The Kisii county government and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) are fast-tracking the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed last year on various partnerships.
In the collaborative arrangement, the county will partner with the university in mechanisation of agriculture, revenue mobilisation, urban development, Modernisation of Daraja Mbili market, development of a science park, solid waste management, development of cottage industries and youth in agribusiness among others.
During a meeting attended by Governor James Ongwae, the University Vice Chancellor Professor Mabel Imbuga, chairman of the board Professor Peter Kanyari, County executive members Kodek Omwancha and Moses Onderi among others.
It was agreed that the university will identify short-term measures and quick wins as the two institutions plan to execute long-term measures.
The governor cited the establishment of the science park, agricultural value addition and agro-processing and modernisation of Daraja Mbili market as areas that should be prioritised.
Imbuga said the university will play a significant role to enable the county realise its vision of becoming a prosperous county and be a model for other counties.
"We have designed a state of the art Daraja Mbili market to assist farmers and other business entities," said Imbuga.
"In areas of agricultural production, we will work with the county right from production and commercialisation," added Imbuga.
She said the university in partnership with the county will do the planning and implementing waste management practices throughout the county.
She also added that being one of the engineering and architectural hub in the country, it will do a model township design for the county.
She said in the establishment of the science park, the university will incorporate innovative ideas of locals and commercialise them.
Governor Ongwae thanked the university for its corporation saying the target was to leverage on Kisii county’s comparative economic advantages to spur growth.
“Following today’s meeting, a team comprising officers from the County and JKUAT will embark on the implementation of the agreement," said Ongwae.
"We would like to tap into the expertise and capacity of JKUAT to develop our County,” he added.