Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday, April 4 noted that the Northern parts of Kenya are key in addressing food scarcity in the country.
Speaking during the North and North Eastern Development Initiative (NEDI) Consultative Forum at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi Gachagua revealed that ten counties will benefit from World Bank projects.
NEDI is a programme under the Deputy President’s office. It is funded by the World Bank and the national government.
“The North and North Eastern Region is a critical, potential, and strategic region for Kenya's National Security and Development. The solution to the food security challenges we face lies in this region.
“Working with the development partners led by the World Bank, we will make sure these programmes and other interventions under the NEDI are successfully implemented,” the DP noted in a statement.
The counties earmarked are: Isiolo, West Pokot, Garissa, Lamu, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River, Turkana, and Wajir.
He touted the North Eastern region as bearing the potential to be the country's food basket.
The development came amid the ravaging effects of the worst drought in 40 years which has necessitated the government to implement mitigation measures, including distributing relief food in parts of the country.
He held that the vast open land, if put to good use, would transform the lives of not only the people in those counties but Kenya at large.
The DP added that, “The government takes this Initiative seriously as a solution to the many challenges we face.”
According to Gachagua, the Kenya Kwanza administration was keen on creating social equity for all.
This includes developing marginalised communities and opening up their areas for investment.
Gachagua’s role in NEDI is part of the functions he was assigned by President William Ruto during the reorganization of government.
The president revealed that the DP would coordinate the planning of projects and supervise the implementation of development partner-funded programmes.
The DP would also coordinate intergovernmental relations between the national government and county governments.
