- To empower the residents of Nyanza economically, Owalo said the president has his eyes on turning around agricultural production as the number one priority.
- "In line with the economic blueprint for Nyanza which I was a cog in its production, the president wants to ensure Cotton farming is fully revived," he said.
Image: HANDOUT
ICT CS Eliud Owalo on Monday reiterated President William Ruto's development agenda for the Nyanza region remains on course.
Addressing journalists at his Gangu rural home in Rarieda, Siaya County, the CS said Ruto's administration was determined to change the Nyanza narrative through development.
"The president's focus is to ensure his administration rolls out projects and initiatives that will economically empower Nyanza people," he said.
To empower the residents of Nyanza economically, Owalo said the president has his eyes on turning around agricultural production as the number one priority.
"In line with the economic blueprint for Nyanza which I was a cog in its production, the president wants to ensure Cotton farming is fully revived," he said.
The CS noted that of priority also to Ruto's administration is the sugar sub-sector.
"In due course, we will be off-setting all the debts owed by the state sugar Millers. Once they've been rescued from debts, the next move will be to bring back sugar factories to optimal operations," he said.
The CS said the Kenya Kwanza government is alive to the fact that food security is a key aspect of driving the growth of a healthy population.
"The agenda of this government is to invest in food security by enhancing production," the CS said.
"In the past few months, we have been distributing relief food, even here in our region as a stop-gap measure. But we know that enhanced food production is the long-term plan that will be sustainable," he said.
Towards this realization, the CS said the government has embarked on steps that will make food production to be a less costly affair.
"We have rolled out strategies to ensure the cost of farm inputs is lowered. For instance, the Kenya Kwanza government has ensured subsidised fertiliser is given to farmers at subsidised rates. We have lowered the cost of fertiliser from Sh6,000 to Sh3,500," Owalo said.
" We know that the best way through which the cost of food items can go down is by enhancing the supply of food by investing more resources toward food production."
He noted that such approaches will bring down the cost of food naturally.
"It can't be instant but in the next harvest it will gradually come down," he said.
Owalo said the government is targeting to expand farms under rice production through Irrigation in rice-growing counties of LuoNyanza.
This he noted will enhance rice production in traditional rice growing areas such as Ahero and parts of Siaya and Migori.
According to the CS, the government will soon set up a major rice milling factory in Ahero.
The government is further focusing its attention on revitalising the fishing industry.
"It is hypothetical that Nyanza relies on imports of fish from China. We must turn around the tide by having fishermen trained on Morden fishing methods," Owalo said.
According to the CS, Ruto approved the Kabonyo fish processing plant in his first cabinet meeting. Implementation of the Sh3 billion projects is ongoing.
He said the president was also keen to address problems facing Kenyan fishermen in Lake Victoria.
"Apart from fishing, the government is already mapping tourist destinations in the Western circuit and reviving cottages within the parks," he said
On the mining activities that take takes place in Makalda in Migori, Asembo -Saradidi, Wagusu in Bondo and parts of Gem, the CS called for regulations.
He said those engaged in mining activities remain poor due to the lack of sound regulatory frameworks.
"It is a pity that the only thing you see left of the gold mining fields is huge gaping holes left after these unregulated activities," he said.
" Mining must be regulated. Proceeds must be ploughed back to change the lifestyle of the people where such activities take place."
Owalo said the government has prioritized all stalled roads in Nyanza for rehabilitation and completion.
He said the stalled roads will be completed as a matter of urgency noting that adequate funds are being sourced.
"We also have the multi-billion Lake region ring road project that runs from Busia all the way to Migori. The project is at the design stage. Finance is being pursued by the Ministry of Roads and it will be funded by the World Bank," he said.
According to Owalo, the World Bank-funded road project will be a major economic boost to the region.
As part of infrastructural development earmarked for Nyanza, the government through the Kenya Airport Authority will expand Kabunde Airstrip and Kisumu international airport.
"At Kabunde, the government is currently engaging the community to acquire land to enable the airstrip to get land to expand the runway," he said.
He said KAA will build the terminal building. Already, the expanded runway at the airstrip which is found in Homa Bay is complete.
And to scale up the implementation of the last mile electricity project, Owalo disclosed that eight constituencies in Nyanza have been mapped for connectivity.
Amongst the constituencies include Rongo Uriri, Ksm East, Rarieda, Bondo and Gem.
"The people of this region, for the first time will realise the development programme that has remained elusive for them since independence," he said.
" But first, We have to create an enabling environment for the development agenda to succeed," he said.
Owalo noted that development is attractive in a peaceful environment.
"We don't want to operate in an environment where there is violence. This will lead to investors taking off and capital flight," he added.
For that reason, he said he will continue to appeal to the political class, particularly from this region to embrace dialogue and mechanisms that don't scare away the investors even when pursuing political matters.
"We must have a paradigm shift. We must abandon retrogressive and parochial politics. We don't want the region to be profiled," he said
Owalo said Nyanza can't continue engaging in the kind of politics whose main purpose, he said, was only the pursuit of power.
"We must make a radical departure that will result in politics that's focused on addressing economic issues affecting the people of Nyanza," he said.
" Nyanza, just like any other region in the country must reclaim its place and right to access the national cake. We must be dissuaded from the notion that Nyanza region can only get development from the national government if a person from Nyanza becomes president," he said.