What Nyanza, Western expect as vetting of CS nominees set to begin

President William Ruto with ICT CS nominee Eliud Owalo at African Inland Church in Homa Bay on October 2, 2022. [Rebecca Nduku, Standard] A daunting task to complete several projects and revive white elephants in Nyanza awaits President William Ruto's Cabinet Secretary nominees if they sail through the National Assembly. All eyes are on how the CSs, once appointed, will succeed where others failed and restore key sectors that are struggling as well as oversee the implementation of some vital projects initiated in retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure. The projects range from agriculture, business and enterprise, infrastructure and the blue economy which are the mainstays for the region. Agriculture which is Kenya's economic mainstay that contributes at least 15 per cent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be the first headache for Mithika Linturi, who will take over from Peter Kimunya in Agriculture. He will inherit a sector that is on its deathbed in Nyanza and Western as sugarcane farming that employs hundreds of thousands of locals continues to struggle and State-owned factories incur more debts. He comes into office at a time when the traditional expansiveness of the lush cover of sugar cane plantations which has been the signature image in Muhoroni, Sony and Mumias has greatly reduced. The problem has been worsened by the failure by the past regime to successfully revive five state-owned sugar factories operating in the region despite huge bailouts in the recent past. Linturi, should he sail through, will find on his table a taskforce report that proposed the leasing of five State-owned factories, a matter that has now been challenged in court. The companies have huge debts to the tune of Sh150b. And with Ruto's administration keen to revamp food production to help address the high cost of foodstuffs, it remains to be seen the professional master stroke that Linturi will unleash to save a sector that has been on a downward trend for nearly two decades. Stakeholders in the sector, including farmers, told The Sunday Standard that they were expecting the new CS to revamp the sector that employs several people in Nyanza and Western. Kenya Sugar Cane Growers Association Secretary General Richard Ogendo said they hope the new CS will prioritise payment of unsettled dues to farmers. "The outgoing regime promised to pay farmers 68 per cent of the dues they are owed. We hope the new CS will fast track the payments," said Ogendo. A similar problem also awaits Linturi in Western Kenya where farmers are abandoning sugarcane production as a result of the myriad of challenges bedeviling the sector. A survey by Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers (KNFSF) shows farmers in Mumias sugar zone has dropped from 96,000 to a paltry 20,000. In Western, the revival of Mumias and Nzoia sugar factories was part of the agreement signed between President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance, Musalia Mudavadi's ANC, and National Assembly Moses Wetangula's Ford Kenya in the run to August 9 General Elections. Sugarcane farmers from Western Kenya told The Sunday Standard that they expect to see the deal reached between the leaders put into action. "We have huge expectations in the newly nominated Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi because he was present at Musingu High school during the county economic development forum," said Kenya National Sugarcane Farmers Association Deputy Secretary-General Simon Wesechere. According to Wesechere, President Ruto's administration should move with speed in addressing the plight of sugarcane farmers in Western and Nyanza. "Sugarcane farming has been our economic main stay and we expect Mr Linturi to expedite things and resolve the challenges at Mumias and Nzoia sugar companies." Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime CS nominee Salim Mvurya has a huge task of addressing the plight of artisanal gold miners in Western and Nyanza. The Jubilee had promised to construct a Gold Processing factory in Kakamega at a cost of Sh120m, but the project failed to take off as expected. The investor who was expected to undertake the project wants parliament to pass the Gold Processing Bill, 2021, which provides for the establishment of a gold refinery and regulatory agency that will guarantee order to the sector. Apart from agriculture, several projects in the region are also yet to be completed. When former President Uhuru Kenyatta visited Kisumu last year, he left with a Sh1.7b investment promise to boost the county into becoming an economic hub in the region. Cutting across sports and road infrastructure, blue economy and business, residents believed the Lake City was destined for a bumper economic advancement that will turn Kisumu into the next capital investment hub. According to Uhuru, the refurbishment of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Complex would cost Sh100m as the construction of an ultramodern market in Kisumu town receive Sh350m. Others included the Jomo Kenyatta International Sports Centre for Sh450m and Sh800m will be for the renovation of Kisumu Port. A year later and a new government in place, the projects are yet to be completed and will be among those that the new CSs will be inheriting. Kipchumba Murkomen, who is set to take over at Roads and Transport, will be facing the daunting task to complete three big projects that have currently stalled. One of the main road projects include the Sh4.9b Mamboleo-Muhoroni Road. The 63-kilometre road that traverses Kisumu, Nandi and Kericho counties has been in a pathetic condition for decades. The road passes through the region's sugar belt and is host to three major millers of Muhoroni, Chemilil, Kibos and the defunct Miwani sugar factories. Healthcare, learning, business and investment have been disrupted by transport challenges and many livelihoods lost. Motorists avoided the road and opted for the Kericho-Kisumu road, going through Awasi and Ahero. They had been complaining of huge losses incurred while repairing their damaged vehicles. Works on the road started are expected to start at the intersection with Kisumu - Kakamega road in Kisumu at Mamboleo and will progress through Miwani, Chemelil, and Muhoroni eventually terminating at Kapsitet junction, where it joins the Kericho-Kisumu road. Another project lying in wait is the Sh809 million construction of Ahero interchange. For the past two years, the interchange which is expected to ease traffic and movement to Kericho, Kisii, Homa Bay and Kisumu Counties remains incomplete. In Mamboleo, the Mamboleo-Kisumu flyover also remains incomplete despite the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway already completed. Kisumu Matatu Owners Chairman Evans Andala urged the new government to expedite the completion of the Mamboleo-Kisumu Flyover, Mamboleo-Muhoroni road and the AHero interchange because they are suffering in terms of repairs. With specific mentions to the Mamboleo Flyover, Andala said they have been forced to buy new spares every week as opposed to monthly because of how bad the service lanes are. "The road has been long overdue. We have deep pot holes all over, dusty roads which are normally impassable during rainy seasons. The new government which promised to work for the mwananchi should act faster and help us because we are suffering," said Andala. "The constructor is not on the ground. They should be grading the service lanes from time to time, sprinkling water to ease on the dust and continue on the world to open the main road. Our plea is to the new government to act fast." Sports challenges In sports, incoming Sports CS Ababu Namwamba will also have headache trying to revive two of the county's iconic centers, Moi Stadium and the renamed Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sportsgrounds. Formerly known as Jomo Kenyatta Sportsground, the iconic recreational center within the Lake City was renamed to immortalise the first Vice President of the Republic of Kenya. With Sh100m invested in the project, people believed Kisumu's landscape and sporting facilities will change and modernized to catch up with the fast changing technological advancements around the globe. The upgrade was to include an ultramodern football pitch, refurbishment of Od Mikayi, canopy shades, open event garden, a tennis court, a hockey pitch, a fountain and restaurants. Other facilities are changing rooms, modern ablution blocks, a sports and leisure gym, drip irrigation, an automated ticketing system and monuments to honor heroes. Upon completion, the football, hockey, volleyball, basketball and netball pitches would be modernised as per international standards. The hockey pitch would come with artificial turf. Two years down the line, the facility is laying in waste and decaying. The hockey pitch which is supposed to be turfed is a wasted ground filled with over grown grass and gravel stones as the basketball courts which had been casually cemented before lay filled with filth and overgrown weeds at the sides. Written by Washington Onyango, Benard Lusigi and Erick Abuga

What Nyanza, Western expect as vetting of CS nominees set to begin

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