Development
The National Government has stressed commitment to ensure implementation of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA, which if achieved will help mitigate wastage of resources through duplication of projects.
Speaking during Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP) 2023-2027 dissemination exercise in Trans Nzoia, Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Susan Nakhumicha said the implementation of BETA will among other benefits help bring down the cost of living, create jobs, eradicate hunger and ensure mitigation of wastage of resources through duplication of projects.
The CS urged county units to harmonize developments projects in their County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) with the national government projects in the fourth MTPs (2023-2024) to avoid overspending and wastage.
The call came after participants raised concerns that duplication of projects at the grassroots was a breeding ground for embezzlement of public funds.
“One objective of the current regime is to see wastage of resources through corrupt deals and duplication of projects being eliminated. It is on this ground we are urging all county governments to ensure that they have a copy of all the projects the national government is set to implement in their regions, so that they don’t plan for the same,” the CS explained.
On projects which require collaboration, Dr. Nakhumicha appealed to county governments to single out the said projects for proper engagement between the two levels of government and development partners. As captured in the MTP Four, Trans Nzoia County is set to benefit greatly with infrastructural development with several roads being earmarked for tarmacking.
Turbo-Endebes, Kitale Airstrip-Sabot roads are among those targeted, a move residents welcomed saying that once done, will open up the rich agricultural region. Trans Nzoia Deputy Governor Philomena Kapkory said the devolved unit is ready to work with the national government and other partners to help achieve Vision 2030.
Spelling out the government’s vision to transform the county into an Agro-industrialized region, the Deputy Governor regretted that Trans Nzoia had a high poverty index of about 58.7 percent despite its tag as the country’s food basket.
However, she expressed optimism that if measures put in place by the national and county governments are achieved, poverty will be a thing of the past. Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi allayed fears of duplication of projects saying the National Government County Service Delivery Committees had already documented all the projects in the region and identified the key financiers.
The forum brought together stakeholders from the national government, county government, the business community, the clergy, civil society organisations, and the general public.