NYAMUNGA LAUNCHES FORUMS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN KISUMU

Oct 13, 2015 Editor Kisumu News Kisumu, News, Regional 0

Kisumu Women Representative Rose Nyamunga has begun a series of consultative forums with stakeholders in the county on the Economic Development projects over the last two years that are aimed to empower Kisumu County residents economically.

Ms. Nyamunga hosted representatives from all the sub locations in the larger Kisumu County to create partnerships with her office in bringing projects to the grassroots that will address the communication challenges that the county has been facing since its inception.

We had a problem in communication flow and many issues would arise that couldn’t be addressed either on time or effectively, this forum establishes links with grassroots that will facilitate timely information and project flow, enabling us to deal with challenges and mobilize communities to participate in projects, she added.

During the consultative meeting the members accompanied by the County Women Rep. visited Bodi Village in Seme to survey the proposed location where residents requested revival of their fish farming projects. Farmers in the location also requested her to help them de-silt a stream that flows through the valley, in order to create a farming flood plain for food production.

I have previously requested the National Government to intervene but it is yet to respond. This land is prime and fertile, more than 40 thousand acres that can be used for an agro-revolution that would make Kisumu instantly self sufficient in food. If we develop it life here will never be the same, we will definitely build water pans and find a donor to fund irrigation machinery very soon, she said.

Early this year the County Government of Kisumu pledged to assist the people of Seme Sub County to develop and produce food crop in the expansive Mboha Valley to feed Kisumu County as it was one of the food baskets planned by the County Government.

The County Governor Jack Ranguma said then that Mboha Valley is one of the most important land resources for development in Seme Sub County which has never been exploited for several years.

Related story Mboha Valley to Feed Kisumu County

She letter met leaders from the informal sector including boda boda sector executives, hawkers’ representatives and Jua Kali leaders to iron out the issue of how these sectors could be improved through capitalization.

During the discussion, the Chairman of the Hawkers Association said that embracing SACCOs in the county will make their small business get loans, which they cannot access in the mainstream banks today.

If we pool our resources in SACCOs we can build a strong foundation to expand our businesses through loans and networking something that we cannot access today in these banks in Kisumu as they need collateral but the SACCOS will need our savings and members goodwill to get the loan one desires, said Anthony Kwache, Chairman of the Hawkers Association.

Kisumu has over 200 SACCOs, CBOs and associations that if streamlined would bring tremendous benefits. We have identified 12 strong ones that we will work with to improve our assortment, the Women Representative added.

Ms. Nyamunga’s moves come in the wake of increased interest in her fish farming, poultry and table banking projects. The projects, all began after she was elected, have dramatically improved the economy of participants, leaving a cycle of good in their wake.