Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.
TWO regions in Western Kenya stands a better chance of setting up fast and vibrant development, if the two County governance could pull up socks and redouble efforts in the real task of development.
Both Kisumu and Homa-Bay Counties are rich in natural resources which include fisheries, minerals while endowed with fertile arable land for the production of nearly al cash crops such as sugar cane, coffee tea, and vegetable horticulture.
The two counties are sharing the Nyanza Gulf {formerly Kavirondo Gulf, a narrow and shallow waterway that winds up at the eastern shoreline of Lake Victoria.
However, the two regional assemblies, will have to look for urgent sources of funds with which could be used to eradicate the water hyacinth weeds which has chalked the lake for the last ten years and so.
The fishing industry is arguably the main economic stay of the resident of the two counties. The dreadful water hyacinth weeds has become an impediment to further development of fishing activities, and means and ways must be found for its immediate removal either manually or mechanically.
Ships, steamers an fishing boats are finding it difficult to navigate their way through the water hyacinth weeds, which at time even blockades the narrow waterway into Kisumu Pier and thereby blocking ships plying the narrow water way while ferrying cargoes and goods to the neighboring land-locked counties of Tanzania, Uganda ,Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic and the Dr Congo, republic and Southern Sudan.
Recent government statistics showed that Kenya has done well in exporting its fish to the,Israel,Japan and US,though the country owns only small fraction of Lake Victoria waters at only 20 per cent, while its two other partners in the East African Community {EAC} have the Lion’s share with Tanzania 50 per cent, Uganda 46 per cent.
Judging from the type of personnel recently appointed to serve in the two regional cabinets by the two governors o Kisumu and Homa-bay, the resident have a goods reason to smile ,expecting the assembly cabinet and representatives to deliver the goods to the electorate within the quickest period of time possible to deliver.
Both governors Cyprian Otieno Awiti [Homa-Bay}, Jack Ranguma {Kisumu}The two men boost vast and wealth experience in the management of pubic affairs. Rumors making the round that Oil and natural gas were recently discovered in Nyakach area with the potential commercial could boost the two counties economically value could give the region a boost.
The two counties are sharing the Nyanza Gulf with the Homa-Bay have the largest area covering Nyakach Rachuonyo North,Rangwe, Homa-bay and Mbita districts.
Kisumu Countyhas the advantage of hosting five sugar manufacturing companies, namely Chemelil, Miwani, Kibos and Muhoroni, though the ailing industry has permanently on its death bed.These factories need to be resuscitation in order to improve the circulation o cash money in the two regions.
During the recent long rains which had caused the massive flood of many parts of Nyanza, there were the sighs of relief on the faces f the fishermen and those involved inn the fish trade. They woke up in the morning only to find the dreaded water hyacinth weeds blown away by strong wind during the night leaving many parts of the lake clean and clear. However, this did not offer the permanent solution and this is the main reason why the two counties must sources for the funds in order to combat the menace of water hyacinth.
Another value added project, which would soon pace Kiumu city ino theglobal map is the rent expansion o the Kisumu Airport in which the Kenya government has so far sunk billion of shillings into.It is increasingly becoming incentive to the famers I Kisumu, Kisii and Homa-Bay Counties to go for more lucrative earning cash-crops like horticultural, which could be airlifted directly from kisumu Airport to any destination globally
Ends