NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 24 – Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has challenged leaders and professionals to unite and play a greater role in the development of the country.
Mr Musyoka said there is need for professionals to support the Government in exploring ways and means of exploiting untapped resources which if fully utilised can uplift the people’s living standards in the country.
The Vice President was speaking today at a Nairobi hotel during an investment forum in which MPs from the Ukambani region called for political unity ahead of 2012 elections.
Those who addressed the meeting included assistant ministers David Musila (Defense), Gideon Ndambuki (Agriculture) and Mutomo MP Isaac Muoki, professionals and elders from Ukambani and other areas in the country.
It was Mr Ndambuki, who also the Kaiti MP who kicked off the debate with his remarks that sound economic investments must go hand with political goodwill.
"I want to assure you that Ukambani MPs are now firmly united behind our Vice President. I want to inform you that we now have a better and stronger unity than ever before. We only differ in opinion and that one should not mean that we are not together,’’ said Mr Ndambuki.
He said investments go hand in hand with political goodwill, saying it is through unity and teamwork that the much needed development in the region can be realised.
The Vice President further expressed concern over the continued degradation of water catchments in Ukambani among other regions and called for ways of reducing the trend.
He challenged professionals from the region, to assist in the conservation of the environment to avert desertification in the area.
"There is serious environmental degradation in Ukambani and I therefore challenge professionals to help in containing the situation which is worsened by sand harvesting,’’ he said.
He said that the Government is committed to the development of the region citing the construction of an ICT center at Malili ranch and rehabilitation of many roads in the region as some of the projects that the Government has heavily invested in.
On constitution, Mr Musyoka expressed optimism that with the new constitutional dispensation, wananchi will steer the country towards a vibrant middle income economy.
He said the new Constitution will greatly help residents in the region and urged them to support the implementation of the Constitution ahead of its promulgation on Friday this week, noting that many investors have expressed their interest to invest in the country.
“We are all marshalling our energies and resources and, coupled with the new Constitutional dispensation, we will steer our country towards a vibrant middle income economy soon,” he said.
The Vice-President pointed out that the Government had developed a clear youth agenda to nurture and provide the country’s youthful population with lifetime gainful opportunities.
He urged Kamba leaders and professionals to unite and forge a common agenda to accelerate development in the region.
"Nobody is an angel. We should continue as a team through exchanging of beneficial xperiences and listening to problems facing our people besides exploring ways of solving them,’’ said Mr Musyoka.
Mr Musila and Mr Muoki said the community was united in charting the way forward for the community in matters pertaining to development and the future political situation ahead of 2012.
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