British companies are keen on investing in Kisumu County to leverage on the region’s huge economic potential in agriculture and the blue economy.
The British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, said Kisumu was the gateway to Uganda and Tanzania, presenting huge opportunities for the local and regional market.
Wigan, who paid a courtesy call on the Kisumu Governor, Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, in his office, Thursday, said the UK government was keen on supporting interested UK companies to invest in Lakeside County.
His mission, he added, was helping British companies to undertake public-private partnerships in consultation with the National and County government, to tap into existing opportunities in the area.
This, he said, was aimed at unlocking permissions and financing options for the interested firms, adding that the move was set to create job opportunities for the residents.
Kisumu Governor, Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, welcomed the gesture, saying it would impact positively on the ongoing socio-economic transformative programmes in the area.
“We highly welcome private investments by the British companies, and we are eager to facilitate the processes through the British Government and my Administration, ” he said.
The County government, he added, has already developed a framework to engage the UK government, adding that more engagements were lined-up to fast-track the process.
Already, the County government, he said, has signed a Sh31 billion public-private partnership with a UK firm, adding that consultations are ongoing with the National government, to kick-start the project.
Hinged on agriculture and climate finance, the multi-billion project, he said, would have immense economic benefits for the County.
By Renny Esther and Caroline Judith
