COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MERU

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

SPEECH BY H.E KIRAITU MURUNGI, GOVERNOR OF MERU COUNTY DURING THE 9^TH MASHUJAA DAY, 2OTH OCTOBER, 2018.

County Commissioner,

Senator,

Deputy Governor,

Members of Parliament,

Honourable Speaker,

Honourable Members of the County Assembly of Meru,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am very happy to join you in celebrating the 9^th Mashujaa day. I convey my best wishes to the people of Meru County and Kenyans in general wherever they are commemorating this day.

Allow me also to thank all those who have entertained us today. This is an assurance that the rich culture of the Meru People has been well preserved up to date. I am very impressed to see young people take part in cultural dances. I commend you for being custodians of our culture and traditions. My Government will support you to ensure that our identity as Merus is not lost and our history, tradition and culture is fully preserved.

Mashujaa Day is a very important day in the history of this nation and most importantly in our county. It is the day we pay tribute to our heroes and heroines who through their sacrifice and exemplary contribution, Kenya as a country was born and its people became free. From historical times to date, Meru County has had outstanding men and women who we shall always remember and celebrate for their heroic deeds. We are proud to have produced great leaders like General Mwariama and General Baimungi who are national heroes in the struggle for independence. It is sad and unfortunate to note that they have not been given the same status and treatment with their colleagues like Dedan Kimathi and General China. We in Meru County will always remember them as heroes and heroines. Join me in appreciating all the Mau Mau veterans with us here today.

Last year, I promised to ensure our heroes are properly recognized and accorded the respect that they deserve. With the help of the County Assembly, we have passed a law-the Meru County Honours and Awards Act. This law will facilitate recognition and conferment of titles to various persons as a way of recognising our heroes and other exemplary persons for their distinguished service. We are in the process of constituting an honours and awards committee which will identify our heroes and ensure that the records of their achievements are preserved and passed on to the future generations. Very soon we shall name one major street in Meru Municipality; General Mwariama Street and another one General Baimungi Street. This is the most befitting honour that we can give them.

We are proud of our modern day heroes who have and who continue to shine and fly flag of Meru high both nationally and internationally. It is true that Meru is home to some of the top politicians, academicians, civil servants and entrepreneurs. We shall recognize all these heroes and ensure that their achievements are never forgotten.

In August last year, we embarked on an extraordinary journey of Making Meru Great. I want to assure you that we are on course. We are determined to make Meru a proud, rich and prosperous county.

In our first year in office we have supplied water to areas that have been neglected in the past. So far, we have drilled close to 97 boreholes in Buuri, Tigania, Igembe and lower parts of Imenti. The people of Meru County must be freed of perennial water scarcity.

The Meru Youth Service program has received national recognition and admiration, with many counties visiting us with the intention of establishing similar projects. We shall continue with the program and we shall be recruiting another 1000 youths next year. Our school milk program has also been outstanding and the enrolment in our ECDE centres has increased significantly.

Provision of universal healthcare remains one of our top priorities. We shall soon introduce Meru Care program which will allow residents of Meru County to access healthcare for free in our hospitals and health centres. To enter this program, an annual fee of Kshs. 2000 per family will be charged.

It is easy to be entertained and to listen to good speeches on occasions such as these. But all these songs and speeches are meaningless unless we commit and purpose to live by the principles and aspirations of the heroes we are celebrating here today. Let us be united as a county and rise above pettiness and political foolishness.

Lastly, let me confirm that we fully support President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, and the Jubilee Party. We also fully support the BIG 4 Agenda and the Handshake with Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga which has brought peace and stability to our country. I have said I will support the referendum, only if it benefits the common people of Meru.

As I conclude, let me take this opportunity to wish all our candidates success in their forthcoming exams

I wish you all a very Happy Mashujaa Day.

Thank you.

God bless you all, and God bless Meru.