INVESTMENT AGENCY HOLDS A FAMILIARIZATION RETREAT
The Kakamega County Investment and Development Agency (KCIDA) is a semi-autonomous County agency established by an act of County Assembly 2018 to;
I) Identify and Market the County’s Investment opportunities locally and internationally,
Il) To attract both internal and external investors into the County.
The KCIDA board members on Monday held a one day workshop on operationalisation of the agency with key focus on; the Strategic Plan, Recruitment of staff, the Budget process and Public Participation as well as the importance of County Assembly to the agency among others. The forum also provided a platform for the official handover of the agency functions from CECM Mr. Kassim Were formerly of Trade , Tourism and Industrialization to Dr. Beatrice Sabana, the CECM of Finance, Planning and ICT, where the agency is now domiciled.
Dr. Sabana expressed optimism that she is inheriting a team with broad knowledge in investment and challenged them to work extra hard to deliver on the mandate of the agency as envisioned by the County boss H.E Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya.
“Your expertise should play a major role in advising on the route the Government should take in matters investment of value addition to the County,” she said.
The CECM for Social Services, Youth, Women Empowerment, Sports and Culture Mr. Kassim Were underscored that a well functioning agency will be key to the growth of economy and attraction to investors. He called for proper branding of the major projects in Kakamega and advised the CEO of the agency to work closely with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) which he said, plays a central role in facilitating growth of the economy through enterpreneurial development.
Madam Catherine Omweno, the Chairperson of the County Public Service Board, who took the members through the process of recruiting staff said her board will ensure the KCIDA delivers on its mandate by hiring qualified individuals with the right skills and experience.
The Chairperson of the Finance Committee at the County Assembly Hon. David Ikunza on his part said Kakamega is centrally placed to attract big investments and called on the members of the Board to set the ball rolling.
“The Assembly will support operations of your institution provided they touch on lives of the residents of this great County,” he assured.
Chief Officer for Planning and Investment Mr. Lawrence Omuhaka guided that KCIDA board should seek both local and international partnerships to equip the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital in order to achieve H.E Governor Oparanya’s vision of making Kakamega a medical city through operationalisation of the ultra modern facility; the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
His counterpart at the Finance docket Amb. CPA James Ochami noted that the board is composed of individuals with valuable experience capable of steering the agency to greater heights.
“Dr. Buyema for instance has been a CEO of Uwezo Fund; together with his colleagues, under Prof. Wawire’s Chairmanship, we thirst and truly foresee fastracking of investment opportunities into Kakamega County,” he said.
The Board Chair Prof. Nelson Wawire said his team will re-evaluate the benefit of major projects initiated by the Kakamega County Government.
He added that the board will develop proposals for local and international investors with the intention of bringing Investment into the County.
Prof. Wawire, a renown scholar in the country, is one of the brains behind the modern Kenyatta University Hospital.
The Agency’s Ag. CEO Mr. Joseph Indire said he looks forward to delivering the vision and mission of the institution and thanked Governor Oparanya for appointing him at his new portfolio, promising to deliver on his mandate.
Also in attendance were Chief Officer for Trade, Tourism and Industrialization Mr. Fanuel Angaya Wemali, County Attorney CPS. Moses Lukale Sande, Dr. Wilfred Buyema and Prisca Otipa (KCIDA Board members), Mr. Dan Musita the Secretary to the Board, Mr. Paul Posho the Economic Advisor in the Office of the Governor and Madam Elizabeth Asichi, the Acting Head of Development and Investment at the Agency.