Kilifi County played host to the inaugural Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) conference which was officially opened by Deputy President William Ruto in Malindi.
More than 29 Governors, Senators, MPs, MCAs, and delegates representing ASAL counties converged in Malindi, Kilifi County on Wednesday to explore possibilities that exist in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), seeing there exist vast deposits of natural resources and abundant space within the ASAL areas that remain untapped.
The conference aims to take stock of development initiatives existing in the ASALs and provide delegates with an opportunity to examine the challenges opportunities to enable stakeholders to take stock of progress.
Kilifi County Governor Amason Kingi played the host governor who said the potential for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) to grow and develop will be realized if these regions are given attention and proper understanding of their needs and potential, and a deliberate development commitment to address them.
"While ASALs make up to 89% of our Country with approximately 38% of Kenya’s population, a significant amount of untapped fortunes exists in these regions with tremendous potential cutting across economic, environmental, governance and socio-economic issues," Kingi said, lamenting that more than fifty years after Independence, inequality between the ASAL regions and the rest of Kenya persists.
He called for accelerated investment in neglected regions, especially the ASALs, if all Kenyans are to enjoy shared prosperity and development.
"It is high time that marginalized Counties, especially the ASALs, lead the way in advocating for affirmative programs and effective implementation of the equalization fund as we push to achieve the big 4 development agenda," he added.
On his part, Ruto said ASALs possess economic potential, which if unlocked can uplift millions of lives.
"Through devolution and equalisation funds, policy and legal framework, we are harnessing this potential as we pursue inclusive growth and shared prosperity," said Ruto.
Over the last 5 years, Ruto said funding to the 27 ASAL counties increased from Sh114 billion in 2013/2014 to Sh181 billion in 2017/2018.
"Separately, the national government is doing projects on water, irrigation, and roads. These elaborate mechanisms will move ASALs from relief dependency to resilience and mainstream the region’s contribution to the Big Four."
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