We were side-lined in formation of Ukambani union, MPs say

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka (left) and Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana follow proceedings at the inauguration of South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (Sekeb) on Friday, April 1, 2016. Some MPs said they were side-lined during the formation of the bloc that brings together Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties. PHOTO | PIUS MAUNDU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The economic bloc, bringing together Makueni, Machakos and Kitui counties, was launched on Friday.
  • Those in attendance included governors Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) and Julius Malombe (Kitui), as well as the former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.
  • MPs who missed the event told the Nation that those behind the formation of the economic bloc had locked them out.
  • Mr Musyoka challenged the region’s leaders to resolve differences among them.

Some members of Parliament from Ukambani have said that they were not consulted on the formation of the recently launched South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (Sekeb).

The economic bloc, bringing together Makueni, Machakos and Kitui counties, was launched on Friday amid disquiet that most MPs were overlooked during its formation.

Only two MPs out of the region’s 26 attended the inauguration ceremony at the site of the proposed Konza City.

Those in attendance included governors Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) and Julius Malombe (Kitui), as well as the former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Kibwezi East MP Jessica Mbalu and Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu attended the event that was addressed by Dr Chris Kiptoo, the Principal Secretary, International Trade and Mr Julius Korir, the Principal Secretary for Industrialisation.

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua was represented by his head of the devolution department Kioko Luka, who said that Machakos County government “fully supported the economic bloc.”

In phone interviews, MPs who missed the event told the Nation that those behind the formation of the economic bloc had locked them out.

LATE INVITATION

“It was impossible for me to plan to attend the event since I got an invitation letter on Thursday,” Makueni MP Kitonga Maanzo said Saturday.

Unlike, Mr Maanzo, Machakos Woman Representative Susan Musyoka said that no one invited her to the inaugural event.

“Although they had placed adverts of the event in newspapers, no one sent me even an SMS [message] invitation,” said Ms Musyoka speaking by phone.

Reading mischief in the ‘late’ dispatch of the invitation letters, Mr Maanzo said: “From the onset, you could tell that MPs were unwanted in designing the economic bloc.”

Addressing those complaining that they were not consulted in designing the economic bloc, Makueni County Secretary Joshua Wambua, a member of a nine-member committee that designed the bloc, said that the Friday event was meant to draw more consultations.

“Treat this public event and the endorsements as part of Sekeb’s public participation,” Mr Wambua said.

In their speeches, Prof Kibwana and Dr Malombe gave the absence of the MPs and senators a wide berth and expressed optimism in the ability of the bloc to deliver the region out of poverty.

According to Dr Malombe, the region had not fully tapped into its economic potential and that new bloc would enable sustainable exploitation of human resource, the main resource in the region, to enhance the region’s development.

“We would take advantage of our coming together to increase our production of good and services that would in turn increase trade and boost the gross domestic product in this area,” he said.

He said that by coming together, the three counties stood a better chance of attracting investors than if they acted individually.

Echoing similar sentiments, Prof Kibwana compared the new bloc to existing trading blocs involving States, saying that such organisations help the parties involved to leverage on economies of scale.

“Through Sekeb, we shall also be able to solve internal conflicts with relative ease,” Prof Kibwana said.

Extolling the bloc, Mr Musyoka challenged the region’s leaders to resolve differences among them that he said stymied their efforts to work in harmony.