Vision 2030 board is steering the creation and setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) by various county regional blocs. Representatives from both the national and county governments addressed concerns on the major challenges hindering deployment in the Lake Region bloc.
Limited land emerged as a major challenge to the creation of said Zones. The Lake Region Economic bloc will have Kisumu as the host. However, Kakamega governor and chairman of the bloc pointed out that of the 5000 acres required, only 500 acres is available.
Mr. Moses Ikiara, board member of Vision 2030 delivery unit, said that they need close to 100,000 acres for the SEZ. The biggest hurdle is the readiness of Counties to give up such huge sizes of land. The chairperson of the Lake Region bloc, Mr. Oparanya acknowledge the ambitiousness of the project. In order to mitigate on the challenge of availability of land, they would be required to set up mini-economic zones.
Mr. Oparanya added that, devolution faces many challenges and the Bomet conference seeks to address that.
[Article by Ruth Mbula – Business Daily]
