Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has affirmed that the Kenya Kwanza administration under President William Ruto is committed to serving Kenyans indiscriminately and facilitating equitable distribution of resources.
Speaking in Rarieda, Siaya County, during the distribution of relief food to the needy, Owalo reiterated president Ruto’s statement that the government will serve Kenyans equally irrespective of how they voted in the last general elections so that all parts of the country benefit from sustained economic development.
Owalo stated that the government is committed to deliver its campaign promises to the people of Kenya adding that the Nyanza economic blue print which involves revitalization of sugar, cotton, fishing industries, mining and value addition to agricultural produce from the region form the top priority for the government.
“During election campaigns we had a tangible and feasible economic blue print for the Nyanza region. We promised to revive the cotton industry and ensure optimal exploitation of the fishing industry as well as revitalization and rejuvenation of Ahero rice irrigation scheme,” Owalo said.
“We also promised to add value to crop produce like Tobacco, potatoes and mangoes from the region which were previously not fully exploited as well as improve the food process to ensure food security,” Owalo added.
The CS said that the government through his ministry will continue rolling out free Wi-Fi hubs across the country to enable the youth to exploit online job opportunities through their creativity as a way of creating jobs for the youth.
“The days of formal office jobs are gone. Last week I launched free Wi-Fi services at the city market in Nairobi and the effort to ensure every part of the country including rural areas have free internet is underway. Through the free Wi-Fi our youths can use their creativity to earn a living from the internet,” said the CS.
An estimated 80,000 households are set to benefit in both Rarieda and Ugenya Constituencies from the distribution of the 3000 bags of rice and beans in the county.
The CS was accompanied by a host of leaders including Ugenya MP David Ochieng, Caroli Omondi (Suba South), former Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma, former senator Fred Outa and former MPs Odoyo Owidi and Jared Kopiyo as well as provincial administrators led by Siaya County Commissioner Jim Njoka.
The Nyanza region leaders thanked President William Ruto for appointing Mr Owalo to the CS position saying it makes the region feel part of the Kenya Kwanza government.
The leaders committed to work with the Kenya Kwanza government to bring service delivery to the people of Nyanza and asked locals to embrace programmes initiated by the Kenya Kwanza administration for their own benefit.
“Previously we the people of Luo Nyanza did not embrace the government especially after we lost the election. This attitude must change and we must work with the government of the day to ensure we better the lives of our people, said Odoyo Owidi.
Ugenya MP David Ochieng observed that as leaders they must work closely with the government and the presidency if they want to bring positive change to the lives of the people.
“Paying taxes is not a guarantee that you will get development. As people of Nyanza we have been paying taxes since independence but little has been coming our way due to our negative attitude. This must change for us to get our fair share of resources,” Ochieng stated.
Siaya County Commissioner Jim Njoka stated that by December of this year 28,000 households will be in need of relief food, a factor that is attributed to the intermittent rainfall adding that the county may lose close to 50 per cent of its crop harvests.
By Brian Ondeng and Calvin Otieno
