Counties in Kenya’s North Rift to form economic bloc

Uasin Gishu County Governor Jackson Mandago. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

ELDORET: Eight counties in the North Rift have proposed the formation of a tourism and trading bloc targeting the region’s population of about six million.

The launch ceremony for the trading bloc is set for November 18 to coincide with a joint investment conference to be held in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County, which will be attended by governors from the eight counties forming the ‘North Rift Economic Bloc’.

The counties include Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Baringo, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu and Elgeyo Marakwet. Once operational, the bloc is expected to fast-track the region’s economic growth. The region has a high tourism potential and is also endowed with huge oil reserves among other unexploited natural resources.

The interim chairman of the proposed bloc Jackson Mandago, who is also the Uasin Gishu County governor says,

“We are coming up with a convincing structure before talking to various county assemblies so that we can have a legal framework addressing issues on licences and taxes to the benefit of the residents.”

Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi said, “North Rift unity is a noble idea because the bigger you are, the more bargaining power you have on issues such as security and attracting investors. Although security is a national function, the economic bloc will greatly address perennial security concerns in our region.”

REBRAND THE REGION

The governors observe that some mega projects in the region cannot be single-handedly implemented by any one county as most of them had a direct impact on the entire region and beyond. They say there is need to rebrand the region, harmonise policies and address matters pertaining to inter county tariffs.

One of the key recommendations by the governors is to start direct flights between Eldoret International Airport and Uganda’s Entebbe. They recommend that Eldoret Airport be expanded to handle more international and domestic flights.

The blueprint proposes that the national government co-ordinates the funding of the expansion of the airport in consultation with county governments, Kenya Airports Authority and Moi University among other stakeholders.

West Pokot County Governor Simon Kachapin confirmed that the plan to form a regional economic bloc was at an advanced stage.

“We have finalised the concept paper that will set up a North Rift economic hub. The region is endowed with a lot of resources and time has come for us to turn our lives around.”

“Infrastructural developments like the Kitale-South Sudan highway, which the Government intends to build from July 2016 will open up this region for investments and also go a long way in building harmony among our people who at times get involved in activities that are detrimental to their daily lives.”