Leaders from the Nyanza region have been asked to bury their hardline political stance against the government of the day and rally behind President Dr. William Ruto to foster development in the area.
Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eliud Owalo said for meaningful development to be realized in the region, unity of purpose and support for the government of the day was paramount.
The government led by President Dr. William Ruto, he said was committed to working with all the elected and non-elected leaders in the area to address the challenges facing the region.
“The president has made it clear that the elections are over and now is the time to focus on the challenges facing millions of Kenya going through harsh economic times” he said.
The CS said President Ruto’s government was committed to serving all Kenyans equally regardless of their political alignments during the last general elections, asking the leaders to seize the moment and unlock the development prospects in the area.
He cautioned them against being hoodwinked by leaders advancing diversionary politics for self-aggrandizement saying the move will only serve to derail development opportunities offered by the current administration.
“This government has taken a paradigm shift from this kind of leadership and is focused on delivering development in this area,” he said.
He urged the leaders to take queue and create an enabling environment for the government to deliver on the progressive agenda.
The Kenya Kwanza administration’s development for the Nyanza region, he said was anchored on agro-processing, aquaculture, tourism, electricity connection, irrigation and infrastructure development.
Other areas to be explored, he said include mining and ICT to ensure that youth in the area have access to online jobs.
To demonstrate the government’s commitment to unlocking development in the area, he said, the cabinet had already approved the Sh. 2.5 billion Kabonyo Kanyagwal fisheries center of excellence project.
Other projects lined up, he said was the completion of a ring road around Lake Victoria to boost tourism activities.
This, he added will come along with the revitalization of lake transport to enhance connectivity between counties sharing the water body and neighbouring countries of Uganda and Tanzania.
The initiative, he said will ensure that locals benefit from trade and other aspects brought about by tourism.
Construction of the multi-billion Koru-Soin dam on the border of Kisumu and Kericho counties, he said will not only control flooding in Nyando but also expand the acreage of land under irrigation in the area.
This coupled with the government’s fertilizer subsidy programme, he said was set to scale up opportunities in agriculture, horticulture and agro-processing.
The CS who presided over Phase IV distribution of relief food in the area, assured sugarcane farmers that the government was on course to revive the ailing sector.
Thousands of area residents at Kombewa in Kisumu East and Rweya in Kisumu East benefitted from the food rations to cushion them from the effects of drought that was occasioned by poor yields in successive harvest seasons.
By Chris Mahandara
