There is a need to entrench regional economic blocs in law to enhance their credibility and attract sustainable funding from development partners and financial institutions, Nyandarua Governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha has said.
Speaking to the media during a courtesy call by officials from the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD), Governor Badilisha noted that while regional economic blocs such as Central Region Economic Bloc (CEREB) have made notable strides in fostering inter-county collaboration, their operations remain largely informal and lack the legal backing needed to guarantee long-term impact.
He noted that without a legal framework, the economic blocs remain fragile, as development partners and financiers need assurance that their investments are anchored in law with structures that will outlive political cycles.
The county boss, who also doubles as the secretary to the CEREB bloc, affirmed Nyandarua’s commitment to inter-county cooperation and regional partnerships that will deliver tangible results to citizens.
“Formalising economic blocs would enable counties to jointly attract investment in areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, agro-processing, value addition, and industrialisation which are key pillars in boosting local economies and creating employment,” added Governor.
Dr Badilisha applauded good cooperation with NEPAD in enhancing good governance in the county, saying reports from NEPAD have helped the counties fast-track recommendations of residents and hence enhance good governance and tangible developments.
During the session with the NEPAD/APRM Kenya Secretariat which was led by Dr Mohammed Hassan Bashir, the governor enumerated several gains made in the past two years that are of great benefit to the people of Nyandarua County.
He cited the establishment of the Nyandarua University College, set to roll out its programmes in September this year, improvement of agricultural production through several value chains; and rehabilitation of rural road infrastructure and bridges, among other projects.
Dr Bashir called on County Governments to adopt the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to improve good governance and sell Kenya’s competitiveness as an investment destination.
He said good governance was necessary in promoting prudent resource utilisation, enhancing economic growth and eradicating poverty.
He said the validation report will help the devolved units develop the County Peer Review Mechanism (CPRM) and provide a platform for governors to share experiences and explore ways of tackling problems in service delivery.
NEPAD officials echoed the Governor’s sentiments and pledged to work closely with county governments to build capacity and align regional priorities with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
By Kimani Tirus
