MATTERS DEVOLUTION CONFERENCE

Transcription

1 West Pokot County MATTERS DEVOLUTION CONFERENCE Governor Prof. John Lonyangapuo at the exhibition booth for West Pokot County The new dispensation ushered a new mode of Governance that brought power close to the people through Devolved Units of government. It is for this reason that the Council of Governors came to existence and as a result devolution conference became inevitably important. The conference brings together stake holders from all the forty-seven counties and other government and non-governmental institutions to asses the impact of devolution and dispense input on ways to further improve and strengthen the agenda of devolution. West Pokot County being one of the forty-seven units of devolution took part in the just concluded devolution conference in Kakamega county. The County was represented by Governor professor Lonyangapuo, Various CECs, Cos, Directors among other dignitaries. During the event the Governor moderated a successful session on health. Health is one of the major sectors that was devolved and counties are trying their best to put its citizens on a clean bill of health. The County also secured a housing deal with the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development to establish 2000 units in the county. The deal was witnessed by the County Secretary Dr. Parklea and CEC for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development Mr. Joel Arumonyang. 1

2 Senator Poghisio committee visits West Pokot County Delegated Legislation committee members at the County headquarters The Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation yesterday paid a courtesy call to West Pokot County Government. The Committee, whose delegation comprised of five senators led by its Chair Senator Samwel Poghisio- Senator West Pokot County, was received at The County Assembly by Hon. Catherine Mukenyang'. The delegation was later received at the Office of The Governor by Dr. Mike Parklea - County Secretary on behalf of the governor who was out on official duties. The team is on a four-day fact finding tour within four counties namely West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma and Busia Counties. The committee is keen to find out progress made with regards to; Assessment of the subsidiary legislation making in the county governments, Assessment of SWOT analysis of the four County Governments in the subsidiary legislation making and appreciate the challenges, if any, faced by county governments in the area of subsidiary legislation making, and also provide a way forward. The other senators were Sen. Mohammed Faki, Sen. Judy Pareno, Sen. Haji Farhiya Ali - Vice Chairperson, Sen. Millicent Omanga. Senator Poghisio shaking hands with the County Secretary Dr. Mike Parklea 2

3 Ministry of Trade to bring Home Benchmarking Lessons CEC Monges, Chief Officers Mr. Lokimoi and Losialima in Talks with Mr. Katua incharge of Business Makueni County The county government of West Pokot through the Department of Trade and Industry is looking at the prospects of investing in industry as a holistic approach to arrive at collective development of the county. It is such prospects for a better economy that led a delegation from the Department of Trade on a benchmarking trip to Makueni County, which has been known as a county of firsts; being the first to sell branded milk and process mangoes. Led by the CECM Augustine Monges, the delegation which included his Chief Officers Alex Lokimoi-Trade and Industrialization, Linus Losialima- Investment & Cooperatives and Lomut area MCA Jacob Toung'ole among other county officials, visited the Makueni on an inter-county learning and exchange program. Mr. Monges further said that the county will carry out a feasibility study before establishing the industry sector. "We need to do this right. We start here; learning from best practice." Mr. Katua on his part said that the Mango plant was established as a result of the losses farmers incurred from lack of market and exploitation from middle men. This Mango plant offered alternatives to our farmers. The plant has helped curb 40 percent of post-harvest fruit waste that farmers used to grapple with in the past. We're currently exporting to Dubai, which means more returns to our farmers. During a meeting with Jackson Katua, in charge of Agribusiness- Makueni County, Mr. Monges said that West Pokot County has a number of things to learn from Makueni County. While pointing out that the plant was a good investment for the county, Mr. Katua maintained that it is important for counties to research on market availability before embarking on an investment with high return expectations. This comes at a time when West Pokot County seeks to establish an industrial hub which will play a huge role in boosting the overall economy of the county. "We're here to understand the operationalization and management of the industries that have been established in this county. We have great similarities. The mangoes that are doing well here will do well in our county." Chief Officers Lokimoi and Losialima concurred with him saying that the department of trade will ensure that studies are carried out to ensure success of the industries that will be established in the county. 3

4 Chief Officer Adoki Leads Effort to Curb Further Depletion of Environment Ministry of Water, Environment and natural resource is set to distribute 100,000 seedlings to institutions and farmers for planting. This is part of increasing forest cover as stipulated in the Governor's manifesto of massive tree planting. The seedlings were bought from women groups and youth group around the county. As has been the case for a couple of years ago, there has been massive tree cutting for the purposes of charcoal burning and timber, which has had a negative impact on the environment. The department led by the Chief Officer Peter Adoki, who has been on the forefront in enforcing the government's ban on tree logging, has led to arrests of individual who are still engaging in charcoal burning and logging. Mr. Adoki says that his department will not allow anyone to continue depleting the environment as has been the case in the past. Some of the trees, he said, that can no longer be cut are mainly the hard woods such as Cedar, Elgon teak and Rosewood, which he termed as endangered. He emphasized that his department will be in constant patrol to ensure that no illegal logging is done. Snapshot of the Seedlings distributed for planting Illegal timber that was impounded by thedepartment Pyrethrum Farming In Tapach Revived Pyrethrum farmers in Tapach Ward are set to revive its production through the support of the County Government of West Pokot led by Governor Prof. John Krop Lonyangapuo. The cash crop farming reviving initiative saw over 1782 registered farmers in Tapach receive 250 splits of pyrethrum each. My government is working hard through the directorate of cash crop to ensure this sector is revived in order to uplift our people's socio-economic life. Use this opportunity well to help yourselves. I will make sure that this sector will be sustained to pay farmers well. said the Governor. Also, during this occasion Governor Lonyangapuo launched the distribution of free tea seedlings to 153 farmers from Lelan Ward where each farmer is set to get 4,000 tea seedlings to cover an acre of land. These initiatives are aimed at filling the economic gaps that were created when the cash crop sector in the county collapsed. 4

5 Embrace cooperatives, Chief Officer Losialima tells Kamelei residents CO Losialima addressing the people of Kamelei The cooperatives movement has immensely contributed to enormous success of various farmers in Kenya. Speaking during the election of Kamelei Farmers' Cooperative Society officials, the Chief Officer in charge of Investment and Cooperatives Mr. Linus Losialima noted that the most developed counties in Kenya have realized the importance of cooperatives, which has greatly led to their success. He said that the county government is keen to ensure that every farmer attains financial independence as a result of their farming activities. Let's change our mindset as a people. If one of us has the right mindset, then that one person is going to change Kamelei. This is one of the most powerful cooperative in this county and if we do it right, we shall be a wealthy society. He however said that constant conflicts between the two neighboring communities have been the major undoing to the residents of Kamelei. He put emphasis on the need to prioritize peaceful coexistence in the area. We have all seen that without peace, we cannot achieve any development. We need stability so that we can be able to concentrate on our cooperatives and create a better future for coming generations. Said Mr. Losialima. He added that the county government will support cooperatives by offering loans and trainings to farmers. The area MCA Samwel Korinyang' said that his first priority is to ensure the constant conflicts come to an end. We shall only have a better economy if peace prevails. We can achieve this if all of us here today choose peace. The Cooperative chairman Joseph Seromuk said that they have been making development strides despite the insecurity they face. We made 10Million the first time by selling wool from 28,000 sheep. However, the population of our sheep has gone down due to insecurity. He maintained that as a cooperative, they have the capacity to improve their businesses and attain financial independence, if only they receive support from the government. The Cooperative elected nine officials, three of them being female. 5