Nakuru County Governor Lee Kinyanjui and his Nyandarua counterpart Francis Kimemia at a past event. They are working together to take pyrethrum back to its former glory. [Photo|Standard Digital]
Seventeen counties are working on forming an economic bloc to boost the welfare of residents.
Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui said discussions had already started between the 17 governors on modalities of economic integration.
"We are coming together to form an economic bloc but, more importantly, to lift our people out of poverty," he said at Sabugo village of Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County.
"We, the second crop of governors, do not want to make the mistakes made by our predecessors; we are going to work as a team complementing each other."
Kinyanjui said most of these devolved units are pyrethrum growing counties and they are focusing on reviving the collapsed industry.
"I have spoken with Governor Francis Kimemia and the others and we have a roadmap on how to revive the crop that was like coffee for this region," he noted.
The 17 county chiefs are also exploring other key interest areas such as tourism, trade and agriculture to help build a stronger regional economic bloc.
The counties which have come together include; Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Laikipia, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Kisii, Nyamira, Kiambu and Nyeri.
Others are Baringo, Kericho, Bomet, Narok, Nyandarua, Meru and Embu.