UK companies told to invest in development of Nandi locals

By Rael Jelimo

Nandi, Kenya: The Nandi government has assured the British government of non-interference in the operations of the latter’s current investors in the county.

Nandi Governor Cleophas Lagat, however, urged the firms to explore more opportunities in the region that would enable them improve the livelihoods of the locals through corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

The British firms, which include large-scale tea companies, had been censured over little contribution towards development in the region through lack of appropriate CSR activities.

Dr Lagat said the corporations were making huge profits through tea exports but not contributing to the area’s development agenda.

“We would like the tea corporations to approach Nandi County with a human face. They can no longer be making huge profits at our expense. We are now seriously shifting our attention to their participation in the development of this county and their corporate social responsibility,” said the governor.

Lagat was addressing officials from the British High Commission in Kenya who included the commission’s Political Consular David Hall and the advisor on Prosperity Affairs Vanessa Redmond.

The team had visited the governor in his Kapsabet office ahead of the British High Commissioner’s tour of Nandi later this year. The team said it visited the county to monitor UK-funded activities in the health sector and to learn about new opportunities for bilateral partnership with the Nandi government.

“We have discussed a range of issues including potential partnerships between the Nandi government and the UK. Governor Lagat has assured existing investors in Nandi of non-interference. We have intentions of identifying more opportunities in the county for UK investors to achieve maximum mutual benefits,” said Dr Hall.

In a bid to enhance deeper UK-Kenya ties in the county, the team met the Speaker and Members of the County Assembly before meeting with members of Nandi County Chamber of Commerce and Industry.