Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

KASIPUL-Kabondo is one area inside Luo-Nyanza which could be turned into a bastion of massive food grain production that could feed the entire Western Kenya.

A prominent Nairobi based business tycoon has said and urged the residents to redouble their efforts into switching more to cash crops, dairy farming and farmers SACCOs for the purpose of saving their hard earned money.

The region is endowed with fertile and arable agricultural soil, good rainfall and hard working rural folks. A prominent Nairobi based business man said the area could be used as roll model in leading other regions to ar era of higher economic growth.

Herbert Ojwang’, who is the Managing Director of the popular Komala Bus Services, which are plying all major routes in Nyanza Province, but operating from Nairobi, stated this at the weekend.

The businessman, who has been actively championing for the assistance of aids orphan children’s education, widows help and construction of churches and educational institutions in the entire Kasipul-Kabondo, is widely held to be the leading light in the new contest for the newly created Kabondo Parliamentary seat come the 2012.

Speaking exclusively to this writer in Kisumu, Ojwang’ appealed to Luo politicians to humble them. This is very essential since politics is the game of the numbers. The community needs the full backing and support of their neighbors so that it could realize its future leadership ambition to the national level. For this reason, the community leaders must stop insulting or using derogatory terms against leaders from the neighboring communities because this could augur bad in terms of the much needed communal cohesion.

Ojwang’ said that if elected, he would intensify the fight for poverty eradication. He will struggle hard to ensure that food get to the table of every family at meal time within the region. He will ensure that women get fresh drinking water for health at their doorsteps, instead of walking for a distance to fetch for it from the streams.

Other priorities would be the supply and distribution of electricity to the villages and educational institutions, and the establishment of adequate medical facilities to take care of the health of the population. These, he said are the component of quick realization of economic growth.

Ojwang’, who through his long service to mankind had earned him nomination for presidential medal award “The Head OF State Commendation”, had also served as a director of the Kenyatta National Hospital, chairman of the board of director of the Awendo based SONYSUGAR company. At one time he was the Personal Assistant to the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a position which he relinquished a few years ago when he ventured into a chain of businesses in Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu and in his native home in Kasipul-Kabondo, In Rachuonyo South district within Homa-Bay County.

He said his track record as well the presidential election campaign in 1997 and 2002 speak for themselves. And perhaps this is what earned the nomination for presidential commendation medal.

Ojwang’ heaped a lot of praise to the peasant farmers in Kasipul-Kabondo for hard work, adding that the farmers were producing thousands of tons of sweet potatoes now found in every market place through the Republic of Kenya. The farmers have also intensified their production of pineapples, tea, coffee, banana and maize.

“What the farmers need is only the assistance and encouragement from someone somewhere who should come forward and initiate the plan of establishing medium size pineapple processing plant in the area.” This, he said will boost the economy of the region.

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