Eight Rift Valley counties to reap from leaders’ tour of America

Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi presents a gift to Lieutenant Governor of the State of Maryland, Boyd Rutherford, when Rift leaders paid him a courtesy call at his home. Looking on from left are Governor Alex Tolgos, Dr Stephen Tarus, Simion Kachapin, Dominic Biwot and Prof Paul Chepkwony. [PHOTO: COURTESY]

Eight counties in both North and South Rift are set benefit from trade and development opportunities following a successful tour by their leaders to the US.

The six governors and two deputies are back from a two-week visit courtesy of an invitation from Gotabgaa Association of Kalenjins living in the US, who linked them with interested investors and donors to Rift Valley counties.

The governors who made the trip were Isaac Ruto (Bomet), Simon Kachapin (West Pokot), Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Prof Paul Chepkwony (Kericho), Benjamin Cheboi (Baringo), deputy Governors Dominic Biwot (Nandi) and Dr Stanley Tarus (Trans Nzoia).

According to the governors, they managed to strike huge deals with US companies and institutions on a range of issues from health, agriculture, renewable energy, tourism and athletics.

Isaac Ruto said he was able to sign an agreement with St Augustine University for scholarships to 100 youths from Bomet each year.

"We entered into an agreement with Maryland and Dukes University to construct and equip a cancer centre worth Sh250 million at Longisa, and signed an MOU for a sister relationship with Milwaukee city, who will share with us issues of research, culture and exchange programmes," said the Bomet governor.

Ruto said there was also an agreement with Wisconsin University for training on water purification and a drilling of a borehole at Sigowet village in Chemaner Ward ward in Bomet East constituency.

West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin said that five US firms are set to venture in mega development projects that include establishing wind and solar energy plant in the county by Energy One, a power company in the US.

ENERGY PROJECTS

"The semi-arid county experiences hot and windy climatic conditions and the venture will be ideal since most homes and business premises in the region are not connected to the national power grid," said Kachapin.

A feasibility study for the same is set to begin in the near future in which the estimate amount of power in megawatts to be produced will be ascertained,

The West Pokot Governor also signed a deal with Amethyst Technologies that will see the firm set up a veterinary laboratory to aid in livestock disease management.

"Since livestock production is the backbone of our semi arid county, the venture will help control the frequent outbreak of diseases like East Coast Fever, and Trypanasomiasis, which have been a challenge to pastoral farmers in the region," said Kachapin.

With the establishment of the laboratory, the county will be able to export its meat products to international markets from the improved quality of stock.

West Pokot county will also gain from an agreement with Aequitus Solutions, an international security firm to re-brand the county's image.

Nandi Deputy Governor Dominic Biwot said the county will gain massively from a partnership deal with Amethyst Technologies to put up a Sh250 million agricultural research centre at Kaimosi.

He also revealed that the county had also signed many sister-to-sister programmes with Maryland State, county partnership with Fredrick County and Bloomington City in Minnesota, which will partner with Kapsabet town.

"Our partnership with Michigan was also reaffirmed. We have already received two box state-of-the-art mini-theatre ambulances from the State," said Biwott .

Elgeyo Marakwet County Governor said he had met with officials from the Western Kentucky University who agreed to venture in agricultural research.

"We were able to hold meaningful talks with the US companies and institutions that led to MoUs that starts our mutual development engagements," said Tolgos.

Trans Nzoia deputy governor Dr Stephen Tarus said they had entered an agreement with Maryland University for the construction of a state-of-the-art agricultural centre in the county.

"We expect the representatives from the university to visit in mid September so that we can finalise the deal," said Dr Tarus.

Additional reporting by Titus Too