BARINGO: County and central governments to set up development plan
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Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi.
The county and central governments in Baringo County are to set up a five year Integrated Development Plan for budget planning and evaluation.
The county personnel who included Transitional Authority officials and heads of various departments converged for a three day reflection workshop organized by World Vision at Soi Safari Lodge in Lake Baringo and pledged to work as a team for efficient service delivery.
Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi, who opened the workshop said that the county was grappling with many challenges including insecurity and it was only through concerted efforts among all stakeholders that these problems can be tackled effectively.
“Our county has a lot of potential in the tourism and livestock sectors which if fully harnessed will turn around the economy of the county and in turn improve livelihoods of our people,”said Mr Cheboi,adding that there was need to alleviate rampant levels of poverty in the area currently standing at 50 per cent.
He welcomed the ongoing voluntary disarmament which the government has already rolled out in East Pokot District which he said will go along in restoring investor confidence and open the area for investment and spur development.
Mr Cheboi said that plans were underway for his government to put more than 10,000 acres of land in Kerio Valley under irrigation which he said will boost food security in the area create employment for thousands of jobless youth.
He said that after the deliberations, MPs and senators from the county will be brought on board for their input to be included in the Five year Integrated Development Plan.
Speaking during the workshop, World Vision official in charge of Baringo County William Chebii cited insecurity a major challenge to development in the area but said that the humanitarian organization has entered into partnership with World Vision, Germany for the warring communities to be empowered to co-exist peacefully.
“Ours is a bottom up approach and we are ready to work with the county government in a bid to improve the economic livelihoods of the people,” said Mr Chebii.
He said that the organization had already initiated a number of community projects including irrigation, health and water and sanitation in areas such as Marigat,Kollowa,Mogotio and Sandai.
