Kitui: The Kitui county government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Yatta B2 Ranching Cooperative Society to boost economic development and improve the livelihoods of residents in the area. This agreement aims to foster collaboration between the two entities to achieve significant economic growth in the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, the MoU establishes a framework for cooperation, focusing on agriculture, trade, industrialization, tourism, mineral processing, environmental conservation, and strengthening the cooperative movement. Dr. Julius Malombe, the county governor, emphasized the importance of this partnership during the signing ceremony at the county headquarters. He stated that this collaboration would pave the way for comprehensive development initiatives, including infrastructure improvements on the land leased to the society by the county government.
The agreement outlines plans for constructing access roads, drilling boreholes, connecting electricity, and establishing earth dams. Governor Malombe also highlighted efforts to enhance security by working with the National Police Service to set up a police post, which will support tourism and other activities aligned with the society's objectives.
Additionally, the governor committed to leveraging technology to support the cooperative society's activities through value addition and revisiting lease terms to allow for expanded ranching-related activities. The County Ministry of Environment is tasked with facilitating tree planting to restore the degraded environment and prevent unlawful encroachment on the leased land.
The cooperative society recently ceded 1,500 acres near Kanyonyoo Town for the Kitui County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP), a joint initiative aimed at driving manufacturing and investment through agro-industries. This initiative seeks to enhance agricultural productivity, create jobs, increase farmers' incomes, and promote agro-industrial development.
Governor Malombe reiterated his administration's stance against land encroachment, emphasizing the protection of public land for community benefit. He praised the Yatta B2 Ranching Cooperative Society's leadership for their cooperation with the county government, underscoring the importance of such partnerships in achieving Kitui's development objectives.
The signing ceremony was attended by County Executive for Trade, Rose Mutuku, several members of the County Assembly, and Yatta B2 officials, including the chairperson and other key stakeholders.