The Kitui county government and Yatta B2 Ranching Cooperative Society have entered into an MoU in a bid to enhance their mutual collaboration towards realization of the county’s economic development and improved livelihoods of the area residents.
The MoU outlines the general framework for areas of cooperation for both parties in order to realize the key objective of growing the county’s economy.
The county governor, Dr. Julius Malombe, while presiding over the MOU’s signing ceremony at his office in the county headquarters, noted that the move paves way for both the county government and the Yatta B2 Cooperative Society to embark on promoting agriculture, trade, industrialization, tourism, mineral processing, environmental conservation, and strengthening the cooperative movement, among other related initiatives in the region.
The parties also agreed to progressively collaborate in the development and improvement of key infrastructure within the land leased to the Society by the county government.
“This includes construction of access roads, drilling and equipping of boreholes, electricity connection and the establishment of earth dams within the vast ranch,” said Malombe.
“We will work together to ensure adequate security by engaging the National Police Service to establish a police post and promote tourism and related activities in support of the society’s objectives,” he added.
Furthermore, the governor pledged to leverage technology to support, promote and ensure the sustainability of the SACCO’s activities through value addition and to collaborate in reviewing the existing lease terms of the ranch to enable the society to utilize the land for other ranching-related activities.
The County Ministry of Environment will facilitate tree planting to improve forest cover and restore the environment, which has been severely degraded over the years.
Enhanced security measures will also help prevent further unlawful encroachment of the leased parcel of the ranch.
The cooperative society, which falls under the Ministry of Trade, recently ceded 1,500 acres of land near Kanyonyoo Town for the establishment of Kitui County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP), currently under construction.
The joint initiative between the national government and the county administration, aims to drive manufacturing and investment through agro-industries, enhance agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner, create inclusive and decent jobs, increase farmers’ incomes, generate foreign exchange and provide a platform for engagement among farmers, processors, exporters, research institutions, industrial bodies and government agencies for ultimate agro-industrial development.
The governor further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting public land, warning that the county government will not tolerate encroachment or grabbing of public lands across the county.
“My administration will not allow land grabbing in any form. Public resources must be preserved for the benefit of the people,” he noted.
Also in his highlights, Malombe overwhelmingly lauded the leadership of the Yatta B2 Ranching Cooperative Society for their close collaboration with the county government, noting that such partnerships are vital in realization of Kitui’s development goals.
Present during the occasion included the County Executive for Trade ministry Rose Mutuku, several members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and Yatta B2 officials including the chair and other key stakeholders.
By Denson Mututo
