Land demarcation, acquirement of Miwani Sugar plantations and the free taxation policy were some of the issues that arose during the sensitization of political leaders on the development of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) held on the 15th July, 2019 at Wigot Gardens in Kisumu.
Kisumu is one of the three Counties ear marked under the provision of the SEZs in the Vision 2030 along Mombasa and Lamu whose steps in the creation of SEZs in their regions is on course.
According to the county department of energy and industrialization, identification of land due to factors that declare a region qualified to be of use and rebellion from the community are some of the challenges. The County government has however taken the challenges as stepping stones to achieving greatness thus sensitizion of political leaders to help them reach the grassroots.
“Kisumu is 95% consumer and 5% producer, there is need to engage more in manufacturing and processing in the County by introducing the Special Economic Zones. The county will only grow if it seizes to be a consumer in the market of most services but also produces for its own economic gain. The produce will not only be for export purposes but also for local consumption,” said Alice Moraa, the County Executive Commissioner Energy and Industrialization.
The SEZ earmarked Muhoroni region for demarcation, with issues such as the acquirement of Miwani Sugar Plantations, free taxation policy and whether land would be leased at similar prices for foreign investors and local investors.
The County Representatives agreed to have a similar mission for the realization of the initiative in each of their regions and come up with a domesticated Act that would address better the issues that came up in the meeting.
The on the ongoing Special Economic Zones project which set to be launched by the right Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga on the 15th of august will see more than 1million employment opportunities and more than 3 million at the completion.
many investors both local but also international already interested in being part of the zone. The county representatives agreed that the initiative was good for the region.
“As leaders let us listen and internalize. Let us speak one language that is the way forward to achieve actuality of the SEZs and with uniformity let us engage our various communities. Between now and August there’s little time for sensitization of the community on the ground, the message we should put across should be similar because this is good for our people,” Joshua Auko, MCA Ombeyi.
BY ANNETTE ACHIENG’ AND JOAN AMIMO
County Minister for Energy and Industrialization Alice Moraa, addressing the workshop during the sensitization of the political leaders and administrators on Development of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Political Leaders Sensitization ( Picture by Jacob Owiti)