Steps by Kakamega to making the County an industrial hub

CEC Member for Trade, Industrialisation And Tourism, Kassim Were, on Monday signed two MOUs; Waste to wealth and Waste to Energy, on behalf of the County Government of Kakamega, with the Global Green Link Energy Africa Limited (GGLE) both aiming at making the county an industrial hub in the Western circuit.

The partnership is to establish a plant that will produce construction panels and related building materials to construct modern houses using RASTRA building technology. The GGLE Ltd, Managing Director Curtis Jones said the company will major in three areas namely;

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Waste to energy which will convert medical waste to energy ; Waste to wealth which entails converting used tyres into bitumen used for road construction and 3.Housing technology entailing building and construction of affordable houses.

Mr. Jones promised to work hand in hand with the government to meet the interests of the county as stipulated in the MOUs, including jobs creation.

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The County Secretary Jacinta Aluoch Odhiambo said that the government will ensure an enabling environment for investment as away of fulfilling the Big Four Agenda that entails among others, manufacturing in this case converting waste to wealth and revamping the housing industry. Investments will also improve infrastructure, water and energy programs. She called on the investor to hit the ground running to turn the investment opportunities around.

In attendance were among others CEO Investment and Development Agency, Ms. Ebby Kavai, County Attorney Moses Sande, Ambasador James Ochami, the in charge of Project Delivery Unit at the Office of the Governor and Administrator in the Ministry of Trade, Industrialization and Tourism Job Luvonga.

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Meanwhile, the Lake Region Economic Bloc is set to hold its inaugural conference in Bomet County on 23rd to 26th October 2018 under the theme “Optimizing Shared Resources for Prosperity”

Speaking during a briefing to the media at the LREB headquarters in Kisumu, the bloc’s Chairman H.E. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya also announced that financial advisory giant organization Deloitte East Africa has been identified through a competitive procurement process as LREB’s advisor in formation of the bloc’s regional bank. Under the LREB economic Blue print on establishment of a regional bank as a flagship projects under the financial services pillar to assist residents with access to favourable financial services. So far Shs. 700 million has been allocated in annual budgets by member counties for the bloc as their assemblies work round the clock to pass the Lake Region Economic Bloc Bill 2018. Kakamega County was the first of the 14 counties to pass the bill, which the Governor lauded as leading by example.Image may contain: 3 people, people standing and suit

 

Governor Oparanya said the conference has so attracted many partners and thanked those who came on board earlier such as Ford Foundation and USAID-Ahadi. Ford Foundation supported formation of the LREB Secretariat to the tune of Shs.18million with Ahadi giving support in capacity building and sensitization of county Assemblies and the public. He said United Nations under the UN- Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG) will, during the Bomet conference, hold a two day Symposia on Blue Economy and Universal Health Coverage. “The LREB is a powerful bloc and from our coming together, the national government has considered it wise to come up with legislation to guide other regions interested in such formations,” he added.

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Bomet County Governor and LREB Vice Chairperson H.E. Dr. Joyce Laboso who flanked Governor Oparanya welcomed residents from member counties and all stakeholders to her county for the Conference saying it will offer much needed investment opportunities to stakeholders.

The Lake Region Economic Bloc 3rd Summit will be held In Nandi County on 21st September 2018, Governor Oparanya announced. Present also was LREB CEO Abala Wanga and Mr. Paul Posho the Economic Advisor in the Office of the Governor, Kakamega County.

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