This archive report was first published on 19 June 2020.
Kenya's government is in talks with the World Bank to secure Sh5 billion for projects in western and Ukambani regions, focusing on agriculture, infrastructure, and mining.
According to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, the funds will be used to revive stalled projects and initiate new ones in the two regions, with a deficit of Sh3.5 billion to be covered by the global financier.
The projects in western Kenya include agriculture with emphasis on the sugar and coffee sectors, infrastructure, and mining, as resolved during a joint meeting of leaders from the region with the Executive at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) headquarters in Nairobi.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and Devolution counterpart Eugene Wamalwa chaired the meeting, attended by governors, MPs, and senators from the region.
Top on the agenda was agriculture, with sugar, cotton, and coffee being targeted for production in western counties.
Feasibility studies and resource audits are ongoing to establish the exact amount of resources needed, with the final report to be presented to the National Assembly.
“We had deliberations on the key value chains of western Kenya - sugar, coffee, and cotton. And we have briefed the leaders on the progress we have made in the revival of sugar,” Munya said.
“Indeed, we are in the final stages of recommending legislative interventions of creating a sugar board and a sugar levy fund that will make resources available to plough into sugar production,” he added.
Non-performing sugar companies may be fully privatised, and all accumulated debts in the mills written off.
Part of the funds will also be used to revive coffee production in western Kenya, as plans for the beverage production are already in place in other parts of the country.
The delegation also proposed setting up granite and gold mining and processing factories to diversify the economic value chain of western Kenya.
On delayed infrastructural projects, Matiang'i blamed contractors, saying stern action would be taken against unscrupulous firms who spend an unusual amount of time to complete projects.
