Counties list key projects to drive economic agenda

Thirteen counties in western Kenya that entered into a concession for a joint economic bloc have identified key flagship projects that would spur development in the region.

The counties, among them Kisumu, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya, Kisii, Kericho and Vihiga, will jointly pursue the projects under the Lake Region Economic Bloc initiative.

Some of these will be driven by individual counties but contribute to the overall pool of resources as the counties seek more bargaining power in local and export trade.

The governors from the counties are looking at establishment of an Agricultural Commodities Exchange platform, a lake region tourism circuit, establishment of specialist hospitals and creation of centres of excellence in each county.

Plans are also underway for the creation of a regional bank, improving service delivery through ICT and the construction of a Lake Region Ring Road.

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Governors, sitting in a closed door meeting on the sidelines of the just-concluded Second Devolution Conference held in Kisumu town, agreed that the 10 million people living in the 13 counties deserved better.

A source at the meeting told the Nation that they agreed on tapping on the labour force provided by the youth who account for more than 50 per cent of the population.

“There were discussions to tap into the economic potential staged by an active population whose labour can be channelled into economically productive activities to reduce dependency,” the source said.

According to the source, the governors further agreed to build on the region’s natural resources to ensure food security, effectively market the natural features of the region to attract tourists.

Cash crops such as sugarcane, tea, pyrethrum and cotton; key food crops among them maize, rice, and beans, and horticultural crops such as passion fruits, mangoes, and tomatoes would be traded through the joint platform.

“Already, a concession is being pursued with Kenya Maritime Authority and Kenya ports Authority to open up the inland waters for our use, Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma said moments after the meeting.

The project’s secretariat will be set up in Kisumu town

“This is our vision as governors who have interacted with people at the lowest level and we understand their needs. We ask other leaders to join hands with us and do away with unnecessary politics,” he said.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, whose county is among the latest entrants into the bloc, warned against attempts by political factions to fight their unity bid.

“This relationship of Lake Victoria governors is unstoppable; it is good that the devolution ideology had been here long before the Constitution was promulgated under the greater Kavirondo Association,” said Mr Ruto.

His Kisii County counterpart, Mr James Ongwae, said the issue of high wage bills, once sorted, will allow smooth actualisation of development in the counties even at a dismal level before the fruits of the blueprint finally come.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said the counties target to uplift standards of living at the household level.