Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa has urged leaders from Western Kenya to focus on the economic empowerment of residents from the region and set aside their political differences. Shedding more light on tge meetings leaders from the region have had, starting with the Kajiado meeting at COTU boss Francis Atwoli’s residence to the meeting held last week on Thursday bringing together the leaders and Cabinet Secretaries, Wamalwa said the discussions focused on projects in the region and the basis was how to empower the residents from the Counties in the former Western province and Trans Nzoia, “We need a unity of purpose,” he said.
Speaking during an interview with West FM on Monday, he pointed out that the region has been stuck on the level of insistent complaining and they need to move on from that level, “Even in the Bible, there is a book called ‘Lamentations’..we can’t be stuck on that level any more, we need to move on from that, to implementation.”
He rubbished claims questioning the legitimacy of the recent meetings, saying issues discussed there were a culmination of other meetings, citing a 2018 meeting which brought together leaders from the region to discuss development and the revival of the projects and industries in the region including the sugar sector. He said the meeting didn’t focus on political affiliations, but the economic status of the region. It then paved the way for a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House.
He said after the meetings last week, a technical was formed to go to the ground in Western and look at the issues raised, including stalled projects, before CSs and government leaders visit the projects themselves to ascertain the progress from July. “The main agenda is the economic empowerment for our people,” he reiterated.
He said Counties in the region have to come together to be more stable and be more attractive to investors, “A County like Vihiga may have many challenges on its own but when it joins others it looks more attractive as part of a bloc.” He said Counties coming together attracts investors and the Counties will grow economically.
