Group wants county assemblies to ratify Bill on formation of Regional Bloc.

 Chairman of the Lake Region Economic Bloc Governor Wickliffe Oparanya{R} address the press in Kisumu when he visited the Bloc's Headquarters in Kisumu recently.A lobby group has urged county Assemblies to ratify the Bill for its formation-File Photo.

By Dickson Odhiambo.

 May 22, 2018.

Group wants county assemblies to ratify Bill on formation of Regional Bloc.

A LOBBY Group in Kisumu has urged 14 counties Assemblies within the Lake Region Economic Bloc to adopt and ratify a bill for the formation of the regional bloc.

The group known as Kisumu Joint Bunges Network says it supports the initiative of forming the Lake Region Economic Bloc {LREB} comprising of fourteen Counties.

Addressing the press at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu today, the group led by its Patron Ben Orengo said so far the agreement bringing all the 14 member counties was signed by the respective Governors and the next phase is that all county assembly falling within the bloc adopt and ratify the Lake region economic bloc Bill.

The group say having assessed the benefits that the bloc will bring after being established, it is prudent for the 14 county assemblies to ratify the Bill immediately.

“We members of the Kisumu Bunges Joint Network having assessed the benefits which will be brought by the formation  of the Lake Region Economic Bloc, we therefore urge all the County Assemblies where this bloc falls to immediately ratify the Bill for the Bloc’s formation,” they say.

The lobby say the bloc is aimed towards making livelihoods of the citizens of Kisumu County and the entire other 13 members of the bloc.

They argue that the bloc will solve the long experienced boarder disputes amongst the counties, adding that it will also create employment opportunities.

They add that it will also widen the market locally, regionally and internationally among others.

The Lake Region Economic Bloc is comprised of 14 counties namely Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho, Nandi, Bomet , Trans Nzoia, Vihiga, Kakamega,Bungoma and Busia.

The Bloc is a conglomerate of fourteen counties which have integrated for purposes of socio-economic development and regional prosperity.

The 14 Counties have similar ecological zones and natural resources; they have analogous cultural histories that date back to historical migrations and trading routes.

A partnership between the counties is both essential and timely and creates a practical framework through which county government efforts can be pooled to harness the abundant natural resources, build on existing strengths and address challenges.

LREB’s economic Blueprint was born out of the understanding that strategic connections between counties with shared interest seated in a desire for mutual benefit can be an effective intelligent means of increasing the possibility of creating notable development impact across several counties.

It has a vision of being a world class bloc in promotion of sustainable, equitable socio-economic development for a better life while its mission is to achieve sustainable development through coordination, promotion, resource mobilization, innovation and enhancement of equitable economic integration in the Lake region.

So far a regional Headquarters has been established in Kisumu and the 14 Counties have agreed each to set aside shs 200m for the formation of a regional bank by October this year.

It's chairman is Kakamega Governor Wickliffe Operanya and Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso is the Deputy Chair of the Bloc.

A bill which seeks to ratify the formation of the regional block has already been taken to the various county assemblies which should adopt and ratify it to allow the legal framework for the formation of the bloc.

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