Political leaders, professsionals and business people from Ukambani region met on Friday at the Konza Techno City in Machakos County to chart a way towards the formation of the South Eastern Kenya Economic bloc.
The initiative is spearheaded by Governors Dr Julius Malombe of Kitui, Alfred Mutua of Machakos and Prof KivuthaKibwana of Makueni who will host the inaugural forum for the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB).
The SEKEB economic bloc is intended to pool and leverage on regional resources, county synergies and economies of scale so as to spur trade and investment and to broaden, deepen and accelerate socio-economic development, employment and wealth creation for the people in the region and the country.
The objective of the inaugural forum is to share the SEKEB concept and objectives with the leadership, business community and professionals of the region and to witness SEKEB’s formal launch.
Some county governments in Kenya have in the recent past either associated or are in the process of associating to form economic blocs similar to SEKEB.
Such economic blocs include the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani for Coastal counties, Lake Region Economic Block (LREB) for counties in Western and Nyanza Regions, Aberdares and Mt Kenya Trade and Investment Bloc for counties in Central and Mt Kenya region, North Rift Economic Block (NOREB) for counties in central and north rift valley area, among others.
Those invited and expected to attend the inaugural forum include elected and other leaders from the three counties including leaders of Faith-based Organizations, Maendeleo ya Wanawake (MYWO), Council of Elders, Professionals, Youth, Persons-Living-With-Disability, Akamba Clans Associations.
Others areAtumia ma Thome, NGOs, CBOs, SACCOs, Ranching Groups, Horticultural Associations, Teachers Associations and Unions, MSMEs, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, County Budget and Economic Forums, among others.
Leaders from Kajiado, Tana River and other neighboring counties are invited to attend as observers.