By Gastone Valusi
Machakos Catholic Bishop Norman King'oo has urged all leaders from Ukambani region to unite and create job opportunities for young people especially in the areas of manufacturing and value addition so as to desuade them from indulging in drugs and other vices.
Bishop King'oo said Machakos and the Ukambani region lacked industries that can absorb the youths who are out of school and that's why many had resorted to drug abuse.
He said in the past there were industries processing fruits while coffee farming was booming but today there is hardly anything that can be said to be 'made in Machakos'.
The Bishop who was addressing a congregation of men including youths at Koma Shrine said development in the region could be hastened if the Athi-river which passes through the region was cleaned and its water used for irrigation and production.
"Yes,we blame the youths sometimes of taking alcohol but what else is there to do? What else is there to occupy them? Agricultural production and processing can create jobs for our youths,"said Bishop King'oo.
He asked all leaders to unite to develop the region.
"I would like all leaders from Ukambani to unite and develop this region because this is our home, that we may create jobs for our young people,"said the Bishop.
The same sentiments were voiced by Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi who said plans were underway to bring all leaders from the region to a round table to address the issue of the pollution of the Athi-river.
He said unless the river was cleaned, using the water for irrigation and commercial purposes would be like poisoning the residents of the region.
"We as elected leaders including in the County Assemblies have agreed to speak with one voice on the matter of the cleaning of the Athi-river. This river must be cleaned otherwise it will continue poisoning our people,"said Mr Mwangangi.
He said the county did not have the resources required for such an undertaking but would work with the national government to achieve the objective.
Mr Mwangangi said Bishop King'oo was willing to convene a meeting for all leaders to jumpstart the process.
President William Ruto has already formed a Nairobi River Commission with the mandate to spearhead the cleaning of Nairobi River which discharges to the Athi-river.
Last week Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti asked the President to expand the membership of the commission to include representatives of the downstream counties where the Nairobi River and by extension the Athi-river flows.
