West Kenya set for boost

By NATION Team

In Summary

The PM promised to act tough on corruption, land grabbing, insecurity and also tackle poor infrastructure.
With the upgrading of Kisumu Airport, which is now due, Western Kenya would be linked to the wider world.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday declared that Western Kenya will never be marginalised again.

The region suffered economic isolation under successive regimes and the Grand Coalition would ensure this was never repeated.

“I am well aware that this region suffered from economic marginalisation over the years, as borne out by a number of studies by the Planning ministry over the years,” he said.

Mr Odinga made what amounted to a major policy speech when he officiated at this year’s Kisumu Agricultural Society of Kenya show.

Infrastructure

Mr Odinga was presiding over his first official function in Nyanza since becoming Prime Minister under the Grand Coaltion agreement.

Huge crowds made it a nightmare for the PM’s convoy to manouvre its way around the lakeside town. The area is perceived to be the bedrock of his political support.

The PM promised to act tough on corruption, land grabbing, insecurity and also tackle poor infrastructure, which hinders investment in Kenya.

“Any officer found to be involved in corrupt practices will go home,” said Mr Odinga.

He said with the upgrading of Kisumu Airport, which was now due, Western Kenya would be linked to the wider world. He urged residents to monitor international trade trends and identify areas they could exploit.

He said the recently released HIV and Aids prevalence report had put Nyanza on top. He appealed to the residents to take necessary precautions to reduce infections. Among the recommendations he made was male circumcision.

Mr Odinga promised to write off the Sh47 billion owed to the Agricultural Finance Corporation by sugar millers.

He told sugar cane farmers in the Western region that the Government would arrange affordable credit for them to increase their yield. He praised the recent regulations on the importation of sugar.

Mr Ruto recently banned sugar imports into the country to curb illegal stocks that sell cheaply at the expense of local produce.

Mr Odinga warned that the Government would use its agencies to impound and burn illegal sugar stocks.

Nyanza was especially segregated during the Kenyatta era following disagreements between the first vice-president Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and founding president Jomo Kenyatta, Mr Odinga said.

Nyanza was further shunned by the Moi administration as its leaders allegedly engaged in “bad” politics.

He said an investment conference like the one he attended in London last week will be replicated in Kisumu to “showcase what this province can offer to those who seek to partner with us”.

The PM said the Grand Coalition Government was placing priority on health, cooperative and irrigation projects to quickly address challenges constraining economic productivity in Western Kenya.

Reported by Lucas Barasa, Daniel Otieno and Walter Menya

Courtesy of:http://www.nation.co.ke/News