14 County Assembly Speakers agree to support formation of regional bloc.

 LREB Chairman Wickliffe Oparanya address the press in Kisumu today where
14 County Assembly Speakers have agreed to support the formation of the Lake Region Economic Bloc {LREB}.With him is the Chairman of the LREB Assembly Caucus Moffat Teya-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo

July 13, 2018.

14 County Assembly Speakers agree to support formation of regional bloc.

A TOTAL of 14 County Assembly Speakers have agreed to support the formation of the Lake Region Economic Bloc {LREB}.

The 14 County Assembly Speakers who are from 14 counties who have come together for the formation of the Lake Region Economic Bloc said they will help in expediting the sensitization program among the County Assembly Members within their jurisdiction for the formation of the Bloc.

Addressing the Press in Kisumu after having a meeting with LREB Chairman Wickliffe Oparanya today, the County Assembly Speakers led Nyamira County Assembly Speaker Moffat Teya who is the Chairman of the LREB Assembly Caucus, the Speakers promised to take leadership in the process.

“We have resolved that towards the adaptation of the ratification of our legal document, we will expedite the ongoing sensitization of our county assembly  Members and our strategic stakeholders on the Lake Region Economic Bloc Bill 2018,” they said in a joint communique.

They said the Lake Region Economic Bloc will take leadership in coordinating the inland waters Blue Economic Sector players that include the Lake Basin Development Authority,the Kenya Marine an Fisheries Research Institute, Kenya Investment Authority, Lake Victoria Basin Commission and the Kenya Maritime Authority.

LREB Chairman Wickliffe Oparanya said the Bloc will organize a Blue Economy Regional Conference which will provide a way forward and a common position for the region on inland waters blue Economy.

He added that there will be a global conference on the blue economy to be held in Nairobi in November this year.

The Lake Region Economic Bloc {LREB} is a conglomerate of fourteen counties which have integrated for purposes of socio-economic development and regional prosperity.

The 14 Counties under the bloc include Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho, Nandi, Bomet and Trans Nzoia. Others are Vihiga, Kakamega,Bungoma and Busia.

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.

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