Raila signs new pact with Western region to counter Ruto’s 30% promise
Busia, Kakamega, Bungoma Vihiga and Trans Nzoia counties stand to reap huge benefits should Raila Odinga’s Azimio-One Kenya coalition forms the next government and make good its promise to the region.
In a pact seen by People Daily, Azimio’s presidential candidate Raila Odinga signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Kenya and other Western leaders supporting his presidential bid.
The pact enumerates areas that his government will fulfil should Raila be elected president. Raila has already promised to appoint Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya as Finance Minister and nominate former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende as the next Senate Speaker if he wins.
Full in-tray
Raila says he will name three Cabinet Secretaries, seven Principal Secretaries, five Chief Administrative Secretaries and 12 ambassadors from the Western region.
He has also promised the region 10 parastatal chairpersons, 100 parastatal board members and the National Assembly Leader of Majority position.
In the agreement, Raila’s ODM party will support DAP gubernatorial candidates in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia, while DAP will support ODM candidates in Kakamega, Vihiga and Busia counties.
On the social pillar, the five counties will each get a full-fledged university, while charters will be issued to Alupe University College in Busia county and Friends University College in Kaimosi.
An Azimio government would also complete and upgrade Kakamega Hospital to Level Six, with specialised treatment for cancer, kidney and liver ailments. One hospital in each of the other four counties will be upgraded to Level Five.
On youth empowerment, the pact promises more technical, vocational training institutions in all sub-counties across the five counties, besides an upgrade of five modern markets in five counties for small and microenterprises (SMEs).
The MoU also promises to oversee the establishment of SACCOs that will offer loans to SMEs, women, youth and people with disabilities.
“An Azimio government shall establish medical training institutions to be attached to each county hospital. It will also establish subsidised shops for the sale of motorcycles and purchase and supply of spare parts for boda-bodas across the five counties,” the MoU reads. In addition, there is to be an upgrade of existing infrastructure at Kibabii University in Bungoma, Masinde Muliro University in Kakamega and Kitale National Polytechnic in Trans Nzoia.
“An upgrade of infrastructure in all TVETs across the five counties shall be undertaken,” reads part of the MoU.
The coalition has also pledged to establish fertiliser factories in at least one of the counties to subsidise farm inputs and boost productivity, besides revival of sugar factories like Nzoia and Mumias and payment of their outstanding debts.
Raila has also vowed to help revive cotton farming, local industries and ginneries in Malakisi, Nambale, Mulwanda and other parts of Western Kenya. The administration would also establish milk-processing and coolant plants across the five counties, honey processing and packaging industries in Vihiga, and new research and development institutions to support farmers.
Roads started by the Jubilee administration in the five counties would be prioritised, besides the completion of 2,000kms of roads to bitumen standard in the counties. The pact promises an upgrade of Kakamega, Kitale and Matulo airstrips, and the development of Nangina Airstrip in Busia County.
Under the MoU, all Vision 2030 projects in the region would be attended to, including the Lower Nzoia Irrigation initiative in Busia County and projects such as Bungoma-Kakamega Bulk Water, Mt Elgon-Bungoma-Busia Water, Kabolet Phase II Water in Trans Nzoia and Moi’s Bridge Matunda Water and Sewerage scheme.
