By Okong’o Oduya
Busia County, Kenya: The national government in collaboration with the county government of Busia recently launched County Aggregation and Industrial Park at Nasewa land at a cost of ksh500 million.
The park is expected to open up businesses and create job opportunities not just at Nasewa but the entire border county.
The Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade, and Industry Moses Kuria noted that despite Busia town being along the border, it is still one of the poorest counties in Kenya.
“It is known that all towns bordering other countries are rich but it is unfortunate that Busia county, despite being along the Kenya -Uganda border is among the poorest counties in Kenya. With the introduction of the Industrial park, the narrative must end. Today we are starting a mega project that will create employment for many people in Busia and Kenya at Large.
According to him, the government is constructing industrial parks in all 47 counties with Busia County being the first county where the project is being launched.
Mr Kuria noted that through the industrial parks cotton, groundnuts, Simsim, and Rice produced will be processed and increase income to the people of Busia.
“We are having such projects in all 47 counties so that farm produce including cotton, sunflower, groundnuts, sim sim, and rice to be processed and in return, Kenyans will make money from them” he noted
The Cabinet Secretary revealed that in the second phase of the project, the national government will construct Export processing zones at a cost of sh1 billion which is expected to be gazette next week before it is advertised for tendering.
“In the second phase of the project the national government will invest in sh1 billion to construct Export processing zones and next week we will be gazetting the project, and advertise for tendering before it is launched within the next 2 months,” said Mr Kuria.
Mr Kuria revealed that the government has already identified investors in the third phase of the projects and they are planning to allocate sh420 billion to have special economic zones at 843 Nasewa land.
“I have already submitted proposals to the Africa Development Bank requesting sh420 billion to be invested in Kenya and out of it, sh40 billion will be invested in Busia through special economic zones at Nasewa.
The CS added, “By the time we are through with phase three of the project already more than 50,000 job opportunities will be created.”
United Democratic Party of Kenya (UDA) Secretary General Mr Cleophas Malala called upon Busia senator Okiya Omtatah to withdraw the case petitioning the 2023 financial act that was signed by President William Ruto terming it as a move that may hinder development in the county.
“The money national and the county government has pumped into this project I know will be completed on time. The only problem that may hinder the completion of the project is the case Mr Omtatah has taken to court petitioning the finance act 2023. Let him withdraw the case and allow money to flow to the projects in counties,” said Mr. Malala.
He, however, called upon the contractors at Nasewa to consider locals when the projects start.
“After launching this project, the contractor may decide to bring people from outside the county to work on the site, I am appealing to him to give priority to the locals even if they are not experts. Let them be trained so that they can get these jobs.”
Busia governor Dr Paul Otuoma welcomed the project, adding that out of the sh500 million government is investing in phase one of the project, the county government has contributed sh250 million to make sure that industrial parks are in place.
He called on the government to help tarmac roads to the industrial park for ease of accessibility.
“There is a need to tarmac the road from Butula passing here all the way to Nambale and to Amukura, it is our plan to tarmac the road to open these businesses.” Said Mr. Otuoma
Mr. Otuoma urged the contractor to consider the locals for job opportunities as soon as the project starts.
Busia senator Mr. Okiya Omtata challenged the government calling it to organize public participation to allow the project to start without obstacles, adding that the entire 843 acres of land at Nasewa are meant for Export Processing zones and bringing industrial parks without public participation may bring constitutional conflict.
“We need to have a plan for this project so that by the time this industrial park starts operating, we know where it will be situated and where EPZ will be situated. Working on this project without a plan is planning to fail,” he stated. In
Others present during the launch included Principal Secretary Ms. Susan Mang’eni, Matayos Member of Parliament Mr. Geoffrey Odanga, Nambale Member of Parliament Mr. Geoffrey Mulanya, and Butula Member of Parliament Mr. Joseph Oyula among other leaders.
