13-POINT AGENDA BUSIA BUSINESS COMMUNITY WANTS RAILA IMPLEMENT UNDER HIS PRESIDENCY
The Busia Business community has presented a 13-point memorandum to Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Alliance Presidential candidate, the Rt Hon Raila Odinga to have them implemented once he assumes office as the 5th President.
In a memorandum signed by Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Busia Chapter chairman, Silvanus Abungu, the business community wants Alupe University College issued with a charter.
Mr Abungu said apart from making it autonomous, the charter will open up job opportunities and have campuses across the county, noting that this will open up education space and revamp businesss.
Abungu said they want the Rt Hon Raila make the B1 Busia-Kisumu road a dual carriageway, noting that this will decongest Busia town, create cabro-paved road reserve, create parking lots and cushion against future disasters.
They also want the tarmacking of Mungatsi-Kimaet-Lwakhakha road to provide alternative transport to Bungoma and Ruambwa-Maumau road to connect with Lake Victoria Beaches.
“On corruption, we want the incoming President reduce the vice to save the country Ksh700billion annually. Let the new government reduce and restructure Chinese Debt to facilitate phase 3 & 4 of the Standard Guage Railway extended to Malaba through Kisumu,” he said, noting that this will ease transport of cargo and passengers, and decongest and reduce damage on our roads.
Mr Abungu said there is need for pipeline extension from Kisumu to Malaba with a view to decongest the roads, ease of transport to oil products and reduce disasters occasioned by trucks carrying inflammable products.
“Our other proposal is the upgrading of Lake Region bypass linking Machakusi- Nambale-Matayos-Sio-Port- Mundere- Maumau- Osieko to bitumen standards,” he said, emphasizing that this will open up the Lake region for tourism, factories and ease transport along the Lake region.
He added: “We want the relocation of dry port to Malaba, setting up of Special Economic zone in Nasewa, revival of Port Victoria and Sio Ports docks, actualization of Mulwanda Bridge in Funyula, development of policy on double taxation and reduce commodity prices.”
The other demand by the business community is to set up a manufacturing zone between Busia and Malaba towns along C43 road that will allow local manufacturers exporting to the Great Lakes region set up their outlets in Busia. This will create over 1 million jobs and will increase per capita income for the region.
In response to some demands by the business community, the Rt Hon Raila said Alupe University will be granted a charter before President Uhuru Kenyatta exits office.
He said a Raila Presidency will effect the upgrading to bitumen standards ring road around Lake Victoria and other roads in the county to open up the economy of the region including dualization of the Busia-Kisumu road.
Photo: Busia Governor, H.E Sospeter Ojaamong shares a word with the Rt Hon Raila Odinga during an Azimio La Umoja Rally.
~ Busia County – Communication Team ~
