County, KIE sign agreement to improve livestock farming

Kajiado, Kenya: The county government and the Kenya Industrial Estates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve livestock farming.

Governor David Nkedianye together with his team and KIE Managing Director Julius Mokogi have agreed on a four-year MoU that is expected to improve the livestock sector.

Mr Mokogi said KIE will collaborate with the county government in promoting value addition which entails putting up factories that will buy bones, hooves and horns to produce by-products such as rings and buttons.

He said the products will then be sold locally and abroad depending on the demand. He said his organisation will also work closely with the county government to carry out feasibility study on how the region can attract investors.

"We will provide capacity building to business people in the livestock sector. We will also recommend for loans so that those in the enterprise can be able to crawl and immediately take a step in advancing their businesses," he said.

Mr Nkedianye said the memorandum will help the county develop since jobs will be created.

"It's just the beginning and I am looking forward to working with you in ensuring we propel this county," said Nkedianye.

Young minds

The governor was optimistic that the new arrangement would propel the county to higher heights in terms of investment and nurturing of young business entrepreneurs.

He said KIE will help his government develop a feasibility study on what would attract investors. Another area of collaboration is to focus on waste by-products such as cow dung, hooves and horns.

"We need to see how we can support those in the small and medium enterprises by providing capacity building that will ensure the prosperity of our youth and women entrepreneurs," he said.

Others present during the meeting included the County Secretary Kennedy Kerei, Trade and Industrialisation Executive Florence Mutua and KIE Manager in charge of Business Development David Opiyo.

Meanwhile, the assembly's Lands committee has embarked on a fact finding mission on a disputed parcel of land in Nguruman along the Kajiado-Narok border.

The move comes barely two weeks after locals forcibly chased Nguruman Limited owners and workers from the area after an advert placed in a section of the media claimed that the Kericho High Court had given the company a go-ahead to auction the Shompole Group Ranch.

 

The committee led by its Chairman Joseph Mutunkei asked the locals to be patient and maintain peace as investigations continue to unearth what might have transpired in the courts.

Former officers

"We know that you are all disturbed but we call for patience and peace as we carry out our own investigations," said Mr Mutunkei.

The committee intends to interrogate several elders and locals, former leaders, land registry officials, Nguruman Limited directors among other key persons to shed light on the disputed land.

The team will also seek to get more information on the history of the people in the area. The chairman asked all those summoned by the committee to co-operate to make it easier to find a long-lasting solution to the impasse.

"We are here to investigate and find out what really transpired and why close to 40,000 people are facing eviction," said Mutunkei.

The committee has urged both leadership of Kajiado and Narok counties to work together on the matter.