The Government has extended an olive branch to leaders from the opposition parties in the Nyanza region to put aside their political differences and work with the state to champion the interest of the people.
The Information, communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo in his speech during relief food distribution in Nyakach Sub County, Kisumu County on Sunday reiterated that President William Ruto’s administration is committed to establishing lasting collaboration with all leaders from the lake region to advance the economic development agenda and address the challenges facing the locals.
“I want to appeal to all people and leaders of Nyanza to cooperate with the government so that we create an enabling environment to attract state-sponsored projects, encourage domestic and foreign investments in the area to uplift the living standards of our people,” he stated.
Owalo assured that the government has put in place tangible economic agenda for the region that aims at boosting the fishing, rice, sugarcane, gold mining, cotton, livestock and tourism sectors for sustainable development.
He said that the region is richly endowed with natural resources that can be tapped to transform the area into an industrial hub with the establishment of manufacturing and agro-processing firms devoid of detractors.
“In this region, the government has prioritized projects on fishing, revitalizing the cotton industry, developing the Lakeside Tourism circuit and agriculture to uplift the living standards of the locals,” stated Owalo.
Owalo emphasized that the government is inclined to revive the cotton, textile and garment sectors as a grand plan to improve the economy of the Nyanza region.
The cotton sector is regarded to have been a vital and vibrant part of the Nyanza region’s economy in yesteryears and was a significant employer across the entire textile value chain.
The proposal will expedite the revival of Kisumu Cotton Mills (KICOMI) which collapsed in the early 1990s to offer employment opportunities to thousands of individuals.
Additionally, President Ruto is set to preside over the groundbreaking of the Sh.2.5 billion Kabonyo Fisheries Aquaculture Research and Training Centre in Kisumu County in February next year.
Owalo assured gold miners in Bondo-Sakwa, Siaya County and Macalder, Migori County that the government would establish policies that regulate the sector to enhance money circulation and ensure they benefit from their ventures.
The developments, the CS stressed, will be pivotal in ensuring that Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori and Siaya Counties form an integral part of the government’s economic agenda.
At the same time, Owalo appealed to the youth and women to grab the opportunity of the recently launched Hustler Fund initiative and borrow funds for capital and invest in businesses to help address the soaring unemployment rate in the country.
By Robert Ojwang’
