Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has urged the residents and elected leaders to work closely with the County leadership to realise economic development.
Speaking during the celebrations to mark the 60th Jamhuri day at Nambale Polytechnic on Tuesday, Otuoma stated that it is only through a joint effort that they can build a better Busia.
“As we mark this important day in Nambale Polytechnic grounds, I wish to invoke the Harambee spirit by imploring you to walk with me and this government so that you make your contributions, however small or big, we will welcome your contribution to making this government a greater county,”‘ he said.
He noted that the roads in the County were dilapidated, and there is a need to renovate them so that they can attract business in the county.
“There is no other way we can attract business apart from improving the infrastructure of this area,”’ he said, adding that the initiative will make Busia a real gateway to East Africa.
The governor stated that his leadership has undertaken many other projects, including the Busia Alupe Road, among others.
“I also want to tell you that the ongoing Industrial Park in Nasewa will be completed within the stipulated time,” he said.
At the same time, Otuoma said that his administration was pushing for the upgrade of the critical infrastructure to serve the environs around the Industrial park like the road from Butula-Nambale-Amukura and the one for Matayos to open up the areas.
“We also want to come up with infrastructure that offers services to long-distance truck drivers so that they consider Busia as their first stopover to their destinations,” he said, adding that around 4,000 people use Busia and Malaba borders, but they are not integrated into the county’s economy.
He further said that the County needs to identify life-transforming economic activities that can have an impact on its residents.
“We must think strategically so that Busia is positioned to create jobs,” he said, adding that this can only happen if Busia is positioned as a logistic hub for East and Central Africa.
The governor at the same time thanked the national government for advertising bidding contracts for the construction of EPZ in Nasewa, adding that this is another project that will position Busia as a serious economic hub in East and Central Africa.
“I also want to urge both the agriculture and cooperative departments and the MCAs to be serious on the issue of economic revitalization,” said the governor.
Otuoma further challenged the elected leaders to lobby the national government and other development partners so that they could support the revival of cotton ginneries.
“We need to have a clear guideline on how cotton is going to be priced so that these people can rise against poverty,”’ he said, adding that elected leaders should look at the Cotton Act properly.
He also advised the MCAs to be champions of the ward-based economic revitalization programmes by ensuring that there is at least one cooperative society in each ward.
“After Independence, we had factories like Mumias, Nzoia, and cotton ginneries, but what is the current generation doing?” he asked, adding that even elected leaders have resorted to complaining endlessly.
The county boss argued that the best way to create wealth is through aggregation and cooperatives, adding that the county can create 40,000 jobs within the next four years if they embrace the process.
“I want to direct that the government of Busia from now on will only adhere to a programme-based budget,” he said.
Otuoma further urged MPs to push for the legalisation of ward funds so that the MCAs can carry out some programmes in the wards.
“The issue of ward funds was on the dialogue committee, and we are praying that it should be addressed further,” he said.
Busia County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto assured the residents that his team will ensure that there are proper security arrangements across the county during this festive season.
A section of the residents expressed security concerns, especially in Nambale Sub County, where they complained about the killing of boda boda riders.
By Salome Alwanda and Victoria Magar
