- Owalo said the agreement contains projects from various sectors including agriculture, fisheries, ICT and roads.
- It was signed during campaigns for August 9 general election.
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
The Kenya Kwanza government will implement development projects in the blueprint Nyanza professionals signed with President William Ruto, ICT and Digital CS Eliud Owalo has said.
Owalo said the agreement contains projects from various sectors including agriculture, fisheries, ICT and roads. It was signed during campaigns for August 9 general election.
The projects are expected to open up and transform the region for economic development and benefit residents.
Nyanza region is known for sugarcane, cotton and sunflower farming. Residents in Homa Bay, Siaya, Ksiumu and Migori practice fishing in Lake Victoria.
They also engage in maize, sorghum and potato farming for subsistence and sale.
Owalo said they have identified beaches around the lake in the four counties where the government will construct fish processing plants.
This will boost the livelihoods of the fishing communities by providing an opportunity for value addition of fish caught in the lake.
“The government will build a training institute for fisheries and aquaculture in Kabonyo area in Kisumu. We want optimal exploitation of fish for the benefit of the people,” Owalo said.
He spoke at Nyangore SDA church in Suba North constituency on Friday when he launched distribution of relief food.
The CS said the fish processing plants will revamp the sector in Nyanza.
“The blueprint stipulates that Ruto’s government will establish fish processing plants near the source. We shouldn’t produce here and process it elsewhere and deny them some benefits,” he added.
The projects, he said, when completed will enhance job creation and opportunities for residents.
Among the four counties, Homa Bay has the largest lake water cover at 60 per cent.
Owalo said the government is also supporting aquaculture to increase fish production and bridge the gap in demand for the commodity.
“Aquaculture is key for economic development, we are going to prioritise it,” he said.
Leaders present were Homa Bay deputy governor Oyugi Magwanga, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, former Lake Basin Development Authority chairman Odoyo Owidi and former Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo.
Homa Bay county commissioner Moses Lilan was also present.
President Ruto is planning to launch construction of affordable housing project in Homa Bay.
“The government will deliver on its election pledges regardless of how Kenyans voted,” Owalo said.
The state will also undertake projects like construction of a ring road along the shore of Lake Victoria from Busia-Kisumu- Homa Bay- Migori counties.
Internet connectivity in villages, schools and health facilities will also be undertaken.
“The road will open this region for promotion of blue economy by boosting trade,” he said.
A total of 2240 bags of rice and beans were distributed to over 400,000 families affected by famine. Each bag weighs 50kg.
Magwanga and Caroli urged the government to support irrigation in Homa Bay to enhance food security in the area.
“We ask for national government to support us with irrigation projects to boost food security in Homa Bay,” Magwanga said.
Caroli said time had come for Lake Victoria water to be used in irrigation too.
“Five out of eight constituencies are affected by famine,” Caroli said.
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