Central Kenya Development Network (CKDN) helping counties execute their mandate
When CKDN and CEREB met last month. Some of those in the photo are; Dr Michael Njoroge Mugo (left), Mary Ngethe - CKDN Programs Director (2nd left), Governor Mutahi Kahiga (4th left), Ambassador Stephen Karau (3rd right) and Ndirangu Gachunia (right)
By Mt Kenya Times Team
Worth Noting:
- CEREB comprises on 10 counties that have their tentacles bearing at the mountain.
- These are Nyeri, Laikipia, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Nakuru and Nyandarua.
- The broad objective of CEREB is influencing economies of scale in joint development projects and activities for its ten member counties.
- CEREB’s national contribution through agriculture which is the country’s main economic activity stands at about 35 per cent which remains the highest compared to other similar blocks.
- In line with the mission of CEREB, ‘To promote sustainable regional socio-economic development for the welfare of citizens”, this forum is expected to ensure that it realizes its full potential and attain high-quality life for the Bloc and its citizenry.
A community owned organization is partnering with central Kenya region counties in advancing their quest to achieve objectives of economically uplifting the residents.
The organization, Central Kenya Development Network (CKDN) is now working on the modalities of how best to collaborate with the counties through their Central Region Economic Bloc (CEREB).
CKDN targets sector-based interventions as drivers of development and social economic resilience. These include Health, Agriculture, Environment and Education among others.
To start with, this organization which the bloc identified as its Principal Partner has already provided CEREB with a Program Officer whose brief is to help in running its secretariat.
According to CKDN Technical Director Dr Michael Njoroge Mugo, they have mobilized bilateral partners who are willing to support CEREB in Technical Assistance, Capacity Strengthening, Climate Action, Agribusiness Micro-enterprise Support, Agricultural Value-Chain Support Program, Mitigating Covid-19 Response and Support for Development and review of County Integrated Development Plans, CIDPs) among others.
These partners include the World Bank, Royal Danish Embassy, the British High Commission and Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, and Amref-Africa among others.
Two weeks ago, CEREB chairman Governor Mutahi Kahiga of Nyeri county held a consultative meeting with CKDN Director General cum Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ambassador Stephen Karau where they explored various ways of partnership mechanisms between the two entities.
During the meeting held at Jacaranda Hotel the duo also discussed on the need to mobilise experts to help CEREB develop an Economic Outlook that is a Blueprint of coordinated development in the region.
The Blueprint will then be simplified into a popular version easily consumed by the community.
The Lead expert for Blueprint development is Dr Mbue Wagacha, who is a Don at the University of Nairobi and also an advisor to the national government.
CKDN is also bringing together agriculture bilateral partners to revamp the sector with a particular emphasis on coffee which they observed need urgent legislative reforms.
As CKDN lays ground on working modalities, CEREB is expected to unlock the area’s potential and drive its residents to the next level in the standards of living.
With the elections just concluded and a new team having taken over, the locals are optimistic that good things are on their way.
CEREB comprises on 10 counties that have their tentacles bearing at the mountain.
These are Nyeri, Laikipia, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Nakuru and Nyandarua.
The broad objective of CEREB is influencing economies of scale in joint development projects and activities for its ten member counties.
CEREB’s national contribution through agriculture which is the country’s main economic activity stands at about 35 per cent which remains the highest compared to other similar blocks.
In line with the mission of CEREB, ‘To promote sustainable regional socio-economic development for the welfare of citizens”, this forum is expected to ensure that it realizes its full potential and attain high-quality life for the Bloc and its citizenry.
A few weeks ago, the Nyeri Governor was elected the CEREB chairman. Others in its top leadership include Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza as the Vice Chairman, Governor Kiarie Badilisha of Nyandarua County as the Secretary with Laikipia’s Joshua Irungu being the Whip.
Working as a team, they are expected to improve the economic status through enhancing production and productivity in the agricultural sector, promoting regional industrial and manufacturing investments, as well as developing an infrastructure network to facilitate the socio-economic development of the region.
Just a few days after the team took office, CKDN facilitated a high-powered round table meeting which was attended by Governors and Deputy Governors from the ten counties, development partners, donors and sponsors where it was resolved that there is a need to share resources, such as Mt. Kenya and the Aberdares, to improve the livelihoods of people in these counties.
The meeting deliberated on areas of partnership, linkages and relationships between the ten member counties and the mutual benefit of the counties that will help them be sustainable and self-sufficient.
The Bloc is at the advanced stages of developing a one-market protocol where the counties will be amending their finance bills to align, reduce, harmonize and even scrap some levies like distribution licenses to spur manufacturing and lower the distribution cost.
This move will ensure people benefit through free trade treaties in coffee, tea, milk and other cash crops following the creation of an enabling atmosphere by national government.
During that consultative meeting, the bloc also launched its first-ever statistical abstract to allow investors to make informed choices.
The ten-county governments, through development partners and the national government, are helping mitigate economic difficulties facing the residents, small businesses and societies. With the help of the partners, this will open up opportunities for collaboration across such sectors as food security, trade, manufacturing, tourism and health care.
The CEREB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ndirangu Gachunia noted that the Bloc’s place in the country’s economy and contribution to the GDP, leading at 26.3%, should help leverage its national position and propel it to accelerated development.
In line with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, this provides that the Government at each level, and different governments at the county level, shall cooperate in the performance of functions and exercise of powers and, for that purpose, may set up joint committees and joint authorities.
To this end, these regional economic blocs belong to the people and are solely intended to uplift the well-being of the people within the region.
The time to actualize the Bloc’s objectives, and implement the plan, is now.
“Thankfully, resources from the national government and external partners are available; and our place in the country’s economy gives us better leverage to negotiate and create synergy,” said the CEO.
Some of the CEREB opportunities are; the region having many opportunities including a huge economy and a trading bloc of approximately Sh1.2trillion annually, availability of Natural resources like land, minerals, forests, wildlife, water towers, mountains, rivers and availability of Agricultural land for high-value crop production, horticulture and livestock production.
Other opportunities include; High population of industrious people conversant with trade, agricultural production, trade, enterprise and technology which translates to easy availability of human capital and hand labour, Good physical and service infrastructure such as hydro and geothermal power and roads.
Also in the list of opportunities are Manufacturing Industrial hub areas such as in Thika and Nakuru, Conducive investment environment in terms of social, economic, political environment and relatively high security and safety.
However, despite the many opportunities, some challenges are also exhibited.
These include; Massive sharing of health infrastructure and services against a huge population slightly more than 10 million people which comprises of about 22 percent of the country’s entire population.
Other challenges are huge recurrent health sector expenditure which stands at 35 percent of the entire allocation from the national government, most of which goes to the recurrent expenditure.
Part of the challenge also includes the fact that Income by farmers is not commensurate with the high cost of production and low-level value addition of commodities like coffee, tea, miraa, rice, horticultural produce, dairy and livestock production.
The new team is expected to maximally utilize the opportunities as they address the challenges for the benefit of the locals.
With the entry of CKDN, a fully registered NGO operating in the 10 Counties of Mount Kenya region, it is only a matter of time before the locals’ stat experiencing positive changes.
The primary objective of CKDN is to advocate for coordinated development and improved social and well-being of the people, targeting sector-based interventions as drivers of development and economic resilience.
CKDN is managed by a strong Board of Directors, all of whom are highly skilled professionals experienced in public service and private sector development, and a technical team experienced in research and impactful community interventions.
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About the Author
Thank you Ambassador Stephen Karau for bringing awareness that such an organization exists that advocates and voice for the ten named counties economic growth. My great grandfather was from Muranga. My grandparents relocated to Nakuru where I was born to find work in the 1950s.
Keep up the good work and say NO to GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) on Kenya’s farms. Here in diaspora organic foods consumption is recognized to sustain good health.