This archive report was first published on 13 July 2021.
On Monday, July 12, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga outlined his vision for Kenya's economic growth, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach between urban and rural development.
According to Odinga, the government's focus on urban regeneration, championed by President Uhuru Kenyatta, must be complemented by a deliberate policy of rural transformation to make rural life more livable and reduce migration to cities.
He noted that over half of Kenya's bank branches are concentrated in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kiambu, reflecting the country's wealth and income inequality.
Odinga's plan aims to build rural areas and emerging towns into economic hubs, citing examples such as Rodi Kopany in Southern Nyanza, which is growing into a competitor of Homa Bay town, and Saba Saba in Central Kenya, which is emerging as a town competing with Muranga.
He emphasized the need for the government to provide farmers with high-yielding seeds, help with land reclamation and water preservation, and assist in securing drying machines and storage facilities to support commercial farming and feed the emerging towns and the nation.
Additionally, Odinga suggested that the government should help farmers transport food from areas of surplus to areas of shortage, and improve the organization of informal food markets to reduce congestion and increase efficiency.
Ultimately, Odinga's goal is to create functional and rich villagers living dignified and decent lives in rural Kenya, as has been achieved in other countries.
