KAKAMEGA TO DEVELOP A COUNTY SPATIAL PLAN TO GUIDE DEVELOPMENT

The County Government of Kakamega through the Department of Lands, Housing, Urban Areas and Physical Planning is in the process of developing a County Spatial Plan to guide the development of Kakamega County.

Kakamega Governor H.E FCPA Fernandes Barasa Friday hosted a delegation from the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) led by the Director General Brig. Hillary Kosgey where matters of mutual interest between the County and the Agency were discussed among them; facilitation of satellite data by KSA to guide development of the County’s spatial plan, technical support from the Agency in equiping and operationalizing the County GIS lab and Capacity building of County Government Officers.

The Governor appreciated the team for the visit and emphasized the need to collaborate with the State Agency and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the initiative is successful. Once developed, FCPA Barasa observed, the Plan will aid in optimal utilisation of land and allocation of resources to the various sectors among them Health, Environment, Health Services, Infrastructure, Agriculture and the Disaster Management Units. The County’s Own Source Revenue will also be enhanced once the Spatial Plan is implemented while unscrupulous middlemen will be locked out from revenue collection due to digitization of the process thus safeguarding the County resource envelope.

The Spatial Plan is aimed at improving the livelihoods of residents through efficient administration, equitable access, secure tenure and sustainable management of land resources.

It is envisioned that with operationalization of the GIS lab, all data in the County will be provided in digital platforms among them County projects, institutions and facilities, public land and boundaries of urban areas.

KSA Director General assured of the Agency’s support and lauded the County for the committment towards Development of the spatial plan. The County Government is expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for future collaboration with the Kenya Space Agency.

CECM for Lands Dr Mariam Barasa noted that the process will be critical in establishing a Land Information Management system to assist in management of land and provide information for the preparation or urban and regional development plans.

Present were Chief Officer for Lands Administration CPA David Kulova, his counterpart at the Urban Development docket Ms Faith Gitira and Directors among other Government officers.