News Categories: Trade, Tourism, Investment & Industrialization

Alcohol and substance abuse is not only a national challenge but also a county challenge. It drags the County Government agenda as it directly or indirectly affects everyone in the society irrespective of age, gender or race.

The County Government is concerned about the dangers posed by these drugs to the development agenda within the County and has, through the Department of Trade & that of Social Welfare, partnered with Mission of Hope Ministries, a multi-denomination group led by Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church to conduct a rehabilitation and training exercise for over 150 addicts at Kapsabet School for the Deaf. Together, they have launched a program called “Okoa Mlevi Initiative” that seeks to reduce drug and alcohol menace within the County. This program is spearheaded by Salome Chebitok who has for a long time participated in such initiatives.

During the opening ceremony, Mohammed Bare who is the County Commissioner decried the adverse drug and substance abuse in the county. He warned that the Government will deal with unlicensed supplies of Alcohol and other drugs accordingly.

Mr Bare lauded efforts made by the county government through the County Directorate of Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing saying that it is doing an exemplary job by ridding out illicit and dangerous drinks from the society.

At the same time, Chief Officer Trade and Investment Dr Rose Boit urged participants to abandon alcoholism and seek alternative and progressive ways of earning a decent living. She further reaffirmed to the organizers the unwavering support the County Government has on the initiative. She said that the County Government through her Department is championing job creation for youth and the establishment of a textile industry to create jobs for the youth is on course.

According to the County’s Director for Social Services Ms. Sarah Kosgei, the county’s plan to set up a rehabilitation center is ongoing and public awareness and sensitization on the effects of excessive consumption of alcohol is being done.

Rhoda Keitany Rift Valley Regional Coordinator of Special Olympics delivered the Deputy Governor’s message of hope to the participants reassuring them of better lives ahead and that they had a second chance to make it in life by taking advantage of the rehabilitation exercise.

Keitany challenged the addicts to take serious the exercise and pick lessons that will have an impact to those who are at home and spread hope to others.

The Communication, Marketing and Publicity Committee of the LREB’S annual Trade and Investment Conference conducted it’s first business in Bomet County on Friday, 27th July 2018.

The meeting which brought together Communication Directors and representatives from Nitabaki Afrika was convened to draw a communication and marketing strategy for the conference to be held later in October this year.
Ezra Kirui took the opportunity to reiterate Bomet County’s preparedness to host the event.
“In as much we are still in the preliminary stages, I can reassure you that plans are in top gear to host the conference” noted Kirui.

On her part LREB’s Director of Communication, Mrs Vera Ogolla reiterated the importance of proper branding and media visibility to not only catapult the bloc to the world map but to also act as a market point for the member counties.
She added that there was need for a multi-thronged approach to create visibility by engaging both print and broadcast as well as new media.

Donald Mwita, a lead consultant from Nitabaki Afrika while presenting on the conference’s website said that the site was at least 40% complete and urged the counties who had not sent their documentaries or video montage marketing their counties to do so by the end of the month.

He took the opportunity to defend the secretariat’s decision to host a new website other than have it as a sub-domain of the bloc’s website by stating that the site had three integrations to cater for: Summit and Gala Night, Investment Conference and the Diaspora Tourist Harvest hence the need to host it as an events site.
“our intention is to go live with the website by the first week of August.” he went on to add.

The meeting which was attended by the communication directors Machuka Maseme-Kisii, Martin Kiplimo – Nandi, Timothy Kemboi-Kericho, Juma Aluoch-Homabay , Eric -Siaya and the host Ezra Kirui asserted that a concerted effort was needed to ensure proper media campaign during and prior to the conference.
In attendance were also Brigid Korir Deputy Communications Director Bomet County, Elizabeth Mayabi a communications officer from Kakamega County, her counterpart from Siaya Eric Okumu as well Koech Theophilus Director ICT -Bomet and Anthony Nyakwara from Nitabaki Africa.

A committee chaired by Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Mitei that is tasked with the process of aligning the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) with that of the National Government’s Big Four agenda held a meeting to deliberate on the structure that is going to guide and align county’s agenda with the National’s agenda of the Big Four.

The County Government of Nandi is seeking to seize and leverage on this timely opportunity and fit in the national government’s plans as it strives to transform lives through manufacturing, Agriculture, affordable housing and universal healthcare.

The County Government has allocated resources for some of the flagship projects in the Financial Year 2018/2019 so as to ensure timely and smooth impleme ntation

#TugaTai
#TransformingNandi

A delegation from Transnational Bank paid  Nandi County a courtesy call. They were received by CECM Trade investment and Industrialization, Dr. Bernard Kiplimo Araap Lagat and CECM Agriculture and cooperative development Mr. Taiy.

Transnational Bank focuses on Agribusiness value chain as well as job creation through enterprise led service delivery.

Going forward, the two entities will work together to spur innovation around trade, cottage industries, cooperative development and health in order to create jobs and improve service delivery to the residents of Nandi County. The courtesy call comes at a time when  The county’s leadership is at advanced stages towards launching the Tuga Tai Big 4 agenda that will focus on manufacturing, affordable housing, quality provision of health services, This therefore provides a great opportunity for the two entities to craft a formidable partnership.

The Nandi County Alcoholic Drinks and Control Directorate is exploring possibilities of partnering with the Mission of Hope Ministries; an initiative by a multi-denomination led by the Seventh-Day Adventist church, to identify and reclaim those affected by the menace of alcoholism in our society.

In an operation dubbed “Okoa Mlevi” scheduled for 29th July -4th Aug at Marcle School kapsabet, the government shall support the Mission of Hope Ministries in organizing this event which targets to rehabilitate over 400 alcoholics, illicit brewers and drug addicts across the County.

Capacity building and mentorship program on cottage industries came to a close this week with its last two sessions held at St Jude Social Hall in Kilibwoni ward and Tindinyo falls in Kapkangani Ward, Emgwen Sub-County on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

The programme that was conducted for more than a week and held in all the six sub-counties was geared towards realistic and inclusive development of rural areas which lies in village cottage industries and that empower the society economically and socially.