Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has highlighted a 66 per cent increase in the county’s Gross County Product (GCP), saying the development vision she outlined when she took office has largely been realised.
Waiguru said Kirinyaga’s GCP had increased from KSh114.9 billion in 2017 to KSh190.79 billion in 2025. She added that the county recorded an economic growth rate of 8.7 per cent in 2025, compared with national growth of approximately 6 per cent.
Speaking during her final State of the County Address before the County Assembly on Tuesday, the governor outlined what she described as a nine-year transformation across agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, water, education, industrial development and social empowerment.
ALSO READ
She also reported that the county’s own-source revenue had more than tripled, rising from KSh344.4 million in the 2017/18 financial year to KSh1.11 billion in 2025/26.
Waiguru attributed the increase to the digitisation of revenue collection and management, as well as the operationalisation of the Facility Improvement Fund.
“Today, we can proudly say that Kirinyaga has undergone remarkable transformation. Our economic foundation has strengthened, infrastructure has expanded, public services have improved, institutional capacity has grown, and our development outlook has become even more promising,” she said.
The outgoing governor said her administration had pursued economic diversification beyond traditional agriculture and trade, with increased attention to industrialisation, investment, value addition and urban development.
Sagana Industrial City
Waiguru identified the emerging Sagana Industrial City as one of the county’s major investments, saying it was intended to position Kirinyaga as an industrial and investment destination.
She noted that two investors targeting tomato and avocado processing had delivered machinery in preparation for establishing operations.
The city's Special Economic Zone has also been gazetted as a customs-controlled area, paving the way for industrial plot leasing and investment incentives.
Waiguru further reported that construction of 487 affordable housing units was progressing as part of the wider development.
According to the governor, construction of the project's major components had generated more than 2,650 jobs, while the fully operational industrial city is projected to create over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs.
She said the investment was designed to provide farmers with reliable markets, support local processing and connect businesses to wider domestic and international markets.
Growth in Agriculture
Agriculture remains a major pillar of Kirinyaga’s economy, contributing approximately 42 per cent of the county's economy and supporting 87 per cent of its population, according to Waiguru.
She said the Wezesha Kirinyaga programme had supported more than 100,000 farming households across different value chains.
The programme, she explained, had focused on organised farming, commercial agriculture, cooperative financing, improved productivity and better market access.
Waiguru reported that annual rice production had increased from 65,000 metric tonnes in 2017 to 210,000 metric tonnes, generating approximately KSh16 billion for farmers.
Tomato production rose from 46,000 to 116,000 metric tonnes, with an estimated annual value of KSh6.9 billion.
Coffee production also increased from 28,000 to 49,100 metric tonnes, with sales reaching KSh7.48 billion in the 2025/26 financial year.
In the dairy sector, average milk production per cow reportedly rose from 2.5 litres to approximately eight litres daily. The county's annual milk production is estimated at 86 million litres, valued at KSh3.1 billion.
Healthcare and Infrastructure Investments
In healthcare, Waiguru highlighted the construction of the Kerugoya County Referral Hospital Complex in 2023 as one of her administration's major achievements.
She also cited the near-completion of the Kianyaga, Kimbimbi and Sagana hospital complexes, which are expected to upgrade the respective Level 3 facilities to Level 4 hospitals.
The governor further pointed to the construction and operationalisation of dispensaries across the county, alongside investments in healthcare infrastructure and personnel.
On infrastructure, she said the Nyorosha Barabara Mashinani programme had improved connectivity in rural and urban areas, making it easier for residents to access services and economic opportunities.
Her administration had also constructed approximately 30 markets and aggregation centres, alongside town improvement programmes.
In water provision, Waiguru reported that more than 50,000 additional households had been connected to clean water.
She also highlighted investments in education, human capital development and social and economic empowerment programmes, particularly those targeting women and young people.
Waiguru Calls for Continuity
As her constitutional term approaches its end, Waiguru acknowledged that some flagship projects were still being implemented.
She said her administration would use the remaining months in office to complete ongoing projects, strengthen service delivery and consolidate development gains.
“I want to assure the people of Kirinyaga that although my constitutional term is drawing to a close, my administration remains fully committed to serving you until the very last day in office,” she said.
“We still have eight months ahead of us, and we shall continue working with the same energy, focus, and determination that have defined our service from the beginning. We will finish strong.”
Waiguru urged residents to elect leaders who would protect and build on the county's development progress, arguing that ongoing investments required continuity in leadership and planning.
“The roads we have built, the health facilities we have established, the water projects we have implemented, the industrial investments we have attracted, and the opportunities we have created for our people require leadership that understands the vision, values continuity, and is committed to taking Kirinyaga to the next level,” she said.
The two-term governor described her service to Kirinyaga as the greatest privilege of her public life, adding that she remained committed to championing the interests of the county, the Mt Kenya region and the country at a higher level.