Economic Blue Print to Transform Lake Victoria Region into a Major Economic Hub Unveiled

BY GEORGE OWITI - KCA

The Lake Victoria Region of Kenya is set to undergo a major socio-economic transformation based on an Economic Blue Print which has been prepared by a team of consultants from Deloite & Touch with support from Ford Foundation. 

 Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma (center) addresses the press. With him are (l-r) Rosemary Okello-Orlale of Ford Foundation, Sammy Onyango,CEO Deloitte), Dr. Kennedy Hongo, a senior officer, Kisumu County Goverment,  and E.A Lubembe of Deloitte.

 

The Blue Print, which focuses on seven major economic pillars, including agriculture, ICT, infrastructure, tourism and hospitality, financial services, education and health services, is set to transform the Lake Victoria Region, which has a block of thirteen counties into a major power house not only in Kenya but the Eastern Africa Region. 

Highlights of the Economic Blue Print were unveiled today by Sammy Onyango; the CEO of Deloitte at a media briefing in Kisumu presided over by the Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma. Also present was Ford Foundation Program officer in charge of Public Service Media Rosemary Okello-Orlale and Mr. E.A Lubembe, Director, Public Affairs at Deloitte. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to formally launch the Blue print on Tuesday April 21, 2015 at the opening session of the four- day Devolution Conference in Kisumu. This year’s conference is the second one since the Devolved system of Governance was launched after the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

Lake Victoria from Tilapia Beach: The lake's potential is enormous.

Speaking during the press briefing Kisumu Governor, Jack Ranguma said all preparations were complete to ensure the conference was a success. He said the forum which had been organized by Council of Governors and the National Government through the Ministry of Devolution will be attended by more than 6,000 participants from across the country and international agencies. 

He said the conference was meant to discuss progress of devolution since its inception, review the challenges and make recommendations to ensure devolution was implemented successfully.

The governor said the Lake Basin Economic Blue Print which was initially an initiative of Kisumu County Government had attracted the interest of a total of thirteen counties from the region drawn from Nyanza, Western and the Rift Valley. 

He thanked Ford Foundation for the support and said the initiative would transform the region into a major economic hub which will not only transform the lives of the people in the region but would serve the entire Eastern Africa region.

He said Kisumu County and the city was a major hub for the East African Region and was building a bigger capacity to service the large population in the Lake Victoria region through improved facilities and infrastructure. 

Ranguma said was important for counties from the Western Kenya Region to develop capacity in several other areas arguing that there were numerous opportunities to be exploited by a number of counties from the region in both tourism and hospitality industries.

Workers final preparations to a giant tent for the conference

“We need to exploit numerous opportunities available in hospitality and tourism industries, the lake region community will attract most foreign investments in the country,” Ranguma said.

According to the governor, counties must have proper economic agenda based on strengths of each county to make devolution a reality and change the livelihoods of Kenyans.

Ranguma called on the Kisumu residents to be tolerant and peaceful during the three days conference so as not to scare away investors visiting the region thereby giving the county bad image, he said security had been beefed up.

The governor said the counties involved in the initiative had committed to making it succeed and would commit adequate resources to drive the implementation of all the key pillars.

Ms. Okello-Orlale said Ford Foundation remained committed to supporting development programs in the region and the country to help transform lives.  

Onyango of Deloitte said the Blue Print was the result of extensive consultation and research in the Lake region which involved sampling views from different stakeholders. He said if implemented faithfully, the plan could radically transform the region and make it a major economic hub which could see it serving many other countries globally and create employment opportunities.