ODM leader Raila Odinga on Sunday promised to uplift the livestock sector in northeastern.
Over 80 per cent of the population depends on livestock for their livelihoods and food security.
Addressing his supporters in Garissa town where he took his presidential campaign to popularize his Azimio la Umoja [declaration of unity], Raila further promised to prioritize completion of the Garissa, Mandera road.
“We know that this region has faced numerous challenges ranging from the covid-19 pandemic to drought. we know how animals have died as a result of lack of water,” said Raila.
Raila who disclosed that he was the brains behind the tarmacking of the Garissa-Nuno-Modogashe road said that top on his agenda if elected will be the completion of the road to Mandera.
“I want to give an assurance the completion of the road will top on my agenda. I want to see to it that we move the road from Modogashe to Wajir then to Mandera. Then the one from wajir will be tarmacked to Moyale,” said Raila.
Oblivious of the fact that lack of food and water has negatively affected enrolment of children in school in the region, Raila said that the programme will be re-introduced.
On teachers shortage in the region that has remained a thorn in the flesh of locals, Raila said that his administration will ensure that the locals who are form 4 leavers will be given priority to joining teachers training colleges to address the problem.
The three counties of Garissa, wajir and Mandera have since 2013 faced with teacher shortage following mass exodus of non local teachers following a spate of terror attacks.
“This region can become our the backbone of our countries economy if we fully maximum the potential of the livestock sector. we want to a state of the art slaughterhouse where people can be taking their animals for slaughter,” Raila said.
“We will also ensure that KDF buys the same meat from the locals while the other is taken to Saudi arabia. all this is possible with good plans. bottom line is that we want to grow the economy of this region.”
On youth, Raila said that said that his administration will have a special ministry that will be dealing with youth affairs noting that among the responsibilities the ministry will be charged with dealing will be issuing loans saying that it was unfortunate that hundreds of youth who have gone to school were languishing in poverty because they lack capital to start business.
Raila who is accompanied by several leaders among them area governor Ali Korane, his kakamenga counterpart Wycliff Opranya and siaya senator James Orengo is expected to address a delegates meeting on Monday. the meeting will be attended by delegates from Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo, Marsabit and Mandela.
Edited by S. Maombo
