Give impetus to regional county economic blocs

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto view a model display of the Bomet University College Green Tuition Block, in Bomet yesterday. [PSCU]

In March this year, the establishment of an economic block for counties in Western Kenya was mooted. The rationale behind this was the need to create a vehicle that would drive the development agendas of the counties of Kisumu, Kakamega, Bungoma, Bomet, Homa Bay Busia, Kisii Kericho, Nandi, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya, Vihiga and Trans Nzoia. Through that initiative, the Lake Region Economic Bloc was formed.

Devolution may have succeeded in bringing services closer to the people, but each county faces unique challenges whose solution may be found in partnerships with neighbouring counties. Thus, the creation of regional economic blocs to facilitate inter-county trade and to boost individual county economies is a noble idea. Over reliance on funds from the National Treasury has tended to slow growth momentum in counties, particularly when such funds are spent on recurrent expenditure instead of development. Counties need cooperation modelled on economic blocs like SADC, ECOWAS, MAGHREB and EAC that have been able facilitate trade, improve bilateral relationships and boost economies.