By Emmanuel Maleve
The three Ukambani governors; Dr Julius Malombe (EGH) the chairperson, Mutula Kilonzo Junior and Wavinya Ndeti on Friday 19th May 2023, held the second ordinary summit meeting of the South-Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB) in Kitui.
The three counties with a total population of approximately 4 million people share similar interests, challenges and opportunities. The governors have come together to have a collective and common approach in addressing the issues that matter to our people.
SEKEB has committed to prioritize developing the following areas for the next five years. One, water infrastructure SEKEB will continue to engage national government to initiate and complete mega dam projects that provide water for domestic use irrigation to enhance sustainable Food Security and generation of hydropower.
The governors have lobbied for completion of multi purpose mega projects within the bloc, which includes Umaa dam, Thwake dam, Yatta dam and cleaning of Athi river.
They have nominated members to a panel of experts and eminent persons to provide technical, intellectual and professional advice to the bloc.
“We formed to submit committees namely infrastructure investment and trade, chaired by honorable Her excellency Wavinya Ndeti and the other one climate change Environment and Natural Resources chaired by myself.
The committee’s will ensure that the matters of trade and environmental given the attention and support needed to actualize the goals and objectives of the region. We are finalizing the establishment of the Secretariat, which is expected to be fully operational within 2023 2024 financial year,” Mutula junior stated.
SEKEB proposes Kitui county to have renal unit, Machakos County to have cancer unit while Makueni county have trauma center.
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