DEPUTY GOVERNOR OPENS USAID STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATION FORUM

H.E. Prof. Philip Museve Kutima has today, on behalf of H.E. the Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, opened a one day consultative forum sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at Golf hotel, Kakamega.

In a speech delivered by his deputy, the governor thanked USAID for adopting a consultative approach that will maximize the impact on development cooperation for the benefit of the Kenyan people. “It is encouraging that in addition to working with the national and county governments, USAID is committed to work closely with the community organizations, youths and women, the private sector as well as academic institutions among other partners. These are the pillars of devolution,” the governor noted.

Governor Oparanya said a strong partnership between the public, private and civil society sector are essential to guarantee an effective governance system structure. “This meeting will not only provide a platform for inter and cross county dialogue but also strengthen partnerships at the community level,” he said. In addition, the governor observed that the forum will also provide the four sister counties with a chance to identify areas of mutual interest and collaboration.

The deputy governor Prof. Philip Museve Kutima on his part urged the four counties to ensure the USAID programmes are sustained even beyond the organization’s existence in the counties. He called on the counties to strengthen partnerships and inter-county dialogue to realize the benefits of devolution which he termed as the best thing to ever have happened in the country. “Countries that are devolved world wide are the ones that have developed such as United States, Japan, Germany and many others,” said Prof. Kutima.

Participants attending the forum are drawn from the counties of Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega and Vihiga.