Turkana launches development plan, woos investors

Turkana; Kenya: Turkana County has attracted investors ready to spur economic growth by exploiting the potentials of the region.
The arid and semi-arid county has attracted attention following the discovery of oil in Turkana South and recently, water by Unesco at Lotikipi in Turkana Central.

According to experts, underground water in Turkana County has the potential to boost Kenya’s water reserves by 10 per cent for the next 70 years at abstraction rate of 1.2 billion cubic metres annually.

Recently, the county held its first ever Turkana Cultural festival aimed at bringing all the sub-tribes together.
The county also held a meeting with development stakeholders to explore diverse investment opportunities.

Speaking at the end of the two-day development partners’ forum at Eliye springs in Turkana Central, Governor Josphat Nanok told the investors that the region has enormous investment opportunities.

The county launched its Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) for the years 2013-2017 during the meeting. Nanok said the strategy will guide the county into economic boom.
Nanok told the investors that he was working with the national government to build Kitale/Lodwar/Lokichoggio road.

IDENTIFY BRANDS

United Nations Resident Co-ordinator, Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas, the chief guest at the event, praised the region for offering the rich Turkana culture. She said the UN was ready to work closely with the county government to develop the region.

“UN is ready to work with Turkana government to realise its economic potential,” she said.

Brand Kenya represented at the event by its Marketing Executive, Dr Nzilu Musyoki, said counties should identify their brands and exploit them to the maximum for economic gain.

“I have come here today to reveal that Brand Kenya has seen the importance of this county to the country’s economic growth. We are going to be among the partners to develop this county,” Musyoki said.

The owner of the Eliye Springs Resort, Rolf Gloor, who was accompanied by the manager, Agnetta Biwott, expressed their desire to put up accommodation facilities along the beaches. They said many tourists visit the area but do not find accommodation facilities.

The manager said the community lacked education opportunities and it was good for the government to put up learning institutions in the county.

“We started the resort with a few manyattas in 2007 but  after realising there were many tourists here, we put up more structures to accommodate them and that is how the beach business was born,” Gloor said.