Busia businessman Peter Kubebea and Finance CeC Leonard Obimbira, December 7, 2017. [Photo/Busia County Government]
The Business Community in Busia has unveiled priority areas that the County government should capture in its revised County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022 so as to make Busia the hub of the region.Speaking during public participation forum at Lukonyi Primary School in Burumba ward, the community chairman Peter Kubebea said they had agreed on four areas aimed at revamping the economy of the border town.The forum was opened by Finance and ICT CeC Leonard Obimbira and attended by area MCA Moses Ochieng.Kubebea said they had agreed to donate 10 acres of land to the county government, pumping in at least Sh200 million to build a modern bus park that will accommodate a market, hotels and entertainment spots. “We have also agreed to donate five acres of land to put up a one-stop 10-storied vegetable market to act as a one-stop shop market. This will serve the entire Western Kenya region. To revamp the transport sector we have recommended the County government invest in the small scale of the motor sector where knocked down parts of bicycles will be assembled in Busia. This will reduce the price of motorbikes from Sh5000 to Sh100,” he said.“We also want the county to give a loan to the Transport Sacco to purchase 10 buses to create jobs for the unemployed youth.”Toyota Kenya, through motorcycle division Yamaha, does not have plans to set up a local assembly yet, says Teresa Moraa of the company’s marketing department. Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect Toyota Kenya’s position that they have no plans to open an assembly point in Busia.