By Vitalis Kimutai

Three issues are close to Bureti MP Franklin Kipng’etich Bett’s heart — education, agriculture and infrastructure.

He says dwindling education standards need immediate and long-term solutions.

“I am concerned with performance in the education sector, which has for many years been dismal and shameful,” Bett says.

The MP has set aside 25 per cent of his monthly salary to be added to the bursary fund in the CDF kitty to help needy students pay school fees.

Bett also intends to launch an educational fund to reward bright students, best teachers and parents.

Another priority area the MP is working on is the improvement of infrastructure, especially roads, bridges and supply of power to rural areas.

“Roads in rural areas are in bad shape while rural electrification is yet to reach local centres, health facilities and schools,” he says.

The MP says he will woo investors to set up a fresh fruit-processing factory, boost horticultural farming and find market for the produce.

He says in the region, besides depending on tea as the main cash crop, pineapples do well in Roret division but farmers do not have a market for it.

“I am seeking to woo investors to set up a factory to process pineapples and help farmers reap profits, create job opportunities and spur economic growth,” he reveals.

Bett, 55, is a politician with a deep-rooted background in public service where he served in various capacities, notable ones being the State House Comptroller, a Permanent Secretary and a High Commissioner.

Career civil servant

He was born in 1953 at Kiptiriri village of Bureti District and attended Cheborge and Korongoi primary schools. He joined Tenwek High School in Bomet District for his O-levels and later Shimo la Tewa High School for A-levels.

In 1975, he was admitted to the University of Nairobi for a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degree.

Upon graduation in 1979, he joined the Civil Service. He was employed at the department of the Inspectorate of State Corporations in the Office of the President before joining Treasury as an Under Secretary.

In 1987, he resigned and joined the Federation of Kenya Employers as the Executive Officer in charge of the Rift Valley region.

Two years later, however, he was recalled to the Civil Service to serve at the Public Works’ Supplies department before being appointed Deputy State House Comptroller the same year. In 1996, Bett was elevated to the post of State House Comptroller following the retirement of Mr Abraham Kiptanui.

Immediately after the 1997 polls, he was removed from State House and appointed PS in the Ministry of Environment where he served for a year before being appointed Kenya’s High Commissioner to Australia.

Courtesy of:http://www.eastandard.net/