There is a need for communities to get involved in pushing the government's Big Four Agenda, Principal Secretary State Department for Devolution Charles Sunkuli has said.
Speaking in Nakuru on Tuesday during the closure of a two-day workshop on Special Economic Zones in the Mau Region, Sunkuli said communities have the potential to assist the government to achieve its development agenda.
While commending the leadership of PURKO Development Trust for contributing towards food security in Narok County, the PS said the Ministry of Devolution will continue to support such community projects.
Despite the drought situation that has hit over 12 counties, the PS stated that the Ministry of Devolution is working with other partners to ensure development in all the 47 counties.
Sunkuli noted that already such community projects have kicked off and are currently in an advanced stage in over 15 counties among them Uasin Gishu, Migori, Taita Taveta, Wajir, Marsabit, West Pokot, Baringo, Nakuru and Makueni.
The Devolution Ministry has spent 1.5 billion shillings on the projects.
“As a Ministry, we are working with communities to ensure that such projects succeed and we have already used 1.5 billion shillings in over 15 counties with the projects now at an advanced stage,” said the PS.
While lauding the devolved system of governance, the PS noted that there is a need to empower the county governments economically through community projects.
He called for collaboration of various state departments as well as experts from different fields in order to spur economic growth and drive the Big 4 Agenda.
“As part of making sure that devolution succeeds we must ensure that we support local economic development. I, therefore, call on all stakeholders to start working in that direction,” said the PS.