Lake region counties urged to unite to tackle challenges
Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili who in a meeting on March 8, 2018 highlighted issue to be tackled by the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) which brings together 13 counties. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Kisumu County Speaker Onyango Oloo accused previous regimes of sabotaging development in the lake region.
- Mr Oloo blamed poor governance and bad political leadership for slow performance of projects in the region.
- He assured participants that he will work with MCAs to ensure smooth passage of favourable Bills.
Members of the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) have been urged to put aside their political affiliations in order to realise potential of collective investment.
In a meeting held in Kisumu Thursday evening, the members drawn from the 13 counties resolved that they will work together to solve the common challenges facing the region.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili highlighted initiatives such as the creation of regional banks, creation of cross-border auto surveillance and privatisation of sugar factories as some of the issues to be tackled.
“For us to attain the growth of our respective counties, we need to come together and resolve some of the common challenges afflicting us for the benefit of the people we represent,” he said during the meeting in Kisumu.
NO MARKETS
He also noted lack of market for the products and border conflicts as some of the issues that could prevent the region from achieving its set goals.
Kisumu County Speaker Onyango Oloo accused previous regimes of sabotaging development in the lake region.
Mr Oloo blamed poor governance and bad political leadership for slow performance of projects like the Sondu Miriu hydroelectric power station, Lake Basin Mall, Nandi Hydroelectric Power and Magwagwa Hydroelectric Power in Nyamira.
The meeting was attended by representatives from Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya and Vihiga, Bomet, Trans Nzoia and Kericho which are part of the region’s economic bloc.
The Kisumu Speaker assured participants that he will work with MCAs to ensure smooth passage of favourable Bills which will strengthen the regional economic block.
