Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya on Saturday graced this year’s Tabasamu Sacco Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the county cultural hall in Kwale town.
Addressing members who attended the meeting, Mvurya commended Tabasamu Sacco leadership for their commitment in ensuring the Sacco remains stable despite hard economic times.
Mvurya assured all savings and credit cooperative societies in the county of full support from his administration, saying that the county will ensure cooperative societies get favourable environment for their investments.
“The county has many investment opportunities and as a devolved unit we shall support you by providing conducive investment environment,” he stated.
The two-term governor gave out an example of the opportunity in the housing sector, urging Tabasamu Sacco and other Saccos in the county to invest in the construction of low cost houses in the region.
“Affordable housing is among the big four agendas of the national government and there is an opportunity for investment in this sector in Kwale county,” he noted.
He talked on the ongoing infrastructural projects in the county giving the example of the Kinango-Samburu-Kwale road, the Dongo Kundu bypass, the expected Lunga Lunga – Likoni super highway as some of the projects that will propel the county’s economic growth.
“The expansion of Diani Airport and the Shimoni port projects are ongoing projects that will propel growth in our county and these are all investment opportunities for our people,” he added.
His sentiments come at a time when Diani and Kwale towns have been elevated to municipalities, all with managers and municipality board members.
According to the county boss the status of Kinango and Lunga Lunga towns will soon be elevated for them to become municipalities too.
He noted that the construction of the Sh.120 million Kombani wholesale and retail market for fresh produce is at advanced stage and will be a game changer for the local economy.
“I urge local farmers to take the opportunity of supplying fresh produce to this market and also the supply the fruit processing plant we are putting up in Shimba Hills,” said Mvurya.
On matters education he said county is currently sponsoring over 4,800 students in national schools and over 2000 in various universities through the county’s ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ bursary program.
“The county government has also built over 400 modern ECDE centers across the county and we have also employed 773 ECDE teachers” he said.
He however warned against divisive and tribal centered politics saying this will hamper the county’s development milestones.
On women empowerment, Governor Mvurya stated that women have equal leadership opportunities and men, giving out an example of Kwale Deputy Governor Fatuma Achani who has served under him since 2013.
On her side Tabasamu Sacco Chairperson Felister Mutisya thanked the Kwale County leadership for the support accorded to Tabasamu Sacco and other Saccos in the county.
Mrs. Mutisya also assured the governor that the Sacco leadership will take the challenge of investing in the available opportunities in the county.
She said the Sacco have helped poor households improve their means of livelihood and promoted economic activities in the county.
By Hussein Abdullahi
