The government has mapped out development projects to unlock the economic potential of the Nyanza region. Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary (CS), Eliud Owalo, said the plan covers infrastructure, the blue economy, and agriculture to create employment opportunities and empower the area residents economically. Among the projects, he said, was the completion of all stalled road projects to open up the region and enhance access to markets for fish and other products. Others, he said, include the construction of fish landing bays at all the beaches in Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, and Migori counties. This, he said, was set to support fishermen as they process fish at the landing sites and make use of the storage facilities to be installed by the government as they look for markets. The government, he added, was on course to revive the sugar sector, which had collapsed, to uplift the standards of living of millions of people who depend on the crop. So far, he said, the government has written off a Sh. 117 billion debt for the factories, adding that plans were underway to source investors, inject capital into the firms, and make them profitable. Speaking during a church service at Nomiya Church in Kisumu, Owalo added that plans were underway to expand the Kisumu International Airport to facilitate the direct export of fish and other products from the region. This, he said, will see the airport fitted with a Cargo Unit complete with cold storage facilities to facilitate export trade. The CS said President Dr. William Ruto was determined to turnaround the region, which has lagged behind in development for many years. ‘When the President was here recently, you saw him launch various development projects which were going to transform this region. He will be back to launch more projects,’ he disclosed. He asked area residents to work with the government for meaningful development to be realised in the area. ‘The elections are over, and we only have one government. Let us support President Dr. William Ruto to deliver on his development agenda for this region,’ he said.
Source: Kenya News Agency