Nandi County Senator Stephen Arap Sang has set the pace in the race for Nandi Governor's seat by unveiling a five-year blueprint pegged on a 12-point programme.

In his manifesto dubbed 'Transforming Nandi' Senator Sang said he intends to establish a springboard for the county to actualize her great potential.

"From the fertile agricultural land, unexploited minerals, high altitude for sports training, greatly endowed and talented human resource, our county is thirsty for dynamic, focused, energetic servant leadership with integrity and demonstrable sense of responsibility to transform our potential into reality," noted Sang in his blueprint.

The manifesto shows how he will create employment for the youth and women, improve farming and enhance quality education. He said that his administration will provide an adequate bursary to all needy and deserving students with the aim of eliminating the burden of school fees harambees.

If elected, Sang pledged to provide partial scholarships to youth in technical training institutes(TTIs) within the county and establish training and internship placement partnerships for county students.

On the health sector, Sang indicated that his government will absorb staff currently on casual terms and employ more medical staff to cover the staff deficit. He also wants to expand the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital and partner with multinational tea companies to equip Nandi Hills Sub County Hospital to premier status.

He also plans to focus on the provision of affordable Artificial Insemination(A.I) services, subsidize farm inputs and operationalize a warehouse receipting service for cereal farmers.

"We will introduce a "Farming is Cool" program in order to make youth appreciate and practice agribusiness as a form of self-employment," he said in his development plan.

He said, his government will set up a county machinery authority to acquire, maintain, run and lease out road equipment to local contractors and will prioritize local contractors in the award of tenders. He has further pointed out that he will revert road maintenance around tea estates to tea companies.

On youth and women empowerment, Sang has pledged to convert the current operating licence fees for bodaboda riders to be own savings within their own Saccos and that he will provide LPO financing to youth and women bidders who win county tenders. Sang has also indicated that he will establish three business incubation centers in the county for youth and women.

The governor hopeful who is the first aspirant to unveil the manifesto ahead of the forthcoming elections, will also provide free medical cover to senior citizens and persons with disabilities within county hospitals and prioritize orphans and PWDs in the allocation of bursaries.

Releasing his manifesto, Sang promised to prepare and institute a well thought out all-inclusive historical injustices case against colonial masters and resettle squatters in the county.

On the thorny issue of tea estates whose leases are about to expire Sang pointed out that he will establish a county parastatal to manage the estates o behalf of Nandi residents.

"We will also negotiate and provide a legal framework for Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) by the multinationals tea estates to be used on community agreed programs," added Sang in his blueprint.

On governance and service delivery, Sang intends to set up a monitoring and evaluation unit that will be charged with setting up targets and measuring performance.

"We will inculcate professionalism, integrity and zero tolerance to corruption in all county government programs and operations," he noted.

Other key points in the manifesto include Diaspora engagement, water, sports, culture, and tourism.

Sang said that apart from providing firm policy direction in the management of the county, he will appoint competent personnel to manage services efficiently and ensure accountability.

According to the lawmaker, the development blueprint will address the problems facing Nandi residents when fully implemented.

"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it," penned Sang in his manifesto.