highly-placed source within the County Government of Makueni revealed to Kenyans.co.ke that the contractor was expected to officially hand over the project in the next few weeks. We were, however, able to acquire exclusive photos of the park taken in January 2020, two weeks before the project's completion.
The park is expected to spur economic growth in Wote and the larger Makueni County by creating a vibrant environment that encourages job creation and enhanced business.
As a public park, it is also expected to attract Kenyans from Makueni and beyond.
In September 2019, then-Project Manager Esther Katile disclosed that the park had been designed with a specific focus on combating climate change.
In particular, Katile noted that the greening process would help mitigate air-pollution in Wote Municipality.
"Organic matter will be continually used in the greening process of the park," she noted while giving updates on the project's progress.
The park will also have its own solid waste management system, public toilets and a low perimeter wall dressed with a natural fence.
Since his election as governor in 2013, Kibwana has earned plaudits for his development track record with several impressive projects under his belt.
They include the establishment of a fruit processing plant, a milk processing factory and the creation of an online platform that allows anyone to track the progress of all county government projects.
Kibwana's record has also attracted foreign investment in Makueni, with various ambassadors trooping to the county to explore possible collaborations with the county government.
On January 24, 2020, for instance, Makueni became the first of eight selected counties to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to operationalize a US-Kenya trade agreement under the Prosper Counties Initiative.
