WHEN I assumed office in August 2022, I swore by the Bible and committed to focus on development in education, healthcare, infrastructure, water,agriculture and youth empowerment. These are words of Kiambu county governor Kimani Wamatangi who says that his commitment was against the backdrop of evident political challenges, scrutiny and hurdles set by his political detractors from within and outside the devolved unit.
Known during his tenure as the area Senator for his frequent appearances on radio and televised interviews, the governor has now traded the spotlight for the trenches of governance embodied in actualization of his manifesto. “I used my 10 years as Senator to push laws and policies in Parliament and on debate platforms. I succeeded on many fronts.The work of a governor is totally different owing to the fact that it requires more action than mere words,” he told Kiambu Observer in a recent interview.
Since taking office, Wamatangi has maintained a rigorous daily schedule, starting his mornings at 5:30am with management meetings at the Kiambu town domiciled county headquarters to align his team on the county’s priorities. By mid-morning, he is out in the field monitoring projects and meeting residents. One of his most applauded initiatives is the launch of ‘Wamatangi Care,’ a universal healthcare programme providing free medical cover for Kiambu residents.
Over 100,000 beneficiaries have accessed services under the programme, which caters to outpatient and inpatient needs and chronic illnesses like diabetes and cancer. Families also benefit from funeral support, receiving Sh100,000 in burial expenses. The county is also constructing 16 new Level 3 hospitals and completing stalled Level 4 hospitals in Lari, Thogoto and Githunguri. These facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, including X-ray and ultrasound machines. The Governor says the projects aim to bring quality and affordable healthcare services to the villages across the expansive county.
On education, Wamatangi’s administration has made significant progress particularly in the ECDE with 309 centers already complete and many others being in various stages of completion. Each ECDE centre features classrooms, ablution blocks, and play areas equipped with swings, tunnels, and sandpits and one can easily confuse them with high end private Academies.
Wamatangi’s government has also introduced an ambitious feeding programme for ECDE learners, offering fortified porridge daily, eggs twice a week, and milk every Thursday. This has boosted attendance rates from 32,000 to over 39,000 learners. In the bursary programme, the county government increased allocations to Sh500 million for the 2024/2025 financial year, benefiting over 100,000 students across the county. To address youth unemployment, the Governor has modernised 39 Vocational Training Centres (VTCs), equipping them with advanced tools for automotive mechanics, hospitality, and other trades such as cabro making.
His administration has prioritised agricultural development by distributing certified seeds, fertilisers, fruit seedlings, and livestock to over 500,000 farmers. In addition, his administration has supplied 300,000 Kienyeji chicks and piglets to boost livelihoods. The governor has also overseen the rehabilitation of more than 1,000 kilometres of roads and the installation of solar-powered streetlights in all wards under the “Angaza Kiambu” programme.
