Kisii County governor, Simba Arati, on Monday, December 12, indicated that a Ksh500 billion donation by the United Kingdom (UK) depended on President William Ruto's goodwill.
While speaking at Kisii during December 12, Jamhuri celebrations, the first-term governor announced that Ruto will facilitate the Ksh500 billion investment that would benefit area residents.
The governor also clarified that he sought Ruto's intervention, the sole reason why he visited State House, contrary to reports claiming that opposition leaders were warming up to Ruto post the August 9 elections.
“A lot of people wondered why I went to the State House, but it is because I was looking for the president’s goodwill in a mega project to be started in this region.
“We have a United Kingdom – Kenya health alliance that will see the British government invest half a trillion shillings in improving our healthcare sector,” the governor defended his relationship with Ruto.
The health project will be a partnership between the Kisii County government, the national government and the UK government.
On November 30, Arati led a high-powered delegation from Kisii County to State House Nairobi, where they met the President and UK Health Alliance delegation.
"The set-up of a Medical City to be established under the Kenya UK Health Alliance and the Sustainable Urban Economic Development programs in Kisii County is on course," Arati made a statement immediately after the meeting.
Arati expounded that the multi-billion project will benefit Kisii County and a larger part of the Nyanza region.
"The facility will train our healthcare workforce and support other medical schools starting with Kisii University and three other universities in the Lake Region Economic Bloc: Maseno, Masinde, and Egerton," he revealed.
He vowed to continue working with the national government terming electorate interests as superseding his political affiliation.
Simba Arati is the second governor from the Nyanza region to vow to work with Ruto for economic development.
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o made a similar visit to the State House on December 7, where he promised to work closely with Ruto.
“I met the president to discuss a multibillion Green Project that will be financed by UK government but its implementation. However, require political goodwill from Ruto’s government,” the governor defended his State House visit.
