Kirinyaga Deputy Governor David Githanda has asked residents to protect businesses and other investments that they depend on for livelihood from looting and destruction.
Githanda said acts of hooliganism have no place in the county and regretted recent incidents of looting and destruction of businesses during demonstrations in various parts of the county.
The Deputy Governor noted that destruction and looting of businesses witnessed at Wang’uru, Kagio, Kagumo among other towns undermines investors’ confidence in the county business environment saying it was likely to hurt the economy and families that depend on the enterprises.
Speaking during the official opening of the first I&M bank branch in the County at Wang’uru town, Mwea, Githanda who represented Governor Anne Waiguru termed the looting and destruction of businesses as criminal acts that should not to tolerated.
“We cannot — and must not — destroy the very investments that our people depend on for livelihoods, nor should we sabotage our collective progress through violence and vandalism. These are a direct setback to our efforts to attract investors like I&M Bank. For heaven’s sake, let us not be the architects of our own poverty,” he said.
He said Governor Waiguru’s administration has invested a lot in marketing the county as the next frontier for investment, improving of infrastructure like the roads, supply of water among others.
Githanda said the opening of the I&M bank branches in Kirinyaga was a vote of confidence in the county as an investment destination.
“Our development depends on stability, security, and unity. I therefore call upon all residents of Kirinyaga County to protect our investments, to uphold peace, and to resolve disagreements through dialogue and lawful means,” the DG added.
The bank is the latest financial institution to open shop in the county with NCBA and Diamond Trust Bank also making entry in the last few months.
“Kirinyaga County continues to establish itself as an investment-friendly hub, offering strategic proximity to Nairobi, affordable labour, and policies that attract agro-industrial ventures. The Sagana Agro Industrial City is underway, incorporating an Export Processing Zone (EPZ), a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a County Aggregation and Industrial Park, and essential infrastructure to support industrial expansion. These initiatives affirm that Kirinyaga is rising as a thriving destination for transformative investment,” he noted.
He said the opening of I&M Bank in Mwea will empower farmers, entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and small businesses, enabling them to secure credit, expand investments, and contribute to the county’s financial stability.
Githanda challenged financial institutions to take advantage of the rising demand for agriculture mechanization and value addition to curve a niche in asset financing.
I&M bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gul Khan, said Mwea was a natural choice for investment due to its agricultural significance and therefore was an economically promising areas.
“Our investment in Mwea is anchored on supporting local farmers and agro-entrepreneurs. We believe in offering practical solutions that transform lives, and agriculture remains at the heart of that transformation,” said Khan.
The CEO said the bank’s entry into Kirinyaga County was part of a broader ambition “to build a truly inclusive and future-facing bank with a relevance in Kenya’s evolving financial landscape.”
He said the bank has doubled its customer base in two years due to its tailor made solutions and strategy to “meet customers where they are.”
