Endowed with agricultural potential and strategically sandwiched between two international airports, Nandi County is blessed with ideal opportunities for economic prosperity.
Nandi can aptly be described as Kenya’s best land of opportunity considering resourcefulness of its human capital, scenic beauty yet to be discovered by many Kenyans and foreign tourists, favourable climatic conditions and hospitality of her residents that sum up to ideal prospects for investment.
The uniqueness of this region may explain why white settlers could not resit its allure. The credence was however met with resistance by the might of Nandi people under the legendary freedom hero Koitalel arap Samoei who was felled by imperialists in 1905 as he selflessly guarded the resources and land.
The events that followed placed Nandi in a historical perspective as the second administrative unit created by the colonial government in the country after Kiambu in the late 1890s. It also historically remains one of the communities that resisted British intrusion and subsequent colonialisation, in a struggle that lasted 11years.
With the devolved system of governance in place, Nandi has already taken-off, with a line-up of ambitious flagship projects geared towards transforming the livelihoods of residents as well as propelling the county to greatness.
The county government has set aside Sh1 billion for water projects in the next three years that is expected to ensure 70 per cent households have piped water, 39 per cent households are currently covered.
Only 13 per cent households were covered before devolved governance was rolled out last year. Governor Cleophas Lagat also says there are plans to initiate irrigation projects to boost farming, which is the county’s mainstay.
“Once we achieve our target apart from irrigation, which will ensure we farm 12 months of the year, we will have stopped our women and mothers from toiling to the rivers and improve their health as well,” says the governor.
Other mega projects include re-construction of the historic Kipchoge Keino stadium in Kapsabet and construction of the first public university in the region.
“Under the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), key flagship projects have been identified to spur the county economic development to the next level,” says Dr Lagat.
The county government is allocating funds for implementation of the water projects with Sh250 million allocated in the last financial year. Lagat says Sh400 million has been allocated in the current financial year and another Sh0.5 billion next year.
“We are teaming up with partners including the Lake Victoria North and South Water Service Boards, Tea Out growers Empowerment Project Company, World Vision and SNV Netherlands in water provision and environmental protection initiative projects,” says Lagat.
Home of champions
The governor says plans are at advanced stage for construction of a first ever public university in Nandi County. This is after the Commission for University Education concluded inspection that will see establishment of the university to be named in honour of Koitalel arap Samoei.
The university will be a constituent college of the University of Nairobi and will be located in Nandi Hills town.
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“The county lacks a public university and with the partnership of the national government, this project will be a reality. Education is an industry that does not collapse. It will ease access to higher education and create job opportunities for the youth,” says the governor.
Nandi County prides itself with the tag ‘Home of Champions’ because of athletic talent with sportsmen and women from the region winning in global events thus marketing not only the image of Nandi but also of the country.
Leading sports people including the legendary Kipchoge Keino, Henry Rono, Sammy Kosgei, Wilfred Bungei, Janet Jepkosgei, Pamela Jelimo, Martin Lel, Rogers Rob, Abel Kirui, Eliud Kipchoge, Isaac Songok, Augustine Choge, James Magut and You tube athlete Julius Yego are from Nandi.
Others are leaders Elijah Lagat, who is MP for Chesumei, Patrick Sang, the County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Sports and Simon Bor, the Member of County Assembly (MCA) Kosira to mention but a few.
It is in line with this that the county government has embarked on construction of a state of the art Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Kapsabet town, which had been in bad shape due to neglect.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the county, which is a leader in the production of tea; the country’s leading cash crop. Nandi also produces sugarcane, coffee, maize, beans, horticultural crops as well as dairy produce.
“Tea is a well-developed sector and we are embarking on value addition to boost earnings. We also want to customise by sourcing better market locally and internationally. Purple tea variety is also thriving and we are considering chemical extraction to add value on tea and boost earnings for farmers,” says Lagat.
County Senator Stephen Sang says the tea sub sector faces serious challenges nationally due to declining producer prices. “This is one of the sub-sectors that thrive in Nandi and there is need for the county government to seek direct markets in the Middle East and other countries. Brokers and middlemen at Mombasa auction are to blame for the dropping prices,” he says.
Tourism circuit
Other programmes have been put in place for expansion of key sectors in agriculture to boost food security. Extension services for optimal productivity and also research and surveillance for the control of diseases are part of strategies mooted by the county government.
Governor Lagat notes that the spectacular picturesque of Nandi makes the region a tourism destination that can boost the western Kenya tourism circuit.
Apart from agro-tourism attraction owing to the expanded green table of tea, the county has also identified 66 sites set for development. They include Bonjoge game reserve, Nandi Rock, Kiplolok springs (source of carbonated water), Sheu Morobi, Chekiit falls and Kingwal swamp, the habitat of aquatic antelopes – Sitatunga among others.
A tender has been awarded for development of an animal orphanage at Kamatarkui area within the outskirts of Kapsabet town.
“We are potentially connected by road and air hence tourism opportunities can be fully exploited. Eldoret International Airport is only 2 kilometres from our boundary while Kisumu is just 5 kilometres,” says Governor Lagat.
Feeder roads are also being opened up to ease mobility to enable residents and investors exploit opportunities in Nandi County.
Senator Sang says the county has huge potential and calls for more synergy across the leadership in both county and national government to enable them realise priorities set in the CIDP.
Curb exploitation
“There is need for leaders to pull inbone direction. Teamwork will ensure there is no duplication of activities and allocation of resources using different kitties for a single project,” observes Sang.
The senator also says the county and national government should consider overhauling old machinery in sugarcane factories or establish a milling facility to assist farmers curb exploitation by independent sugarcane milling firms.
“Some machinery in existing factories, installed during colonial times, have become obsolete and are to blame for wastage of sugarcane during processing. Processing a tone of raw cane produces low output compared to factories in other countries,” Sang says.
Recently, the county achieved a milestone by reviving the Nandi Agricultural Show that had remained in a lull for over eight years. The trade fair and cultural fete was revived with sharp focus on tourism and enlightening farmers on turning agriculture into business.
The four day event attracted over 105 exhibitors including two international participants from the UK and Tanzania, who showcased in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
“This year’s show succeeded in branding Nandi as a potential investment destination for players in all sectors,” says Lagat.
Residents want the county government to address health, infrastructure and housing to enable potential investors and civil servants reside in Kapsabet town instead of commuting from Eldoret in the neighbouring Uasin Gishu County.
Speaking during a recent Sikika sasa show in the area, residents called on the county government to upgrade rural access roads, identifying good markets for agricultural products. They also called for proper planning for Kapsabet town to boost industrialisation.
They want health institutions to have ambulances that will address emergencies and a refurbishment of ill-equipped public health institutions.
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