Nyanza ready for economic take-off - CS Owalo

By Peter Ochieng

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for ICT and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo is of the view that Nyanza region is an economic giant awaiting awakening and take-off, to reach full potential for the benefit of locals, and the entire country.

The CS said the region is blessed with numerous opportunities in marine, cotton, sugar, and animal production, alongside micro, small and medium enterprises, adding that structured leadership is what is needed to set the ball rolling.

"Without a doubt, these women demonstrate clearly that the region is ready for take-off. What is left is organized and structured leadership. Such leadership and guidance is best provided by professionals like yourselves. Its role is at once providing models and helping the grassroots to develop viable business plans in their chosen areas. The plans will clearly see the markets and the linkages to these markets and connect grassroots women to them," said the CS.

He spoke on Friday in Kisumu, during the launch of Proffessional Association for Nyanza (PANY) women.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, among them Meg Whitman, US ambassador to Kenya and Gladys Boss Shollei, deputy Speaker in the National Assembly.

Owalo said the launch of PANY means women in Nyanza are standing up to be counted.

"Our women are standing up to be counted. Quite often, the huge challenges that confront sustainable human development will tease us to remain in the space of lamentation, despair and buck passing. The women professionals from this region are basically telling us that it is time to put lamentations behind us, and to begin walking the talk and path of development," he stated.

"From here, it is my expectation that you will begin fleshing out tangible programs and projects that can begin turning around the region. As a Cabinet Secretary in the Kenya Kwanza government, I urge you to familiarize yourselves thoroughly with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and to align your own agendas with this agenda, whose principal champion is President William Ruto."

The CS is PANY women patron. The association was formed early this year, and has over 500 women registered members from Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay and Migori counties.

Betty Adera, PANY women national chair said the association's major objective is bringing Nyanza women professionals together for sustainable economic development, and for the prosperity of the Nyanza region, in line with goal 5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on gender equality.

"The association recognizes fully that the contribution of women professionals in the region’s development discourse has so far remained minimal. Yet, it is widely acknowledged, in the world today, that if women will play a central role in society, they will bring about social and economic stability, progress and long-term development among communities," she said.

She said their work entails building capacities of women and youth groups in areas of financial inclusion; improving climate-smart agricultural and fisheries production and value chain systems; providing linkages to local enterprises for enhanced growth; and enhancing public, and reproductive health interventions.

The CS will on Saturday join PANY members in a tree planting session at Maseno University.