The South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB) through the leadership of the three governors has resolved to stand united and robustly engage the National Government in order to improve the livelihoods of the residents of the region.
Speaking in Wote town, the administrative town of Makueni County; Governors Julius Malombe (Kitui), Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni) and Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) said that their dream and purpose is to see the region reap maximum benefits from both the National and County Governments.
The leaders pointed out that the Constitution of Kenya 2010 envisages a situation where the two levels of government work together and complement each other.
In their presentation, the three Governors asked the National Government to expedite completion of the Thwake Multipurpose Dam, whose realization is behind schedule in order to arrest the biting water insecurity in the Lower Eastern region.
The completion of the project will herald a new beginning for water and food security in the region as well as for electricity generation.
In Kitui County, the leaders revealed that the County Government has already secured 30 acres of land as part of its contribution to the implementation of the High Grand Falls Dam, which shall serve the SEKEB Bloc and beyond.
Still on water, the governors appealed for quick completion of Umaa dam in Kitui, a national government project that was revived through the intervention of Governor Julius Malombe. They also called for expansion of the Masinga Dam intake to provide more water to residents of Kitui and Machakos.
River Athi being a key water source for the regions residents, the SEKEB leadership regretted its pollution over the years, something that poses a serious threat to the health of residents of the three SEKEB Counties.
The Governors urged government authorities to reign in on the polluters and compel them to pay reparations for the damages caused to area residents.
On Agriculture, the three governors revealed their plan to develop aggregation centres and storage facilities to help farmers reduce post harvest losses and discourage exploitive middlemen.
On infrastructure, the SEKEB leadership promised to lobby the National Government to support regional priority infrastructure projects such as key interlinking road networks to spur socio economic development within the bloc.
They also mooted the idea a regional airport and a rail connectivity to Kitui County.
The governors further said that they are operationalizing the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) based on their competitive and comparative advantages. Each County will consider prioritizing its major value chain in order to ensure sufficient supply of produce to all the CAIPS.
Each of the Three counties also resolved to invest in specialized health services at the main hospitals with Kitui establishing a Renal Centre, while Cancer and Trauma Centres will be built in Machakos and Makueni Counties, respectively.
This will enable people’s access to specialized services within their vicinity within the Bloc.
The bloc is also prioritizing investments in security installations along border points to complement the National Government’s efforts in securing the region.
Towards this effort, Kitui County in collaboration with the National Police Service is constructing eight police stations along its historically troubled border with Tana River County. Already Mandongoi and Kona Kaliti police stations have been completed and staffed. This has drastically reduced incidents of banditry and insecurity in the areas. Construction works for other police stations is currently underway.
Lastly, the SEKEB leadership called for equitable sharing of revenues earned from National Parks and game reserves found within the bloc among them Tsavo East, Chyulu Hills and Ol Donyo Sabuk National Parks as well as Mwingi North Game Reserve, South Kitui National Reserve and Kanyonyoo Wildlife Conservancy.
The Governors said there is need for a clearly defined revenue-sharing formula that will benefit the neighbouring Counties of Kitui, Makueni, Taita Taveta and Kwale. The Counties are also working with KWS to avert human – wildlife conflicts.
