Noreb’s uncertainty leaves county projects in a limbo
The fate of many projects under the North Rift Economic Bloc (Noreb) hangs in the balance after pioneer county bosses in the region left office.
Almost all Governors behind the formation of Noreb including the immediate former Uasin-Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, who held the chairman position for the last 10 years are no longer in office.
The bloc which brought together Uasin-Gishu, Samburu, Baringo, Turkana, Nandi, West Pokot, Trans-Nzoia and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties was aimed at wooing local and international investors to tap business opportunities in the agriculturally rich region.
Cast doubts
Other county bosses who have left office are: Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet), Josphat Nanok (Turkana) and Patrick Khaemba (Trans Nzoia) who served their two terms in office. Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi who has made a comeback after he regained the seat he lost to Stanley Kiptis in 2017 and so is Simon Kachapin who trounced John Lonyangapuo to also make a comeback are the only remaining administrators who were instrumental in the formation of the economic bloc.
Residents from the eight counties that form the economic bloc who spoke to People Daily yesterday cast doubts on the prospects of the counties’ partnership due to recurrent shortfall in their local revenue generation and inept management of its affairs. “From inception, the body lacked clear investment policy. It has transformed into political outfit away from its economic focus,” said David Too, a micro-finance operator in Eldoret town.
The incoming Governors face the task of picking new officials, sourcing additional revenue to sustain its operations and injecting investor confidence to set up businesses in the region.
It also emerged that the economic bloc has never had any elections of new officials since it was formed. “How will it raise over Sh3 billion to implement its key projects considering financial challenges facing most of its members,” said Jackson Kosgei, another investor in Eldoret.
People Daily has also established that the new county bosses will face an uphill task in jump-starting the moribund investment partnership after some of the devolved units abandoned it for new alliances.
Almost all the seven counties that formed the economic bloc have abandoned it for new alliances apart from Uasin-Gishu County. “The organisation has turned into political outfit instead of advocating for economic investments in the region,” said David Maina, another investor in Eldoret Town.
County governments
Some devolved units like Nandi County have joined the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) launched four years ago.
“But we are still in Noreb because of the common investments in terms of agriculture and dairy production, but LREB is our main market for such products,” said Governor Stephen Sang.
Elgeyo-Marakwet County on the other hand has joined the Frontier Development Council (FDC) that brings together marginalised counties.Other Members include Samburu, West Pokot, Lamu, Tana River, Turkana, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabet and Isiolo counties. “We fail to understand why Noreb has not involved other stakeholders in shaping investment policies for its members. This has forced some of the counties to join other economic blocs,” Wilson Too an entrepreneur in Eldoret town told People Daily.
Trade unionists interviewed called on the county governments to allocate more resources to set up of cottage industries to boost industrial development and create employment opportunities. “What the counties require is legal framework to set up cottage industries and utilize available raw materials to attain economic development,” said Charles Mose, a member of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce. and Industry.
