By Agencies
The South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB) through 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, Makueni, Governors Julius Malombe (Kitui), Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni) and Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) said their purpose is to see the region reap maximum benefits from both the National and County Governments.
They pointed out that the Constitution of Kenya 2010 envisages a situation where the two levels of government work together and complement each other.
The three Governors asked the National Government to expedite completion of the Thwake Multipurpose Dam, whose completion 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.
The leaders revealed that the Kitui County Government had secured 30 acres as part of its contribution to the implementation of the High Grand Falls Dam, which shall serve the SEKEB Bloc and beyond.
The governors also appealed for quick completion of Umaa dam in Kitui, a national government project. They also called for expansion of the Masinga Dam intake to provide more water to residents of Kitui and Machakos.
The SEKEB leadership regretted the long standing pollution of Athi River, being regional a key water source,saying it poses a serious threat to the health of residents of the three counties.
The Governors urged government to reign in on the polluters and compel them to pay reparations for the damages caused to area residents.
On Agriculture, the 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 of 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.
Kitui County, is collaborating the National Police Service in the constructiion of 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.
